The Lionesses Call for Equal Access to Football in the UK
August 12, 2022
In an open letter to the UK government last week, England's Women’s National Football Team – better known as the Lionesses – called on Conservative Party leadership candidates for Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, to "give every girl in the nation the chance to participate in football at school".
The 23 members of the 2022 UEFA Women's Euro Championship squad want the UK Government to provide opportunities for physical activity, develop women’s football and increase participation for girls at a grassroots level. In the letter, the team stated that all schoolgirls should be granted a minimum of two hours a week for PE (Physical Education) and said that “this generation of schoolgirls deserve more.”
According to the FA (Football Association), only 63% of schools offer girls’ football in PE lessons and only 40% of secondary schools offer girls the same access to football via after-school clubs. Additionally, 72% of girls play as much football as boys in primary school, but this figure drops to 44% in secondary school. In 2020, the FA launched Inspiring Positive Change with the goal for every primary school-aged girl to have equal access to football in schools and in clubs.
“On Sunday evening history was made. The dreams of 23 women came true. England became European Champions for the first time in history. Throughout the Euros, we as a team spoke about our legacy and goal to inspire the nation. Many will think that this has already been achieved, but we see this only as the beginning,” states the letter.
The Lionesses noted that they experienced a lack of support and investment in girls and women's football when growing up and were often stopped from playing. They are also advocating for increased investments in gender equity across all levels of the sport and expressed the need for female PE teachers. “Their role is crucial, and we need to give them the resources to provide girls’ football sessions. They are key role models from which so many young girls can flourish.”
Other athletes have backed the movement, alongside football personality Ian Wright who pushed the message further on BBC Sport, stating: “If girls are not allowed to play football in PE – just like the boys can – what are we doing? We have got to make sure they are able to play and get the opportunity to do so.”
Both Conservative leader hopefuls responded to the open letter. Truss said she “wants equal access to all sports for boys and girls and supports campaigns such as the FA’s Let Girls Play campaign.” She also expressed that she is committed to investigating what prevents schools from delivering the recommended minimum of PE lessons.
Sunak followed suit and shared that he believes in the importance of sport for children’s development and said he would ask Ofsted (The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) “to inspect sport in schools as part of every inspection.”