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Beyond the Pitch Episode 85: WEUROS, Champions League and the Future for Women's Football
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Thank you for joining Alka and Paige in this exciting episode, as we dive into the future of women's football with a special focus on the 2025 UEFA Women's Euro, the ever-evolving UEFA Women's Champions League, and the transformative steps needed to grow the game in the coming years. We'll explore the rising stars, the tactical innovations, and the growing fan base that are shaping the future of the sport.
Join us as we discuss the potential impact of the 2025 Euros-how teams are preparing, what we can expect from this tournament, and the key matchups to watch. We'll also take a closer look at the UEFA Women's Champions League, examining how top clubs and their elite players are pushing the boundaries of women's football on the European stage.
But it's not all about the games. How can the sport continue to grow and gain visibility in 2025 and beyond? From investment in grassroots programs to media coverage, sponsorships, and professionalisation, we'll explore the strategies that can help take women's football to the next level.
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Transcript
Introduction to 'On The Pitch'
00:00:01
officialgspn
every
00:00:05
officialgspn
Global Sports Podcast Network. Hello and welcome to the On The Pitch, a daily women's football podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Today, it is brought to you by myself, Alka, and the absolute fabulous Paige.
00:00:23
Paige
Woo-hoo! Hello!
00:00:25
officialgspn
Hello.
00:00:27
Paige
Happy New Year!
00:00:28
officialgspn
Indeed, it's been an awfully long time. I'm not going to make one of those jokes. It's been like a year because it's not. But actually but I did.
00:00:36
Paige
I think you kind of just did!
00:00:40
officialgspn
Right, well, New
Excitement for 2025 Women's Euros
00:00:42
officialgspn
Year starts with a new bang. We're starting off discussing everything that has happened or not everything. Don't have time for that. But the best things that are about to happen in 2025, the women's heroes. Oh my God, I'm so excited.
00:00:55
Paige
Me too. I'm actually gassed. I love a Euros.
00:01:00
officialgspn
the knockout stages of the Champions League, the Champions League final, it's always, everything falls in the summer months, we love the summer months.
00:01:06
Paige
Yep.
00:01:07
officialgspn
Oh, the best time here for football. And then, just overall, 2025, not a new start, but a new start to grow again. So, kind of what we're looking forward to, the expectations of the women's game, the growth as it's, what, three, four years it's already done, massive, for the next two years, two or more than two, but,
00:01:28
officialgspn
But let's start with the women's heroes. Paige.
Funding and Legacy of Women's Euros
00:01:32
Paige
Yeah, sorry I was getting excited about the fact that we've got euros this year. um Yeah, well I think the first thing obviously to to maybe cover is just the fact that you know it was announced, wasn't it this early last year actually that Switzerland were kind of um cutting the funding that was expected to go to the euros um from something ridiculous like I think 15 million is what it was expected, Frank's that is obviously, and it's been cut by like 75%.
00:02:05
Paige
So like 4 million is only going into it, which I think is just sad overall all for the women's game, especially when you you're a host nation and you kind of
00:02:11
officialgspn
definitely
00:02:15
Paige
make so many promises, but let's focus on maybe the positives that have come of that. They kind of set out like a two year plan, a legacy program, which is all, you know, that's great to see. And hopefully the money side of things and the, the impacts that will come from the tourism and all of that, and just the growth of the women's game generally will, will just help.
00:02:33
Paige
And let's not focus on the negatives. Let's focus on the fact that a new host country, um, with Switzerland, which are you going?
00:02:39
officialgspn
Mm-hmm.
00:02:42
officialgspn
No, I'm not. I wish I was going.
Challenges in 2025 Euros Groups
00:02:45
Paige
Okay, well, maybe I might be, but...
00:02:47
officialgspn
Oh no! Take me with you. I'll go to your suitcase.
00:02:49
Paige
okay um I think it, you know, it's gonna be... what First of all, it's a beautiful country.
00:02:57
officialgspn
Done in.
00:02:58
Paige
The backdrops will be incredible, and I think the football will be as well. So there's a ah couple tough groups. I think some may know that England might be in one of the toughest, but...
00:03:11
Paige
I i know.
