30 May |
The Summit of Emotions |
The Summit of Emotions is not something that might trip off your tongue yet. But come July with the start of the Women’s Euros, then the 2025 logo might begin to embed. And if England manage to make the final again due on the 27th, then it probably will.
2025 Women’s Euros
The 2025 Women’s Euros will be held in Switzerland. It’s not surprising that the logo refers to the mountains the footballers have had to climb in order to compete. Given the history of funding, for many it has been an emotional journey.
Something the Welsh side will acknowledge on 19th June with their side due to be announced on the summit of Yr Wyddfa (previously known as Snowdon). As this is the first major football competition for the Welsh Women, they’re right to celebrate.
This year is also the 25th anniversary of Barclay’s support for grassroot sports. This has included Women’s and Girl’s football, rather than just the elite. There are some papers that have suggested that the Women’s Super League may be in trouble as attendance looks to have dipped this year by 9%. Yet given England winning the Euros in 2022 and getting to the World Cup finals in 2023, there was phenomenal percentage growth. While the average attendance might be 6,732, Arsenal Women have sold out the 60,000-seater Emirates twice!
In 2023, Mary Earps won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, after winning the World Cup Golden Gloves. Sadly, she has just decided to retire from international football with immediate effect. A good England run will re-ignite the supporters’ fire. With estimates that 80% of the Euros crowd will be Swiss, it’s clear that not many supporters will travel. They may be looking for somewhere else to communally watch.
Women’s Rugby World Cup
To boost attendance four WSL clubs trialled the provision of alcoholic drinks at games this season. Most saw a sustainable increase in numbers due to the hospitality provided. This won’t surprise rugby fans, where a drink and some food are typically a feature of a social matchday. This is good news for the South-West with games due in Bristol and Exeter for the Women’s Rugby World Cup between 22nd August and 27th September this year.
For those in catering whether it’s a round or oval ball, there is an opportunity to celebrate the wider participation in sports that have traditionally been seen as male. The successes of our national teams have been built on grassroots and local opportunities to play and watch. From there some individuals reach their personal summits while others just have fun; a bit like catering in some ways.