In a candid interview with the Sunday Times, Arsenal Women’s Leah Williamson, and her cousin Jordan Glover, discussed the game from the perspective of a female footballer.
The England Women captain believes that the Lionesses changed the dynamics of women’s football in the UK, after setting an 87,000 attendance record at Wembley Stadium in their 2-1 European Championship victory over Germany in 2022.
Even though their club football games now draw large crowds, she believes there are still other areas for improvement. She suggests that improving the wage package for female football players would alleviate her need to make other work contingency plans when she could have retired if the gap between male and female footballer pay packages were not so significant. She hopes that things will improve over time and that women football players will have a better future. In her own words, Leah said:
“Things are much better now, and I’d like to think our success at the euros played a part in that. The final felt like a turning point—87,000 people at Wembley for us. There are some elements of the women’s game that need to catch up. I’m not earning enough to retire after my playing career, so I’m still aiming to complete my accountancy studies in case I need something to fall back on. The women’s game still has to grow, but when I’m playing for Arsenal, we get crowds of 35,000, more than some of the men’s premier league teams. Am I bitter? There’s no point. I just hope the next generation doesn’t have to deal with the same problems.”
It is encouraging to see Williamson advocate for the betterment of women’s football. She is a true role model, and when it’s her time to hang up her boots, girls will recognise her for her brilliance both on and off the field.
What are your thoughts Gooners?
Michelle M
Follow JustArsenal’s Gooner Women on Just Gooner Women on Twitter for regular updates on the Arsenal Womens Team!
Do you want to read more about the Arsenal Women’s Team? Click here….
What gives you the expectation that you should be able to retire in your mid 30s? Talk about feeling entitled! If the quality in women’s football improves they might pay you more
STFU I bet you never watch a women football game in your life you one them armchair fan sitting there with a big fat burger n can of beer what Leah williamson done for the women football on the next level show the girl some respect
Not sure why anyone would want or expect to retire in their mid-thirties.
Disagree with you about the quality of elite women’s game now. Compares favourably with current men’s Euros in terms of technical standard and entertainment value