00:03:12
officialgspn
That proof is lethal. and Not even the fact like, not even looking from an England point of view, but looking from the fact that you're not gonna have either France, England, or the Netherlands in the court finals, the semi-finals, the fact that they're just gonna be, one of them's gonna be gone.
00:03:28
Paige
I know, I know, we've just got to hope it's not going to be England, but yeah, me too, especially of our recent performances.
00:03:32
officialgspn
I'm highly terrified.
00:03:37
Paige
And I also think playing one, ah yeah, playing against a home nation, I think is such
00:03:37
officialgspn
Definitely. Bless Wales.
00:03:46
Paige
such a difficult thing that at tournaments. Like I remember England playing um against Scotland in the men's and we were just appalling and you just thought oh my gosh like this is not the one and obviously it's so great for Wales of course but I also feel slightly bad for them being in this like group of death especially with it being like their first euros and stuff you kind of I mean
00:03:55
officialgspn
Yes.
00:04:09
officialgspn
So, yes.
00:04:11
Paige
I don't know. it's It's kind of one of those, right? You, I've want to go into it and you want to play the best teams to do the best you can, but also give me a break.
00:04:19
officialgspn
Yeah, like, identity member charts.
00:04:22
Paige
Yeah. Um, I think.
00:04:23
officialgspn
But it's still so exciting that they managed to get into their first ever Euros. That was a big moment for them.
00:04:27
Paige
Exactly. Yeah. A hundred percent. I think that's. the ah the important part of it is just to celebrate that they've made it um and what that can bring for the growth of the game obviously in the UK but in Wales specifically and those kind of things. So yeah let's focus on the positives for Wales because I don't think during the tournament there may be all that many. um I think yeah overall I even think the Spain group's quite difficult only because there's a couple there's a couple players that I think are doing bits for Portugal. Italy is never a a set thing I think the Italians
00:05:13
Paige
as we've got Italians on our pods, they're pretty unpredictable and I think could actually give Spain a good game and I think that that could be a little bit a little bit tasty.
00:05:23
officialgspn
Definitely.
00:05:27
Paige
Obviously
00:05:27
officialgspn
I think as we see as we see time go on we see we actually we see more Italian players. Obviously like Italian players are so centralised in Italy. they find it very like I was speaking on a pod ages ago about this about transfers, probably this time last year actually. ah and how they always try and go out, realise, right, this this environment just doesn't fit me. And then they always end up back in Italy. Obviously not all of them, that's a generalisation, but the best players that we've seen in England have come and gone because the English game can't is not sustainable for them. And so I feel like we're not seeing the full breadth of the Italian talent that we can be seeing. And so I feel like they are gonna
00:06:14
officialgspn
They might not pop a world-class performance, obviously Spain is every winner under the sun, but against Portugal and Belgium I could see them absolutely putting in a shift.
00:06:19
Paige
Yeah.
00:06:23
Paige
Yeah, exactly. 100%. And I think you're right. And um and I'm sure, as you you said, you you've covered it previously. it is I think England is a difficult place to come, especially from a like a footballing perspective.
00:06:37
Paige
The league is so demanding. um
Impact of Hosting Euros in Switzerland
00:06:40
Paige
The competition calendar is so consistent, so back to back.
00:06:44
officialgspn
yeah
00:06:45
Paige
And I think that that is difficult to adjust for a lot of foreign players, especially if in their home countries and their home nations the expectation isn't like that so of course Italy doesn't have that sort of level right now so to then bring all the best players into the WSL to it then experience that but really hefty calendar and high pressure environment that the women's game is getting now Yeah, I don't think that they they're enjoying it.
00:07:12
Paige
And why would you? I mean, you're Italian and you live in England, like it's rubb rubbish weather, rubbish food.
00:07:15
officialgspn
and
00:07:18
Paige
um But yeah, I think, yeah, Italy will be one to watch, potentially. um Any from you?
