Women's

Albion stage successful Women in Football event

Panel discuss ways of growing the professional game in England.

By Bruce Talbot • 15 November 2021

By Kyle Hemsley
A discussion was held after the delegates came up with their own ideas to increase crowds at Albion matches.

Albion staged a successful networking event for Women in Football before Sunday’s WSL game against Leicester City at the Amex, as part of Women’s Football Weekend.

Women in Football champions female talent in a bid to bring about a change in attitudes to women working in the industry, as well as celebrating the many contributions by women to the national game.

The highlight was a Q&A and discussion with a panel which included three members of the Women In Football board – Albion’s chief executive & deputy chairman Paul Barber, Kelly Simmons, the FA’s Women’s Professional Game Director, and Jo Tongue – as well as Rose Read, the club’s Head of People & Culture.

By Kyle Hemsley
Albion’s chief executive & deputy chairman Paul Barber, the FA’s Women’s Professional Game Director Kelly Simmons, and Jo Tongue – as well as Rose Read, the club’s Head of People & Culture were a part of the panel.

They discussed the new three-year strategy that The FA launched last week for growing the women's professional game in England and the support Albion are giving to develop and professionalise women’s and girls’ football and how the club attracts talent to the women’s team both on and off the pitch.

A discussion was held after the delegates came up with their own ideas to increase crowds at Albion matches.

Polly Bancroft, the club’s head of Women’s and Girls’ Football, said, “It was so nice to host Women in Football and their members at the Amex.

By Kyle Hemsley
The event preceded Albion's WSL match against Leicester City, which Albion won 1-0 thanks to Maisie Symonds' late goal.

“Women in Football are a network of professionals working in and around the football industry who support and champion their peers. With this in mind, we took the opportunity to gather some ideas from the group on how we can continue to increase our match attendances.

“We really value their input and will look to act on some of their suggestions. The women’s football community is really close and supportive, and we look forward to continuing to build our networks for the benefit of the female game.”