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Original poster

football

39 replies

sashh · 02/04/2015 08:33

This morning half watcing BBC (I'm at my dads for a few days he was watching) I heard "Liverpool 2, Birmingham 1, goals scored by ..."

No 'Liverpool Ladies' or mention of 'girls' just a report on a football fixture.

This is the BBC, I nearly choked on my coffee, I'm surew this is the first time I have heard a report like this.

OP posts:
sausageeggbacon11 · 02/04/2015 21:35

I am currently watching Notts County vs Arsenal on BT Sport. I know the league and will watch with the boys on TV but live we prefer Rugby especially when the Men are playing beforehand. Fantastic goal for Arsenal just scored that would have the commentators saying how brilliant if it had on been a top male player.

PuffinsAreFictitious · 02/04/2015 19:31

Yes, I'm aware. No, I don't go to games, because I don't enjoy watching soccer. I do enjoy watching rugby, and have played and paid to see games.

StillLostAtTheStation · 02/04/2015 19:10

My question was really to UK people. Are many people aware that there is a Women's Premier League in the UK, and does anyone go to the games?

Not aware and wouldn't go to the games.

I'm not particularly interested (actually not at all interested ) in sport beyond the big events like The World Cup and bits (but by no means all) of the Olympics.

I enjoy the 4 weeks of the World Cup as much for the unexpected stuff like Suarez' teeth and Brazil's meltdown. I like the idea that in the final stages millions or maybe billions are all watching it.

I can't imagine being engaged with the World Cup for female players in the same way.

loveareadingthanks · 02/04/2015 17:37

I am aware but I don't watch it or follow it. But then I don't watch or follow men's pro football either, it's boring. Only the Sunday team DP plays for (sometimes).

Had a chat in a pub a few months with a very proud Dad whose daughter had just left one pro club for another one.

YonicScrewdriver · 02/04/2015 16:51

Do you go, Yops?

Yes, I'm aware of the women's league. I only watch England play international games so I watched the England Wales qualifier and tried to get a ticket to the England Germany qualifier but they were sold out (which is good!)

I expect I will watch some of the World Cup this summer.

Yops · 02/04/2015 13:34

The US women's soccer team has won two world cups, four Olympic golds and is continually ranked in the top 2 teams in the world. Women and girl's soccer is huge in the US from school upwards. It doesn't play second fiddle to the men's game, because is is far more popular from grass roots to professional level. That is why Rachel can make a passing reference to it and everyone gets the joke.

My question was really to UK people. Are many people aware that there is a Women's Premier League in the UK, and does anyone go to the games?

Original poster
sashh · 02/04/2015 12:05

To be fair to the BBC, the WPL has only recently taken off, so there was little chance to cover women's football in the UK. Are many people even aware of the WPL? The attendances aren't great.

In an episode of friends Rachel compares her baby kicking to a US soccer player, a woman. Soccer is far from being a major sport but people at least knew they had won and it was well enough known to feature in a non sport context.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 02/04/2015 11:01

Men's football is by far the most popular sport in this country. No other sport comes close really so of course it gets the most coverage on the sports news.

I do think generally BBC sport seem pretty good at picking up reports on all sports irrespective of the sex of those playing.

Yops · 02/04/2015 10:56

To be fair to the BBC, the WPL has only recently taken off, so there was little chance to cover women's football in the UK. Are many people even aware of the WPL? The attendances aren't great.

cailindana · 02/04/2015 10:08

It's sad that this is a remarkable thing - women being mentioned as actual people rather than the exception to the norm on national news.

I'm glad the BBC are doing it but why did it take this long?

ChunkyPickle · 02/04/2015 09:39

The BBC does seem to be having a good push - a much better mix of sport, and there are so many more women in Masterchef this season for example.

MQv2 · 02/04/2015 09:35

*point

Not ring

MQv2 · 02/04/2015 09:34

Tbf to the bbc they're football reporting has gone fairly gender neutral in recent times (not sure if its 100% neutral)

To the point where I have heard people complain or accuse them of click baiting by having stories in gender neutral language like "arsenal striker quits club" and it be a story about the women's team.

So they've been pretty good on that ring (on their website and app at least) for a while

EdithWeston · 02/04/2015 08:36

Girls is only ever ok if they're talking about under 21s.