Chloe Watts, a lifelong supporter of Bristol Rovers, has endured years of abuse simply for being a woman who watches football. Her story is echoed by Ellie Scrivens, a midfielder for Abbeymead Rovers Ladies, who also faces negativity directed at the women's game.
A Growing Movement for Safe Spaces
Both women are part of a broader effort to change attitudes. Watts serves as an ambassador for Her Game Too, a campaign founded in May 2021 that seeks to create safe spaces for women in sport. The initiative designates certain pubs as havens where female fans can watch matches without fear of harassment.
In Gloucester, The Abbey has become one such Her Game Too pub, while in Cheltenham, The Miller follows suit, offering a welcoming environment for women to gather, share experiences, and celebrate the growing visibility of women's football.
Historic Barriers and New Horizons
The landscape of women's football has been transformed since the sport was banned for nearly five decades. Today, record attendances are being recorded at matches, signalling a shift in public interest and commercial potential.
Scrivens recalls watching the Lionesses lift the Euro 2022 trophy as the moment that sparked her own participation. "Seeing that level of success gave me the confidence to step onto the pitch," she says, though she acknowledges that the road ahead remains littered with prejudice.
The Power of Social Spaces
The importance of social spaces cannot be overstated. They provide a platform for fans like Watts and players like Scrivens to connect, discuss challenges, and collectively push back against outdated views that have long marginalised women in sport.