Why the women’s game is the perfect gateway into football

One of my favourite questions from our first mailbag came from Badger Cyclist, who said that the safety and family friendly nature of the women’s game had been his gateway into becoming a full time Arsenal fan. I love that, because it is exactly how a lot of people end up here.

If I rewind to my own gateway into Arsenal, it wasn't the women’s side, and it wasn't the league at all. It was Dennis Bergkamp.

I was into international football when I was younger and Bergkamp was my favourite international player. I didn't really have a clue about league football. Then my dad took us to Crystal Palace v Arsenal at Selhurst Park for my first ever live match. We were behind the goal because those were the cheapest tickets. Bergkamp scored right in front of us and that was it, I was gone. I decided I was going to support Arsenal because my favourite player played for them. Since then I've done a complete flip where I barely care about international football but do care massively about Arsenal.

For a lot of people coming into the game now, the women’s side is that gateway.

I've said this before and I really believe it. The women’s game is the perfect way in for a lot of fans. Women, families, parents who want to take younger daughters, members of the LGBTQ+ community who want to feel safe and welcome. The representation is there on the pitch and in the stands, and the atmosphere is very different to what you encounter at certain men’s games.

I've seen loads of fan commentary and interviews where people describe women’s games at The Emirates and Meadow Park as safe spaces and as a proper community. That's definitely how it's felt for me. I started going to WSL games because I could take my niece with me and not worry that people were going to be drunk, screaming at players and calling them every name under the sun. I didn't want her as a then 13 year old hearing that kind of abuse and I didn't want to have to explain it to her on the way home.

So when someone asks me, is The Emirates safe and welcoming for anyone thinking of attending with their children this coming season, my answer is 100% yes. For me it's an amazing space. I love going to The Emirates for the Arsenal Women WSL home games. I've met and continue to meet wonderful people who come together with a shared love for this team. You feel more connected with the women’s side on a certain level that's kind of hard to explain. You feel like you're really truly part of something.

In terms of atmosphere, I don't think it's worsened as crowds have grown. If anything, it's improved. As more regulars take up season tickets and we all learn the words to the songs, it gets louder, more cohesive and more fun. You still have that sense of community, but now with bigger numbers and a proper home crowd behind the team.

All of that makes the women’s game the perfect gateway into football for a lot of people. You can bring your kids, you can bring friends who are a bit wary of the men’s game. You can bring people who might never have considered going to a women's match (or any football match for that matter!). They get to experience football in a setting that's passionate and noisy, but not hostile. From there, once they fall for Arsenal Women, they ARE Arsenal. The badge is the same. The love is the same.

If you're reading this and wondering whether to make your first trip next season, my answer is simple. Do it. You might be surprised how quickly you find yourself looking up fixtures, learning songs and planning the next one!