Andrew Warshaw on how Enfield Town FC is marking International Women’s Day next month
With interest in women’s football across the country enjoying something of a boom, Enfield Town FC is taking the opportunity to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) and showcase the club’s ethos of gender inclusivity.
On 1st March against Dorking Wanderers, Town’s last home National League South men’s fixture before IWD a week later, the parent club are opening their turnstiles free of charge to all women and girls.
The idea is to encourage as many female fans as possible to come and watch in a safe, fun and affordable environment and to join the club whether as players at adult/youth level, members, supporters or volunteers.
The afternoon will include a display from sponsors Hertfordshire Zoo, various stalls selling niche items, a performance by the locally-based Ohana Academy of Performing Arts (weather permitting), a planned visit from Jenna Schillaci, Tottenham Hotspur’s former ladies captain, and (hopefully) the presence of Enfield North MP Feryal Clark.
The involvement of women in Enfield Town’s growth has gone from strength to strength over the years. Until recently Christine Hamilton, former mayor of Enfield and a councillor for twelve years, was on the board of directors. She continues to play a vital role in promoting the club throughout the borough.
Christine is also a trustee of Enfield Town’s charitable arm, Enfield Town FC Community Sports Development Ltd, and is as passionate as they come. “I love the fact that the club is so inclusive as well as being a football and social centre for the local community,” she told the Dispatch. “I’m so proud of us in terms of our equality standards.”
Another familiar face in and around the club on match days is Mary Bentley, who has looked after the club’s match-day 50/50 draw, in which half the profits go to the club and half to the lucky winner, for over a decade. In fact, everywhere you look on match days, whether in the boardroom, food outlets or elsewhere around the ground, there is a strong female presence.
Among the more recently recruited female volunteers is local GP Laura Pollington who has stepped in as the club’s match-day team medic. Laura, whose daughter Grace plays for Enfield Town Ladies under-elevens, believes the club has laid down an important template in terms of gender crossover. “It’s important to have women visible within the men’s game rather than just exclusively in women’s sports,” she said. “It’s a real exciting opportunity for me, combining things I’m passionate about.
“I played football as a youngster but the minute I got to secondary school I was no longer allowed to. I felt a total sense of injustice. Thankfully, it’s different now but I can’t deny there are still barriers. So many girls in their teens drop out for a host of reasons. It’s a credit to this club that we are promoting International Women’s Day in this way – 1st March is going to be a great day, whole families enjoying football together rather than just the stereotype of dads and sons.”
On the field, recognition of the Enfield Town Ladies section has never been greater with over 200 players in 13 teams – from under-tens up to the first team, who play in the Eastern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division.
“Our vision is to provide inclusive footballing opportunities that support the girls and women of Enfield to develop their skills, grow in confidence and progress to their full potential,” said Lisa Quinlan-Rahman, chairperson of Enfield Ladies FC. “International Women’s Day therefore is a really important opportunity to celebrate the contribution of women and girls to Enfield’s footballing community.”
Lisa believes the success of the Lionesses at international level and growth of the Women’s Super League have had a hugely beneficial impact, not only in creating female role models but encouraging more girls to play the game. “It’s undoubtedly had an impact in terms of local interest. Our ethos is ‘Football For All’.
“That means supporting any girls with an interest in playing.”
The very phrase ‘Football For All’ smacks of inclusivity which is exactly why, says Lisa, the IWD celebrations on 1st March are so important in terms of the partnership between the male and female sections.
“Enfield Ladies are an ambitious club with a very well developed player pathway. It’s fundamentally important in terms of friendship, confidence, health and wellbeing. The men giving us a platform on International Women’s Day is a wonderful way of spreading the message to a broader audience about what we can offer.
“There are still obstacles in terms of girls being stereotyped so having male allies standing beside women and girls in this kind of environment has never been more important in today’s society.”
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