November 1 – The English FA has launched a new four-year strategy, Reaching Higher, aimed at building on the rapid growth of women’s and girls’ football.
Covering 2024 to 2028, the new plan seeks to continue expanding opportunities at all levels, with an ambitious vision to ‘unlock the full potential of the game’ and position England as a global leader in women’s football.
Following record-breaking results under the 2020-2024 Inspiring Positive Change strategy, Reaching Higher sets out five core priorities to guide its objectives: to ‘celebrate the uniqueness’ of the women’s game, aim for major tournament success, establish high-quality competitions, elevate domestic competitions and to promote equal access to football.
Baroness Sue Campbell, outgoing Director of Women’s Football at The FA, said: “There’s no question that in the last four years we have made significant and tangible progress across every aspect of women’s and girls’ football, but there is no room for complacency – we must strive to reach higher.
“Although diversity within the women’s game is improving, we must double our efforts to ensure every girl and woman feels they are welcome within the football family whether as players, coaches, officials or leaders. We can be proud of what has achieved to date, but now is the time to refocus our priorities so we can unlock the true potential of women’s and girls’ football.”
Expanding grassroots initiatives and school programmes is also top of the agenda, with the goal of achieving equal football access for girls in 90% of schools across key stages 2 and 3.
The strategy is further bolstered by five central “golden threads”: female health and well-being, safeguarding, refereeing, coaching, and diversity/inclusion.
In addition, commercial investment, technology, marketing, and improved facilities are identified as critical enablers to propel the women’s game forward by 2028 with the FA saying it is “determined to set a new benchmark” for the future of women’s football in England and beyond.
Mark Bullingham, chief executive officer at The FA, said: “Until we have the same number of women and girls playing as men and boys, there is still more work to do across the game. In the next four years, we will set our sights on more international success, as well as building the quality and sustainability of our women’s and girls’ leagues and cup competitions and developing facilities to match our ambitions.
“None of our ambitious plans can be delivered without seamless collaboration with football’s stakeholders, including the new independent body running the top two divisions of the women’s game. We head into the 2024-28 period in great shape, with ambition to deliver more growth and societal change.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734803161labto1734803161ofdlr1734803161owedi1734803161sni@g1734803161niwe.1734803161yrrah1734803161