England and Manchester United defender Millie Turner attended Manchester’s Big Football Day, along with Rachel Pavlou, who leads on all of The FA’s women’s heritage and EDI work.
Millie Turner quotes:
Why are we here today and what is Big Football Day?
“So we’re here today to encourage loads of girls and women to get involved in football, Big Football Day is about getting clubs to open their doors to grassroots players and teams to get more females on the pitch and just enjoying playing football. Event’s like this are so important, I remember growing up there was absolutely nothing like this, so to have events where there are this many females turning up is incredible and shows the growth of women’s football.”
What impact does a major tournament have and how does it help encourage days like this to happen more often?
“I think we saw from the previous tournament how big that was for not only our country but football worldwide, so I think the tournament that’s happening now is huge, it’s even bigger than it was last time, so if we can bring it home again that would be outstanding and help inspire many more girls and women across the country.”
What advice would you give to girls wanting to start football off the back of the tournament?
“I think for me you just have to enjoy it. Big Football Day and events following the Euros are a great opportunity to just get out there with your mates try a new sport and hopefully enjoy playing football, that’s what it’s all about.”
Rachel Pavlou quotes:
Why are we here today and what is the importance of day’s like this?
“Well isn’t it wonderful to be here celebrating the Women’s Euros! Events all around the country are going on to open up clubs to the communities to give women and girls the chance to play whilst the Women’s Euros are on in Switzerland. It’s a great initiative, it’s called the Big Football Day, in partnership with The National Lottery, and we’re so proud of this particular event, because over 450 females have attended today and they’re from all different backgrounds, from little girls all the way up to older women. For some they’ve never played the game before but they’re here today o enjoy themselves. It’s so important that we do events like this because we know the power of a tournament. Since hosting the Women’s Euros in 2022, we have actually doubled participation and that’s because all those young girls and women who have perhaps not played before, saw the Euros and were inspired by our role models that were out playing on the pitch, the coaches that were behind the scenes and the staff. All of that made lots of women and girls come forward and say ‘we want to be part of this’, and it’s not just about being on the pitch, it might be about being behind the scenes on the pitch, or being a referee, or a coach, or being on a board, or as a volunteer in a grassroots club, we just want as many women and girls to feel that this game is for them and that the doors are open in every community of England for them to be part of it.”
What would you advice be to anyone wanting to start out in football whether that’s playing, coaching etc?
“For anyone that want’s to get involved in the women’s game, they just need to go on the England Football website and everything is on there in terms of how they can access either a programme, a club, a chance to do a referees course or a coaching course, it’s all on there. We also have county football associations across the country, we’re here with the Manchester Football Association today, they have a lead on women’s football in every one of them and they’re always on the phone wanting to help anybody that’s not quite sure and answer any questions, we have something for everybody!”
