'Is this a sport genuinely invested in eradicating racism, or one that regards it as no more than an inconvenience, a distraction, a smudge on the business model?' Excellent read.

Thinking of Grant Wahl today & sending love to his family, former peers & those who loved his writing. Last night I found something I wrote after his passing, with help from @meglinehan.com & @jtannenwald.bsky.social. I published it today, as a small tribute. www.linkedin.com/pulse/grant-...

As the culmination of a wonderful #WEURO2025 tournament nears, WIF's @alexstone7.bsky.social spoke to some of the volunteers in Zurich who are helping to create the magic 💫 Find out what motivated them to be part of a "summer of dreams" ⬇️ www.womeninfootball.co.uk/news/2025/07...

Despite playing their first match in 1972, Switzerland did not compete at a major tournament until 2015. The country's domestic league is still not fully professional, with an average of just 489 fans attending each game last season. Change is coming. 🇨🇭 www.espn.com/soccer/story...

We've just published an absorbing and in-depth personal account written by WIF advisor, Alex Stone, about his experiences as a volunteer at this years #WEURO2025 tournament: www.womeninfootball.co.uk/news/2025/07... Image courtesy of ©Stadt Zürich by Getty Images 🇨🇭⚽

Goosebumps atmosphere in the Zürich Public Viewing site. #WEURO2025

A piece that makes you think by @jonathanliew.bsky.social. Really hope tonight is the start of a new beginning here in Switzerland. 'Every woman who ever kicked a ball in anger has always been aware on some level that they are playing for something larger.' www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Popped to the Letzigrund to collect my Women's Euro volunteer accreditation. Stadium was spotless, pitch looked like a carpet and branding now up right across the bridge linking Bellevue to Bürkliplatz. Not long to go now.

Keep up the good work guys. I'd like to see who wins before sunrise. Only two players below par before this. No idea what winning score will be. Surely Jon Rahm on +4 couldn't?

Absolutely loved this by @suzywrack.bsky.social. Although a minus point for making me feel old when Faye & Yanks ran her school session! www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Dear Sport, Black girls deserve better. 60% dream of becoming an elite athlete, yet many are falling out of love with sport in their teens. We need your help to #KeepBlackGirlsPlaying Be the change they need: womeninsport.org/resource/dea...

When Chloe Kelly scored the winning goal at the Women’s Euro, most saw the moment as a liberating one for women. Lucy Horsell saw it as another instance of a female playing top-level sport without the necessary support to perform at her best. A really good read. www.forbes.com/sites/asifbu...

Amother lovely article via @nutmegmagazine.bsky.social. The 1982 World Cup was when I fell in love with football. 1986, the one I played out down the rec with my best mate. As the Yeovil Laudrup & Elkjaer, recreating goals & dreaming of glory. Still dreaming! open.substack.com/pub/nutmegfo...

Magnifique. The French league has been working all season to make stadiums safer for women. Among the measures are a system for reporting sexual and gender-based violence & a support and protection procedure in case of incidents, including post-incident monitoring. sports.yahoo.com/article/fren...

30 years after England hosted a Women's Euro where we had a Rugby League club hosting games, such was the lack of support. Would love to see this happen.

What would you do if the club that generations of your family loved, consider merging with their noisy neighbours? Really interesting story by @benbloomsport.bsky.social. Really feel for Bedford Town's owners trying to juggle finances & protect traditions. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

"It could have only worked by involving those in the club every day. We are linked financially, but with the freedom to develop a philosophy away from just winning. It’s about diversity, inclusiveness & community.” 👏 www.theguardian.com/football/202...

From the onslaught of atomic bombs to a future threatened by rising tides. Football may not have played any part in the islands’ history, but it could play a crucial role in its future. Brilliant story. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Super excited and proud to announce our new corporate member: the Football Association ⚽🥅 The English governing body joining #WomeninFootball is amazing news for the women who work for the FA and for football right across the board! Read the full story: www.womeninfootball.co.uk/news/2025/01...

In 2015, Chelsea broke the women's transfer record to sign Fran Kirby for £40-60,000. Great stat by @tomjgarry.bsky.social. Bridging the financial gulf between tiers was also discussed on the Expected Goals podcast. Feels critical for future competitiveness. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Another Christmas treat to myself arrived via my favourite Zürich bookshop today. Looking forward to this by @danielrachel.bsky.social. Then, Hooky on the Hacienda.

"Tell the boss I'm ill." Amazing story of how Paul Lambert went from being broke & gambling on an unknown agent to winning the European Cup. Imagining that moment he first got on the Dortmund bus. Great interview. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Really good read. Kay Cossington is one of the lesser known names who played a key role in driving women's football forward in England. Interesting to see how these multi-club ownership groups evolve, considering the mixed success in men's models. open.substack.com/pub/thecutba...

