England Witnesses Double Rise in Women and Girls' Football Teams in Seven Years

The number of women and girls' football teams in England has doubled over the last seven years, a BBC analysis has found. The sharpest increase occurred in the 2022-23 season following the Lionesses' victory at the Euro 2022, with about 1,500 new teams registered. Euros final goal scorer and Manchester United forward, Ella Toone, expressed her amazement at the growth.

According to data, there are now 12,150 registered female teams, a satisfying leap from the 5,632 in the 2016-17 season. The rise has been noted at every age level, from grassroots to professional football. The Jersey FA showed the largest proportional rise, from seven teams in 2016-17 to 53 in 2023-24.

Toone attributed the surge to increased visibility of women's football on television, including the Women's Super League games, which has given younger girls more role models.

Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA's director of women's football, announced plans to make the game more accessible to all women and girls from diverse backgrounds and circumstances. The focus is on the extensive benefits and opportunities that football can bring. Growth at the elite level has also climbed; Deloitte's analysis reported a 61% increase in average revenues for Europe's top 15 women's clubs.