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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To love football but have no interest whatsover in women's football league

177 replies

Eastie77Returns · 29/09/2023 18:50

I've been a football fan since childhood and have attended matches for years. Both DS and DD play and I'm really glad they've both taken to the sport. DD's best friend also plays and her mum sent me a message the other day suggesting we take the girls to watch a WSL game. I support a Premier League team so not always easy to get tickets whereas their women's team (one of the teams in the game the mum suggested we watch) always has availability.

I feel bad for admiting this but I have zero interest in Women's football. I have been to a few games but it's just not the same. I simply can't get as engaged as I do watching the men's game and I really don't care if the women playing for the team I support win or lose.

I admitted this to the mum and she was shocked! I got the feeling she feels I am literally letting the side (our side) down.😭

OP posts:
Greenpolkadot · 29/09/2023 19:00

Understand completely OP.
I also support a Premier League team and Im not in the least bit interested in womens footie,
DH thinks i should show an interest, at least in the national team but id rather watch Four in a Bed tbh

Poniesandrainbows · 29/09/2023 19:01

Same! I'm a completely mad obsessed PL team fan but the women's game just bores me. I just can't get into it.

Mouldyfoodhelp · 29/09/2023 19:03

Same! For me it has nothing to do with men vs women it's the quality which is why I also don't watch lower league football

Spanne · 29/09/2023 19:04

I have a season ticket for a championship team so my expectations are probably lower than yours but I’m a fan and I think it’s so important for boys and girls to grow up thinking women’s football is worthy.

CakeInAJar · 29/09/2023 19:05

I think that’s a shame - I follow both and there’s so much enjoyment to be found in both games.

KezzaMucklowe · 29/09/2023 19:06

I support a Premier League team and like both men and women's games.
There is a huge difference in the culture / atmosphere at the games. So I can understand why you might find it too much of a change.
Plus we have such a strong attachment to the men's game too, its been popular for so long.
I would definitely take your dd to the game regardless of how you feel about it.
It is really family friendly.

Stillonthemove · 29/09/2023 19:07

I know I should take at least a bit of an interest but women's football leaves me cold.

Big supporter of my Premier League team, though, have been for years.

Russooooo · 29/09/2023 19:08

I much prefer women’s games. I think there’s a lot more accuracy. More passing, less ‘just boot it that way and hope for the best’. The atmosphere at games is also much nicer.

meganorks · 29/09/2023 19:10

I'm not really into football until the world cup/euros. I didn't watch any of the women's though. No one can force you to be into it and if you already into the premiership I doubt you have time. But I think YABU to dismiss taking your daughter with her friend on these grounds. You aren't going to get premiership tickets and if they play, it would be good for them to go and watch a women's game

Figgygal · 29/09/2023 19:10

Couldn't give a flying wotsit for womens footie
I barely tolerate the mens tbh

Peccary · 29/09/2023 19:24

I have taken my 6yo to a women's game at Old Trafford, I wouldn't take her to the men's. Very different atmosphere, lots of families, affordable. The women's game gives people the chance to experience a game at a big stadium , with prices these days, that's out of reach for many

user1471453601 · 29/09/2023 19:24

Like many posters, I have "my" men's prem team. I've been watching them (live at first, strictly armchair now) since the late 60s. I know about the history of the club I support, from players to managers to owner s. Because of the !longevity of mens football compared to womens, I think is one reason I don't s watch women's leagues.
I chose "my" team a long time ago.

I do enjoy watching the women's national sides thougn, very much. I think the skill levels have increased dramatically. I rarely watch men's national sides, because I don't care enough about the result and really care only that any player for my team comes through unscathed.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 29/09/2023 19:25

Actually, you’re all wrong. It’s a different game, sure, but if you don’t support it and give it a chance who will? And what does that say to young women? Your daughters? If you have more than one child, do you manage to love them both? Think of this as the same. There are lovely players, lovely stories, sisterhood and drama everywhere. Give it a shot and help it grow. If not for you, for the young women around you.

