Level Playing Field is committed to putting disabled supporter voices at the centre of improving the access and inclusion for disabled fans attending women’s football.
In February 2023, the charity proudly launched the first disability fan survey of its kind, focusing solely on women’s football. The aim was to address the lack of data regarding disabled sports fans attending women’s football.
The survey provided valuable insights into disabled supporters’ perspectives and experiences regarding women’s football. The full survey results analysis report is now publicly available.
Key stat: 26% of disabled supporters have stated that a ‘lack of information’ was a barrier to attending matches – In last year’s annual fan survey across all sports, this was 16%.
Significant work is required to make the game fully accessible, but the survey highlights that the lack of information is a significant barrier to attending women’s football. To counteract this, Level Playing Field is collaborating with the FA and relevant stakeholders to provide better access information as is provided in greater detail across the men’s game, with specific club pages on the charity’s website that will include club contact and stadium access information.
Level Playing Field remains committed to advancing the accessibility of women’s football with the active involvement of passionate disabled supporters. This unified and informed approach can shape a brighter future for disabled supporters attending the women’s game.
There has never been a better time to get involved, and all disabled football enthusiasts are encouraged to be part of this remarkable journey.
The Women’s Game has experienced significant growth in recent years, and it is vital that disabled supporters are at the heart of that journey.
If you are interested in supporting women’s football regarding disability access and inclusion, we encourage you to check if there is a local disabled supporters’ association group in your area. If none exist, consider starting one and become a catalyst for change.
Please get in touch, and Level Playing Field staff will provide guidance on initiating the process. You can learn more about disabled supporters’ associations here, or email: liam@levelplayingfield.org.uk
The women’s game is unique, as most clubs operate a dual venue model. This means they play their fixtures at a primary or secondary ground throughout the season. You can find more information on how to watch the game and buy tickets on the FA’s dedicated website.
There has been a massive growth in the popularity of women’s football in recent years and further so following England’s historic victory at Wembley Stadium in the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO Championships in 2022. This is expected to continue, following the Lionesses’ journey to the FIFA World Cup Final this summer.
Further details on the growth and structure of the women’s domestic game can be found below.
There are a number of leagues and competitions within the English Women’s Football Pyramid.
- Barclays Women’s Super League (BWSL)– A 12-team fully professional competition for the top teams in the country.
- Barclays Women’s Championship (BWC) – The Barclays Women’s Championship comprises 12 semi-professional teams, with promotion open to the team that finishes top of the division at the end of the season.
- FA Women’s National League – The third and fourth tiers of the women’s pyramid, the FA Women’s National League, comprises six divisions: Northern Premier Division, Southern Premier Division, Division 1 North, Division 1 Midlands, Division 1 South East, Division 1 South West.
- Women’s Regional Leagues –There are 8 Regional Leagues around the country which offer a link between local and national competitions.
- Women’s County Leagues – Entry level to competitive football for women’s clubs around the country.
- The Vitality Women’s FA Cup – The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, now known as the Vitality Women’s FA Cup, began in 1970 and is the largest and most prestigious domestic knockout competition within the women’s game.
The Barclays Women’s Super League continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. In 2023 it became the most followed women’s professional football league in the world with over two million followers across social media channels.
- Barclays WSL attendances were up 170% compared to the previous season.
- The season average attendance across the 2022/23 season was 5,222, whereas across the 2021/22 season it was 1,931.
- Cumulative attendance for the WSL in 2022/23: 689,297
More are watching than ever before:
- Average match audiences are up 36% season-on-season.
- The proportion of viewers watching the BWSL aged 35 and under increased 29% in comparison to the previous season.
- The WSL is broadcast to 188 international markets worldwide.
The Barclays Women’s Championship has also achieved impressive numbers last season:
- The cumulative attendance over the season stands at 126,755.
- The Barclays Women’s Championship season average attendance was 968, a 75% uplift from the 553 last season.