Stamford AFC are urging more clubs to invest in their women's team
New research has found that in many areas, gender equality in football is still far from being reached
Stamford AFC Women's say "clubs should invest more in their women's teams".
78% of female footballers agree that opportunities for women in their local football league are still far behind those available for men.
New research from Sure found a lack of funding (41%), sponsors (37%) and equipment (35%) are holding women's football back, according to the research.
After the Lionesses' phenomenal success in bringing women's and girls' football into the spotlight, an impressive 4.4 million women and girls are now regularly playing football across the UK.
This surge in participation has fuelled the rapid growth of the women's game, with The Football Association (The FA) projecting that one in five teams will be female by 2030.
Additionally, 41% of women's football clubs in the UK were only created in the last four years. This is a significant leap towards greater access for more women.
Sadly, despite the whole country being behind the Lionesses during the World Cup, 1 in 5 female footballers who play for local leagues don't feel that their community supports them.
Having space to play is also an issue, with 40% saying they do not have access to their own pitch, 25% not having changing rooms and 21% not having appropriate facilities when they are on their period.
Many things that might not be an issue for men's football are still getting in the way for women.
This includes a lack of coaches, referees and trainers, with 43% of female footballers struggling to get a referee for matches, only 29% having access to a football manager and a huge 64% not able to have a trainer for their team.
Female footballers also have to fork out more money. 61% pay for their own kit for football games, with 11% even having to go without a kit for matches.
Robin Chaudhuri, manager of Stamford AFC Women’s team, said:
"What I'd love to see is what we do at Stamford to be replicated at all clubs. I wish that there was that desire by the boards and and the club directors of every ladies team to have that sort of support that we do because that's would be ideal."
"I've been around for a while and I've been to many clubs for away games and they do the best they can. But, some of the facilities are not very good. When you come to Stamford most people are really surprised at just how good the quality."
"I've been around long enough to know that sometimes the women are treated differently to the men's. I have to say that in the vast majority of cases I'm dealing with at Stamford, we're not."
"I grew up never seeing women play football. For me it's great watching all this and I think in the next 10 years you will see the growth of women's football."