Liverpool FA, the county association that runs football competition and leagues in the region, is taking bold steps to transform women’s football in Merseyside, aiming to bridge the gap with the men’s game by 2028.
Through increased investment, grassroots initiatives, and a push for equality in facilities and visibility, the strategy hopes to inspire a new generation of female footballers.
Von Parker-Sheridan, manager of Marine FC Women, highlighted the potential for greater involvement from top-tier football players and clubs in the Merseyside area. She said: “In the Merseyside area, it started to improve, but I think top-flight football players could be involved. Everton, Liverpool, Tranmere can do a lot more to get involved as well, but I think that needs to be more especially at grassroots level.”
Women’s football has made significant impact in recent years, especially after the World Cup in 2023 but it sill faces challenges compared to the men’s game.
Von highlighted how the pyramid of the game is still unbalanced and how it should change in future: “The men’s pyramid needs to come into the women’s, they need to get together and do something where their fundings and ours make sense, because now it doesn’t make sense at all. We need to feel part of the game, because we don’t feel part of it at all.”
“If we keep fighting, people will be looking at us and say, “I want to be like her”, and we will start having women’s names on the back of the shirts which will be fantastic for women’s football’s future.”
There is a long way ahead before women can completely feel part of the game, but according to Marine’s midfielder Kiersten Jones more funding is still needed to provide equal opportunities for girls of all ages.
“We’ve come a long way from where we started, but at grassroots level we still need fundings, and it all comes down to facilities and fundings. It’s hard to compare us to the men’s game,” Kiersten said.
“We need more space as women, also on TV, to set the example for young generations of players, too. It all comes down to media and fundings for us.”