00:07:26
officialgspn
I feel like ah Norway always have players. They have the best players ever, always. I just feel like this is something that just doesn't connect them to make them as good as they should be. And same with Switzerland, like three, four years ago, Switzerland were one of those countries. It was... Right, Switzerland is going to be a tough game. All of a sudden they've fizzled out and I'm hoping that these Euros will boost them back up again a bit like it did with England. um Not only as a team, obviously as a nation, I feel like the growth of the game in England after the Euros is you know for the record books and I'm hoping that it might not be the biggest impact like to the same level in Switzerland but I feel like it's always got to help having ah having a tournament at home.
00:08:08
Paige
Yeah, for sure. You've obviously seen what what's been done as a result of the Euro 2022 here.
00:08:10
officialgspn
even
00:08:16
Paige
And I think, yeah, whenever a host nation, you do see them kick on. And I think, you know, even Switzerland as a nation competing in the tournament, I think they might actually do bits because I think that they'll just have that home advantage, that momentum that you know we had in England and we loved.
00:08:33
officialgspn
Yeah. We start with Australia.
00:08:35
Paige
Exactly, exactly that. um So yeah, I hope they do do well because I think it's important for home nations to actually put in a shift and put in performances because of the impact that it then has in their country for the remaining years that you know the legacy can live on.
00:08:52
Paige
um But obviously not too well. Let's let's it's not hope they did too well. But yeah,
00:08:57
officialgspn
I mean, they can not explain out. do Do us a bit of favour as if we make it and then, you know, put them out later.
00:09:01
Paige
Well, yeah, yeah, of course, we'll support you against, you know, the likes of Spain, the likes of France, Germany, you know, just England.
00:09:06
officialgspn
Germany. The Netherlands. Yep.
00:09:13
Paige
The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts with dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and a daily Premier League wrap up broadcasted in five different languages.
00:09:26
Paige
This is your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
Spotlight on Global Sports Podcast Network
00:09:34
officialgspn
right on to our next topic the champions league oh the champions
Unpredictability of the Champions League
00:09:40
officialgspn
leagues one it's one that gets to me because it's just so hectic at the beginning of the season and then you just are left waiting for the next games like the knockouts could not come any sooner and i'm just sat here like right what do i find him do in the meantime this is like one of the best um competitions There is, yeah.
00:10:00
officialgspn
why Why are you making me wait until May to, you know, no. ah Impatient, right. But let's actually chat seriously. These course of finalists are insane.
00:10:13
officialgspn
And like the past past few Champions Leagues, you've had that one or two major slip-ups or the fixtures in the group stages that kind of knock out a big team.
00:10:14
Paige
Yep.
00:10:26
officialgspn
Or, for example, last year when Arsenal and Wolfsburg didn't even qualify, which was insane to now both of those teams being in the quarterfinals. We've got Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Lyon, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Wolfsburg.
00:10:42
officialgspn
And out of that whole list, I can only see one weak link. And then again, that's not very weak because you've gotten to the quarterfinalist at the Champions League.
00:10:50
Paige
Which is?
00:10:51
officialgspn
Real Madrid. I'm so sorry, I'm gonna like come message me, I'll sort it out with you, but like, you know, like out of all those teams there, they are the one that dropped standards in their own league, in and that international like this, the Champions League.
00:11:09
officialgspn
um and okay Okay, this is really bad for me to say, and I'm not going to say it, but I would class Arsenal as like probably, that Arsenal is probably the next one to go.
00:11:23
officialgspn
there not as much as it pains me to say.
00:11:24
Paige
That's a massive shout. Coming from an awesome little fan.
00:11:26
officialgspn
that I know, I know, sometimes I've just got to be honest and this is honesty, but those teams are so tight.
00:11:27
Paige
Sheesh. its
00:11:30
Paige
Yeah.
00:11:34
officialgspn
Hear me out also though. by Munich, it was not as strong as I thought. And that's purely because of the fact that they just lost against Arsenal. And I genuinely did think that they were the better side.
00:11:46
officialgspn
I thought they were the tougher side. Obviously you saw it that first fixture around in their group stages, they lost like ridiculous. It was embarrassing, it was.
00:11:53
Paige
yeah
00:11:55
officialgspn
um And then to obviously the second game be very neck and neck. Well, obviously they dropped in like the final minute.
00:12:03
officialgspn
but free English sides, what are we thinking?
