Last Sunday, Tom Hartley and I decided to take a trip to Boldmere St. Michaels where Aston Villa Women were hosting Lewes Women in the Women’s Super League Championship.
I was intrigued to see what a women’s game was like as a match day experience and compare it to a men’s match day.
When we got to the ground, the first thing I noticed was the professionalism of the event. Music was on in the background, the balls and cones on the pitch laid out and the media team for both sides getting clips and shots before the game.
The facilities at the ground were no where near the likes of Villa Park but it had what was needed. An artificial pitch which allows them to be able to play on a good surface all year round, a food hatch which gave the supporters something to eat and drink if needed and some rather small toilets.
When the game began I was surprised at the amount of people in attendance. There was 355 spectators which isn’t bad at all for a Sunday lunchtime kick off. With the tickets being a reasonable price of seven pounds, this would have made the club some revenue.
There was also a dedicated group who were there creating an atmosphere inside the ground. They had Aston Villa flags hanging from the stands, drums and foghorns. This gave the game a bit more life off the pitch and they didn’t stop singing for 90 minutes.
The game itself was gripping. Something which I much preferred at the women’s match compared to the men’s was how much closer you felt to the action. You could stand anywhere around the pitch, leaving you a metre away from the action. This makes you feel more involved in what is going on.
Overall, I would definitely recommend going to a women’s game, even if it’s your local club who are not the same kind of level as the likes of Aston Villa Women. Not only will you be treated to a good day out and some footballing action, you will also be helping the women’s game and bringing more money into it so it can continue to improve.
Harvey Lawrence's Sport Blog 