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 29/09/2023 19:28

I agree the atmosphere is ‘nicer’ at women’s games. I’be taken DC to a few and it’s nice not to worry about foul language. I just don’t get the same buzz, feeling of excitement that I get when going to the men’s.

@meganorks I do get PL tickets. They are just a lot more expensive and not as readily available. DC are both junior members and we go the Family Enclosure to watch the men’s game.

Funnily enough DS really likes the WSL which I’m very happy about. I definitely want him to see women’s football as valuable as men’s (realise I’m a complete hypocrite!)

OP posts:
Chickenkeev · 29/09/2023 19:29

I love football too but found women's football v hard to watch (and i watch League of Ireland!) But the world cup was a bit better i think. It may just be that it'll take a while to catch up. One thing to be commended is that there is v little diving or messing.

Steev · 29/09/2023 19:30

Me too. The quality makes it like a totally different sport to me.

lemonyellows · 29/09/2023 19:31

I love football. Always have. International women's is ok but I don't watch league. Nope.

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 29/09/2023 19:31

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 29/09/2023 19:25

Actually, you’re all wrong. It’s a different game, sure, but if you don’t support it and give it a chance who will? And what does that say to young women? Your daughters? If you have more than one child, do you manage to love them both? Think of this as the same. There are lovely players, lovely stories, sisterhood and drama everywhere. Give it a shot and help it grow. If not for you, for the young women around you.

I’m not sure loving both your children is analogous to liking both men’s and women’s football😂

WSL seems to have a lot of support so I think they’ll be okay without mine. I’m not going to force myself to like something that truly bores me. I do wish I felt differently.

OP posts:
GreenWheat · 29/09/2023 19:35

You're allowed to follow whatever professional sports you like, or not. But for your DDs sake, take her to the game. I have sat through hours of stuff I have no interest in, in the pursuit of encouraging my DC in their interests.

Watchitsunshine · 29/09/2023 19:35

You're not wrong OP. I've tried to get into it, but it's just... Not great.

There's definitely skill there, but it's a completely different game. The last match I watched was like watching a school football game - I certainly wouldn't pay for a ticket to the women's game right now.

jeaux90 · 29/09/2023 19:39

I like it, I find it more skills based.

But I'm a rugby fan mainly and used to play myself. So I guess I support women's sports full stop.

ExtraOnions · 29/09/2023 19:42

Does anyone enjoy watching PL football ?? It’s so “stop / start”, chucking yourself on the floor, and (often) owned by blood money despots.

i watch lower league, and women’s football … less histrionics… more actual football

Dramatic · 29/09/2023 19:47

ExtraOnions · 29/09/2023 19:42

Does anyone enjoy watching PL football ?? It’s so “stop / start”, chucking yourself on the floor, and (often) owned by blood money despots.

i watch lower league, and women’s football … less histrionics… more actual football

Yeah I'm slightly baffled by this thread tbh, the women's game tends to flow much better and they're less likely to dive. The skill levels are at least championship level, if not better. As a fan of a struggling championship team I'd say the WSL is better skill wise.

Queucumber · 29/09/2023 19:58

It’s internalised sexism. I’m just as guilty of it when it comes to cricket. It’s years of sport being presented as football and women’s football, cricket and women’s cricket etc as though the men’s game is the default. It’s memories of playing team sport as a girl that were very negative. It’s not going to be the same as the men’s game because of differences in speed and strength but that doesn’t make it lesser. The Guardian dropped the ‘women’s’ qualifier on their sport pages and that’s a really good move.

I became more aware of my own bias this year watching The Hundred (100 ball cricket competition where each fixture has the women’s teams playing each other first and then the men’s teams play.) In my head the women’s games wouldn’t be as good simply because the players are women. The players were some of the best on the world at limited over cricket and though there’s not the same level of investment and sponsorship in the women’s game these are brilliant players.

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