00:12:06
Paige
I think that's the one bit that I ah just think is a really great look. you know It shows that the development that we've had as a nation, like we've just spoken about, you know the legacy of the Euros, but the legacy that the WSL and the continued improvement that that's having.
00:12:25
Paige
Of course, you know, a lot of these teams are stacked with, you know, international players that are incredible. But I think that that for the longest time has always been a little bit of a just the consistency across the WSL leagues when pushing into the Champions League.
00:12:41
Paige
You know, we've all always had maybe just one team that makes it.
00:12:42
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:12:46
Paige
But I think the fact that there's, you know, there's three and there's three and potentially two of those three that are maybe, maybe the kind of, i I don't want to say favorites for the for it, but like they're pushing towards actually, could they could they go all the way?
00:13:05
Paige
And I think, you're you know, yes, maybe you you have to be a little bit um pragmatic with your approach as an Arsenal fan, but I also think that
00:13:05
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:13:16
Paige
Arsenal wanted this for a hell of a long time and maybe that desire is what could be the difference because I think because you know there's been so many failed attempts let's say this could potentially be the one that like if the whole team can actually come together and like put in the performances that most Arsenal fans know you all are capable of You never know.
00:13:43
Paige
Champions League are incredible nights, incredible like opportunities for individuals and for teams to like really shine.
00:13:45
officialgspn
Mm-hmm.
00:13:51
Paige
And yeah, why not? Why not?
00:13:54
officialgspn
I mean, if we keep Renee, I feel like we would... The only way is like, let's be so honest.
00:14:01
Paige
Right.
00:14:03
officialgspn
Nothing to do with the Champions League, but we've kind of, well, I've segued onto it now. um i don't I don't want to ask her for any manager. I feel like don't don't fix what's not broke.
00:14:16
officialgspn
Renee's most certainly not broken. She is the complete opposite.
00:14:18
Paige
Yeah.
00:14:20
officialgspn
Obviously I'm saying then you can reevaluate in the summer. That's okay, but don't don't like hinder consistency by trying to bring someone in for a name or for money or for clout or any of the above.
00:14:32
Paige
Yeah.
00:14:33
officialgspn
And I feel like that will then be their make or break for the Champions League.
00:14:36
Paige
For sure.
00:14:38
officialgspn
and how far they get on to going if they then change their their managing and their staff.
00:14:40
Paige
Mm-hm.
00:14:44
officialgspn
ah Similarly to what you were saying before and how Champions League nights are absolutely wicked. I can't help but think back to two years ago when it was Bayern Munich Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg was dominating and then Bayern Munich clawed like three back, getting them that way in the eyes.
00:15:00
officialgspn
But I feel like it's going to be in every single match, quarterfinal, semi-final, semifinal final for these bunch of teams.
00:15:07
Paige
Yeah, but that's that's the exciting part of it though, right? It's because you you're coming across you know the best teams in Europe.
00:15:10
officialgspn
That's the best.
00:15:16
Paige
There's gonna be moments, periods of the game where one team is gonna potentially have that upper hand and it might be just a case of like who can finish under immense pressure, who who can take that that sort of momentum and do something with it and it not just be momentum, it can actually like translate into something that's game-winning.
00:15:30
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:15:42
Paige
But also, football is a game of two halves, and we've experienced that, you know, so often, so, so often, that half time can come along and a complete change around and a complete switch up can happen from a mentality perspective that you then come out to face the opposition again, and it's a brand new theme, right?
00:16:00
officialgspn
Team, yeah, like who is this?
00:16:03
Paige
Yeah, exactly. So for any of these fixtures, have you got any sort of predictions who you'd want to see face each other at this this early stage early stage and inverted commas, but like early stage of the serious stages?
00:16:16
officialgspn
Yeah, but no, because like, I've, Barcelona, they've done their rounds in England, which I'm very grateful for. They've already played Chelsea, they've played Manchester City. By all means, in terms of an Arsenal perspective, I want them to play Chelsea again, I want them to play Wolfsburg, I want them to play everyone that I know we cannot beat. However, i but I would love, I would pay so much money, no I wouldn't, I've not got any money, but to see Barcelona versus Arsenal.
