A member of the England Lionesses has played a game of football with local schoolgirls at Mediacity in a bid to ‘change the perception’ the women’s sport.
Karen Bardsley, 38, visited Mediacity this morning (Thursday 8 December) and played a short game of football with local schoolgirls in freezing temperatures.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, joined the Lioness on the pitch after signing an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urging him to give all girls in in the UK the chance to play football while at school.
The Lioness previously signed an open letter to Government alongside her teammates, which cited how almost 40% of girls did not have the opportunity to play football as part of their two-hour PE classes.
Ms Bardsley said: “We’re trying to make sure we change the perception of women’s football in this country. I am so proud to be a part of this movement to support the local schools in any way I can.
“We were often stopped from playing, so we made our own teams, we travelled across the country and despite the odds, we just kept playing football.”
The Mayor spoke alongside Lioness Karen Bardsley, chair of the Greater Manchester Women’s Football Board, who said they are working with the FA and are determined to ‘change the perception of women’s football’ in the UK.
Mr Burnham said: “All girls growing up in Greater Manchester have the right to play football.
“Watching football is more joyous now. Everyone feels involved in English football – both the women’s and men’s games. The Lionesses left a permanent legacy of the tournament and are leading the way of girls’ sports in Greater Manchester.
“We need to smash away those old attitudes and say that every girl growing up in Greater Manchester has the right to play football.”
Karen played the quarter-final for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics, but it was never broadcast to mainstream TV.
In 2008, Burnham, formerly Culture Secretary, criticised the BBC for failing to give enough coverage to women’s sport. He has since praised the broadcasting service for taking steps to improve this, following the Lionesses’ triumphant victory in the Euros this summer.
The calls come ahead of the women’s Super League Manchester Derby at the Etihad on Sunday (December 11), of which 40,000 tickets have already been sold – the largest attendance yet.
And as young girls played football in sub-zero temperatures in Salford on Thursday morning, Ms Bardsley added: “This shows there is a demand for it, there is a need for it, people want to be here, and people want to see it.”
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