Canaries Trust chair calls Women's World Cup final clash with Norwich game 'unfortunate'
He tells us "it wouldn't have been difficult" to make sure the World Cup final was the only game being played on Sunday
Last updated 21st Aug 2023
The head of a Norwich fan group is telling us "it wouldn't have been difficult" to make sure the women's World Cup final was the only game being played, this Sunday.
It comes as the Lionesses take on Spain from 11am tomorrow, whilst the Canaries face Millwall at home from midday.
The Canaries are one of 6 teams across England playing on the same afternoon
Rob Sainty is from the Canaries Trust, the sixth biggest shareholder in Norwich City.
He says the fixtures would never clash, if it were the men playing: "All the broadcasters and leagues knew when the final was going to be. It wouldn't have been difficult not to arrange a midday fixture on the day of the World Cup final...
"Let's be honest, if it was the men getting into the first World Cup final for 57 years there wouldn't be a clash."
He's hoping to see North Walsham's very own Lauren Hemp out on the pitch on Sunday: "Lauren's been really, really good.
"She's got better as the tournament's gone on and has got some key goals and assists.
"She's central to what the Lionesses do and it's great to see someone from Norfolk as the vanguard of such an exciting team."
Whilst women's football has gained greater recognition and larger audiences, Rob says there's still a way to go: "It will take some time before it reaches parity with the men's game for a whole host of reasons.
"One being it's still a fairly new concept, and another being, unfortunately, that there's still a lot of misogyny out there."
Rob told us the Lionesses' success is benefitting local women's football: "The women's game in Norfolk's been growing quite rapidly - even before the Lionesses' success, but obviously certainly it will push it on further.
"We'd like to see Norwich City women reach a higher level and get much better support."