19/04/2024
The politics of time with Carolyn Smith
On Sunday 31 July 2022, the women’s team won England’s first international football trophy since 1966. How did watching that achievement feel?
I have to admit, my initial reaction to the Lionesses win was smug. Of course we shouldn’t compare men and women’s football, but it was satisfying to see the women doing what the men couldn’t!
More significantly, it really moved me to see so many young kids, girls and boys, following the tournament. I wish I had those examples and inspiration growing up and I think the Euros has really opened the door for young girls to feel like they can also play football, and hopefully create more opportunities for them to do so.
It seemed like the whole country was out to support the Lionesses, do you think their win has changed perceptions of the women’s game?
Absolutely. Seeing middle-aged men in the crowds, enjoying the game without the expected criticism, gave me hope that women's football can be taken seriously. There has been a lot of diversity in the crowds attending the games, which will hopefully encourage more people to get involved and challenge some of the toxic masculinity that can affect football.
I think the popularity of the tournament and the Lionesses’ victory has already proven that women’s football is a legitimate, entertaining, and successful sport full of incredible talent. The future of football is definitely more exciting now thanks to the Lionesses!
What was your experience of football before this shift?
When I was growing up, football was always advertised as a boy’s game and I never really had the opportunity to play, especially once I reached secondary school where it simply wasn’t available. Even just watching football is generally in a masculine environment, which is not necessarily welcoming to women.
The accessibility of women’s football at college level (and other grassroots levels) is so important because it creates a safe space for women to enjoy a sport that is easy to play (all you need is a ball and a few friends), it’s great for fitness, and by nature of being a team sport, it builds a ready-made community to find friends in.
"It’s such a beautiful game! I love football because it’s entertaining, it’s challenging, it encourages healthy competition as well as teamwork, and because anyone and everyone can get involved."
How did you get involved in football at Wolfson?
I’ve always been interested in playing football, and I heard about the inter-collegiate leagues from friends in Cambridge. When I started my studies here, I sought out the Wolfson women’s team at the fresher’s fair and signed up.
In my second year I became Captain of the team, which is shared with Darwin College, and put a lot of energy into promoting the team to make it accessible to as many women and non-binary people as possible. I really wanted to grow the team as much as I could and introduce new players to the sport.
What’s the entry level like for the Wolfson/Darwin team?
Trainings and matches are absolutely open to everyone and we really encourage beginners to get involved. For me, the most rewarding part is seeing people who have never kicked a ball before getting stuck into a game and just enjoying learning.
There’s a real range of skills and experience in our team every year but it works so well because everyone encourages each other, and those with more experience often take charge of the training sessions, focusing on the basics of the game. We train 1-2 times a week and begin with a warm-up, followed by some drills and then a casual game.
How often are your matches and socials?
We play in the college league and cuppers tournament most weekends, and like to fit in some socials a couple of times a term too. The mixed range is great for pushing everyone to improve but it’s mostly just about having fun, keeping fit, trying something new and, the best bit, building a community of friends outside of the lecture theatre.
We’ve got women in the team now who two years ago had never even thought about playing football and now they’re playing 2-3 times a week, as well as watching it at home and at our socials –the Euros of course were a huge part of that over the summer!
What are your hopes for (women’s) football in the future?
On a broader level, I hope that the more women we get interested in both playing and watching football, the more we can bridge arbitrary gender gaps that separate men and women, which ultimately is part of working towards a kinder and healthier society. The Lionesses' win is absolutely a huge step forward in knocking down some of the barriers to getting people of all genders, ages and abilities involved in football.
At a college level, I hope that we keep the tradition going at Wolfson and the Wolfson/Darwin team goes from strength to strength! Although I'm graduating, I want to stay involved and would encourage anyone and everyone who's interested in joining the team next term!