00:16:47
officialgspn
not from a ah game that counts perspective, but from just absolutely just that my eyes would be mesmerised. um I think when it gets to groups like this, where it's just so, so like the the level is undoubtedly amazing, it's actually just, football is a game of whoever just makes the least mistakes.
00:17:11
officialgspn
That is it.
00:17:12
Paige
yeah
00:17:12
officialgspn
And I genuinely, I'm not putting a downfall, I'm not writing their narrative, none of the above, but I actually feel like Barcelona is gonna have a step up. I'm not going to say it's going to go in favour of Arsenal because they can't read them I can't read anyone like that, but I genuinely feel like we're going to have a new Champions League winner this year.
00:17:31
officialgspn
Whether it's Chelsea with Sonia, fine, so be it, I can't be too mad, but I can be, but I can't be.
00:17:34
Paige
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:17:38
officialgspn
um
00:17:39
Paige
Slight fault.
00:17:40
officialgspn
I genuinely think that this year something is going to happen. like i you know I just don't think it's going to be Man City. They've not got enough um like years on them.
00:17:50
Paige
Too many anchories.
00:17:52
officialgspn
I don't think Real Madrid have what's in them to get past the court final.
00:17:56
Paige
Nope.
00:17:56
officialgspn
um Wolf spoke about an amazing run in the group stages, beating teams major digits They can always be con content as the amount of wins they've got under their belt is massive by Munich, I think are going to slip up.
00:18:13
Paige
See, I think they might be a bit of an underdog in it.
00:18:16
officialgspn
They did so well. Was it last year or the year before? There was one year where they did absolutely amazingly. like The year that we was, it was the quarter file still, but like the year that they was down in against Arsenal last time. um
00:18:30
officialgspn
but I don't know, I just, I want a new winner, I don't care who it is.
00:18:35
Paige
Yeah.
00:18:36
officialgspn
Even though I do care.
00:18:38
Paige
Any winner in just as long as it's Arsenal.
00:18:43
officialgspn
That's yours, you want any winner, a pop them off, thanks there Paige. Anyways, so that's all we have time for today. I don't want to sit here and talk to Paige anymore.
00:18:48
Paige
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You misunderstood. I was saying you want a new winner, whoever that is, as long as it's Arsenal. To be the new winner.
00:18:56
officialgspn
No, it doesn't have to be Arsenal paid, I just mean, not really Barcelona again. I feel like Spain's going to already have such a good year with the Euros that I just give other people a chance, be so for real, like, just share.
00:19:06
Paige
just gives it a chance yeah sharing is caring come on guys we play for participation we don't play for wins darn i think for the story books right okay
00:19:11
officialgspn
It is, I know. However, okay.
00:19:17
officialgspn
That is the best award you're going to get. ah Also, so I'm going to say something really under my breath here, so I'm hoping that no one captures it, but I wouldn't be mad if Chelsea won the Champions League.
00:19:32
officialgspn
Genuinely, like obviously we know Sonia's capable of it, she's done it ample times before, but I think it's just, like as much as Arsenal won it, and they have, they haven't I'm gonna say they've got more passion than Chelsea, and i know you can see that, you can see the build up they've had, the fall down, the bring back up, all of the above. But if it's not Arsenal winning the Champions League this year, I'd want it to be Chelsea. I think their players are incredible and they They do deserve it.
00:19:59
Paige
Yeah.
00:20:00
officialgspn
However, we're going to swiftly move to an ad break before anyone, I'm joking, if you've got anything to disagree, agree.
00:20:09
officialgspn
There's gonna be little snippets of me just going, I love Chelsea.
00:20:14
Paige
Literally, that's all we're gonna cut up.
00:20:17
officialgspn
Oh no.
00:20:20
officialgspn
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spend a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those mm's and ah's, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:20:45
Paige
Thanks for joining us South Bar and sticking with us to the end. We're now going to try and discuss actually the growth of the women's game and what we think we will see for the rest of 2025 and into the forever future. First of all, what do we think still needs work?
00:21:07
officialgspn
A lot. I'm joking. I am joking, I am only...
