SAINTS’ Staplewood Training Centre played host to the ‘Celebrate the Game’ event aimed at celebrating the growth and quality of women’s football, with Saints skipper Shannon Sievwright insisting: “There are so many women in football that can inspire a generation.”

Partnered with club sponsors Fridays, footballers from teams across the country took part in funny challenges against ‘ordinary guys’ who aren’t quite sold on women’s football to showcase the quality and class on offer.

Despite all progress in the sport, research has found that there are still high proportions of discrimination and prejudice against women in football. Recent #HerGameToo reports suggest that more than 90% of women’s football fans have seen abuse against the sport on social media.

But it was mainly all about having fun and celebrating the women’s game, ahead of the 2021-22 Women’s Super League kicking off last weekend.

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Speaking at the event, Sievwright, who has captained her side to top of the Women’s National League so far this campaign, told the Daily Echo: “I think it’s really important to showcase yourself as a positive role model.

“I think there are so many women, within Southampton and within women’s football, that can inspire a generation.

Daily Echo: Shannon Sievwright captains Saints Women in the National LeagueShannon Sievwright captains Saints Women in the National League

“We’ve got the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 coming up and Southampton is a host city so what a time for the city to celebrate women’s football and showcase the quality of it.”

Challenges on the day included a crossbar competition, first-touch and control exercises and the highly competitive rondo of knocking cocktail shakers off the bar with a dead ball strike.

Sievwright took part in the latter challenge and didn’t hold back, taunting her opponent Adam in jest with “I’ll show you how it’s done,” before stepping up to hit three of the shakers.

Daily Echo: Participants took part in a number of challenges on the dayParticipants took part in a number of challenges on the day

One of the ordinary guys who came down to Staplewood to take part in the challenges didn’t fare so well – he was blowing after just a few minutes of running between cones and sending shots for the crossbar.

Asked why he wanted to take part in the celebrate the game event, your average Olly from Warwickshire told us: “It’s quite interesting, it’s just always good to talk your opinions on football.

“The women’s game is developing at the moment so it’s good to get involved, have a bit of an opinion, find out where it’s going to progress and hopefully get it the funding that it deserves.

“I was close to hitting the crossbar on a couple of challenges but didn’t quite make it, just shaved the post, I gave it my all – I didn’t realise my fitness was this bad as well, just running around after the ball for five minutes has killed me.

Daily Echo: Olly: "Just running around chasing the ball I'm knackered" (Pic: Daily Echo)Olly: "Just running around chasing the ball I'm knackered" (Pic: Daily Echo)

“I think they’re (the pros) going to do much better than I did, I did quite appallingly. I don’t think it can get much worse than mine really so hopefully all the best for them.”

The players outmatched their male opponents in each of the challenges and despite disappointment, all were gracious in defeat.

Presenter and broadcaster, Jeff Brazier, who is an ex-professional footballer himself has worked as a UEFA B Licensed coach at the West Ham Women’s Football Academy, lent his commentary skills to the campaign.

Speaking of his involvement in this campaign, Brazier said: “Whilst women’s football has progressed enormously and edges ever closer there is still a way to go for it to be equal to the men’s game both in audience and revenue.

“The talent amongst these female players is incredible and we need more visibility on the sport. If I can help bring that in any way, then I will. If we can get more fans to the women’s games then things will continue to push on.

Daily Echo: Long-term football friend Lucy Quinn, Birmingham City, was another player who took partLong-term football friend Lucy Quinn, Birmingham City, was another player who took part

“As a father of two, I hope this campaign will inspire even more young girls and boys across the country to get involved with the sport.”

After sufficient effort to try and wheedle my way out of it, I too briefly took part in the crossbar challenge and – perhaps as predicted – failed convincingly, when compared to the professional counterpart.

Fortunately for myself and one or two of the ordinary guys, I didn’t have a pair of proper football boots with me and could fall back on that excuse with pride fully intact.

Daily Echo: With form like that, it's hard to believe that the framework didn't end up rattling (Pic: Daily Echo)With form like that, it's hard to believe that the framework didn't end up rattling (Pic: Daily Echo)

Saints’ Sievwright has had a National League Southern Premier season that has needed no parachute for pride so far, with Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side topping the table and winning five from five.

The team are taking part in a higher division this season after being awarded promotion following the curtailment of the 2020-21 campaign.

The Women’s National League has seen significant rebranding in recent years to ensure it looks fresh and professional, which Sievwright has admitted is hugely important, saying: “It does look brilliant, and it’s really brilliant to be involved in so I’m really grateful for that, I just hope it continues to grow.

Daily Echo: Skipper Shannon Sievwright has her eye on lifting some real silverware by the end of the campaignSkipper Shannon Sievwright has her eye on lifting some real silverware by the end of the campaign

“I’m excited, ready for the challenge, we’re prepared and on a personal note really looking forward to challenging myself in that league again.

“We want to push up the leagues, to do that you need experience from higher leagues to continue growing, challenging each other, so it’s important to have the competition within the team, it’s great to see.

The event was a thoroughly enjoyable day with willing participants and the goal of celebrating the women’s game well achieved – which you can follow with the WSL, Women’s Championship and WNL all under way now.

Watch the full campaign video below