00:21:10
Paige
We have like 10 minutes left girl.
00:21:13
officialgspn
Oh, not not
Disparities in Men's and Women's Football
00:21:14
officialgspn
a lot.
00:21:14
Paige
Not a lot. We're fixing it in this podcast.
00:21:16
officialgspn
so the growth is incredible but then at the same time there's just that it's more than little things that then stop the actual growth like you can say right we're you know showing it more on the tv or you're getting your free streaming off of youtube but it's always i think it's more of like the structural things inside of clubs which like obviously i don't know everything about that but i feel like there's things that the men will get that the women won't get or talking like stadium wise training facilities like even I'm dropping this back all the way down to grassroots.
00:21:55
officialgspn
um Like my friend plays for a club in Milton Keynes and they play they train on the Leo Williamson pitch, so do their men. But only this year they've gotten the opportunity to play on their men's home, like it's a stadium, their men's pitch. But why have they only been given the opportunity this season when the game has been growing for the last four years?
00:22:17
officialgspn
but it's okay for the men to train on the same pitch as them but then the women can't play on the same pitch.
00:22:17
Paige
ah hundred percent
00:22:22
officialgspn
like It doesn't really line up and I feel like little things like that, especially in the in the lower down low grassroots sort of structure, but that's the issue where we're gonna then struggle.
00:22:34
Paige
Yeah, I think for me, yeah, it's that and it's it's the equal access type vibe and um yeah specifically focusing on like that tiered football I think you know the WSL the championship it will take care of itself I think obviously Newco let's still call them that because it's just easier to say are going to do incredible work for the WSL championship and let's hope that filters down but to me it's that disparity still between grassroots tier and then pro football and I think it all comes down to
00:23:04
officialgspn
Definitely.
00:23:11
Paige
um you know, the sharing of of facilities and clubs, recognising the equal opportunity that should be a natural sort of alignment within clubs from the get-go. But because we've never had that, it's now that change of mentality, it's that change of perspective. um And I think that's what I'm hoping this year will we' really try to cement, that, you know, the female game deserves.
00:23:41
Paige
exactly the same, if not more opportunity to play because there are sort of fewer clubs, fewer teams.
00:23:45
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:23:50
Paige
I think we need to make sure that when we do have, you know, grassroots teams, grassroots clubs that are really trying to push their women's game, that there is opportunities for them to play and it's not, well, do we do, you know, five new boys teams or do we just focus on this one girl's team?
00:24:07
officialgspn
Thank you.
00:24:07
Paige
Well, Well, actually, why aren't you just focusing on that one girl's team? Because that one girl's team might be the only team in that area for that massive group of girls. So I think that for me and and maintaining or preventing that that real disparity between tier football and professional football would be something that I think still needs work.
00:24:27
Paige
has It's done well, yes, and I think there has been that sort of undercurrent of it, but I think that I would like to see that become some sort of priority for like the FA and staff.
00:24:27
officialgspn
hundred percent.
00:24:39
Paige
um and for clubs generally and and so sort of professional clubs, how they do their player pathways and stuff to to make sure that we don't have at some point like a massive, massive disconnect between non-pro football and pro football, if that makes sense. um So yeah, that's the kind of areas that I would like to see continue to have work put into them um because I think
Bridging Grassroots and Professional Football
00:25:06
Paige
that, yeah,
00:25:08
Paige
as a result on the bigger picture, it can only make the top of the game better when you've got a full implementation of Pathway.
00:25:17
officialgspn
Yeah like you need to look out for the future of the game instead of what's current like okay for example right you might struggle within the next five years you're going to have your major players retiring or coming to retirement age after those five years right you probably are going to struggle for the next five because that's just how it works but then if you know you're you've got clubs or you've got like for example I loads of examples here gosh um
00:25:22
Paige
yeah
00:25:46
officialgspn
like where I coach or where I've coached in the past, no female teams. But it's been like a big company where they've got, you know, loads of teams for their under sevens, under eights, all the colours, but they've not got one girls team.
00:25:59
Paige
Yeah.
00:26:02
officialgspn
I feel like obviously you've got your Wildcats which are based on um the really, really young. I feel like you need now a version of that where it will be where you can get one in like every barra.
00:26:15
officialgspn
um But for that that really awkward age gap of like 10 to 17 even, because eve the age of 16 and 17 is the age where you aren't finding a club.
00:26:29
Paige
Yeah.
00:26:29
officialgspn
No matter how hard you try, I went through this, I did not find anything. I was looking for two years, it took me up until I was 17 to actually just find a women's team.
00:26:38
Paige
Wow.
00:26:39
officialgspn
And then again, you're not going to, some women seem to be like, all right, you're still a bit young or like, yeah, you can come play, but you're not actually playing. You know what? It's always so different. Whereas if you know, you've got somewhere until you reach the age of 18, like school, it's going to make the game so much easier to grow and like hone talent that we're just, we're losing. There's just a gray area of talent that's just been lost and you're not going to find them.
00:27:01
Paige
Yeah. Or if you do, they they're so disconnected with traditional football because all they play is fibreside or whatever they've been able to play cage football, for example.
00:27:09
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:27:13
Paige
And I think that's great because obviously we want as many formats of football to be accessible. But I think if we're already in so early in their development,
00:27:27
Paige
just pushing them down one pathway of small-sided. Of course, yes, that has to be a part of their development because I think, you know, more touches on the ball, etc. But if they're 17, 18 and still playing five-a-side, like, they've obviously then, chances are, i'm not I'm not going to say that obviously not, but chances are they're not going to become professional within the mainstream women's game.
00:27:40
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:27:51
Paige
ah if there's opportunities for them to play, yes, small-sided, but also have that pathway and that avenue into you know full-size 11v11, where there's you know that opportunity to then grow and continue you know their learnings in a bigger in in that kind of environment, then we're not necessarily losing out on as much talent because they're able to kind of do both.
00:28:17
Paige
They feel comfortable within their small-sided, yes, but then they've got that that weekend to kind of
00:28:17
officialgspn
Yep.
00:28:23
Paige
go in and show out as a 11v11 player. um yeah i think there's there's There is still so much work to do but I think those are like key bits that let's hope get some focus um so we can have yeah more success in the future. um
00:28:43
officialgspn
Definitely. I feel like there's also so many different aspects. Everyone's got their own different opinions, um what they think the game could do better.
00:28:53
officialgspn
Obviously you can't listen to everyone's, but I feel like if you're hearing something more often than not, that then that's like you're raising alarm bells. It needs to be, something needs to be done about it.
00:29:05
officialgspn
And I feel like a blind eye has definitely turned to certain aspects of the game, ah when in fact,
00:29:09
Paige
yeah yeah exactly um but i mean we've literally spent how much time talking about just the one small segment of this and i think maybe it it owes to like a ah bigger a bigger series or a bigger a bigger something but i think yeah
00:29:11
officialgspn
It shouldn't be. It hasn't been for the men. It won't ever be. So why do it why do it here? Why do it now?
00:29:35
Paige
obviously we're in a new year and let let's really hope that know when we start talking about this January 2026 that we've seen such a successful year
Future Prospects for Women's Football by 2026
00:29:45
Paige
where we've got loads of really great things to celebrate, you know real great success in the Euros for whoever that might be, potential successes as we've already discussed you with the Champions League but just that overall
00:29:45
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:29:57
Paige
success for the women's game and in every country, in every form, um and that we just see ourselves sat in a different January 2026, you know, 12 months from now, that all the work that has been done and has been going on in the background is something that we could be really proud of as a nation um and as a sport.
00:30:16
officialgspn
Definitely.
00:30:18
Paige
So, yeah.
00:30:21
officialgspn
Let us know what you guys think um needs to be, needs to be at and what you loved in your 2024, what you're looking forward to in 2025 as well.
00:30:23
Paige
100%.
00:30:29
officialgspn
But unfortunately, I think that is all we have time for for today. ah Thank you for joining us. And we look back we look forward to welcoming you back to our next episode of Beyond the Pitch.
00:30:40
Paige
Goodbye!
00:30:41
officialgspn
Bye bye.
00:30:46
officialgspn
um the sports as a car network