Basic humanity is missing in social media free-for-alls that beset football | David Hytner

Loving my Christmas treat to myself. Took Zürich book shop a while to get this by @nigetassell.bsky.social. Chapter 1: Primal Scream's tambourine player had to wear foam over his wrist under leather gloves (otherwise they would bleed) as his mate had made it out of steel in his garage. Genius!

NFL & NBA report record/best in 5 years TV viewing figures for Christmas Day. Sure other sports will be watching. Personally, despite the film repeats & demise of the TOTP Xmas Special / Kickstart, I'm OK with one day off ⚽️. frontofficesports.com/nfl-netflix-...

I live 20 mins from Egg & volunteered at the Championships. I arrived for a shift as news of Muriel's death broke. The medal ceremonies that day were incredibly poignant. This is a really important article. Hopefully the ultimate tribute will be more tech used in future for all category races.

Always been impressed when I've heard Thomas Frank interviewed. This is a good listen. A down-to-earth bloke who says a lot of things that many can identify with. Plus he's an advocate of a famous All Blacks mantra! open.spotify.com/episode/0Pm4...

Earlier this year I did something I hadn't done for 20+ years. I became a volunteer. Instead of checking tickets at Glastonbury Festival, I joined a Zürich foundation that supports refugees, becoming a 'buddy' to two young women. I just got to write & publish how they met. seet.ch/en/we-were-b...

Nicolas Jover and some incredible postage stamp corners will get the headlines. But clearly realising I didn't have my Arsenal hoodie on, and a swift HT change made the real difference. ❤️🤍

20 years between this and Wales qualifying for their first senior women's tournament. Some very familiar tales really well told by @meganferinga.bsky.social. I hope many of those interviewed were in Ireland to see history made last night. www.nytimes.com/athletic/586...

Read Graham Coxon's book earlier this year. Now need to buy this too! 'When you first meet up, Damon, Graham & Dave are all making their own music and they ask what you’re up to, and you say you’re trying to make a giant Frazzle. Have you made it yet?' www.theguardian.com/culture/2024...

Portugal smash previous biggest crowd for a women's game + new records for 🇨🇭&🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿. 👩🏽 ⚽️📈

"Football does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem & loyal supporters should not bear the cost." As eye-watering as the prices, is that protests will be at food bank collection points. Helping some families who can't even afford to eat in 2024. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Another eye-opening story about how sport offers a glimmer of hope when it may seem the rest of the world is looking away.

"The business of women’s sports in a lot of ways fails athletes & fans because it was just a copy-paste of what men built. Now we have new kinds of media entities that are starting to redesign what the media landscape looks like.” Good read by @jennatonelli.bsky.social. www.si.com/soccer/in-a-...

After 20+ years working in football around the world, I saw the sport used for numerous social impact projects. I'm really proud to be part of this one. Providing Latina women from the US life-changing experiences via a partnership with Watford FC Women. youtu.be/TxTUost8Oeg?...

Please welcome the mighty @arsenalfc.bsky.social to the #WomeninFootball community! #arsenalfc A leading force internationally in women's and men's football, with a growing female workforce, the #Gunners are WIF's newest corporate member 👏👏👏 Find out more: www.womeninfootball.co.uk/news/2024/11...

First snow of winter, Christmas markets open & Christmas lights get switched on. On top of that hat-trick today, @psbhq.bsky.social are in town. Bis Bald. 🕺

'We can all follow the blue & white signs to the next city, but only some of us know the directions to the future.' As a germanophile who studied and worked in the country at a time I was expanding my own musical tastes, I love this commitment to hero worship. www.theguardian.com/music/2024/n...

This is massive. Michele Kang, who owns Washington Spirit, Lyon and London City, giving $30 million over next five years to bolster the foundation of women’s soccer. Improve talent ID system (which could break hold of pay to play) and get more women coaches and refs www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024...

"I know now quite how much it can mean, to be there with your child as they start to do this thing that you love, that you have loved, for so long, and to see it start to bring them the joy that it has brought you." Brilliant & brings back lovely memories. The ending...😍

Interesting take. Even more interesting if 'soon' was defined. "The decline of X is a sign that we may soon be free of social media and the compulsive, constant attention-seeking that it normalized. People just aren’t meant to talk with one another this much." www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

End of an era in 🇨🇭⚽️. A club have historically 'painted' their pitch markings with wood shavings but the tradition will end as their former GK is retiring from his carpentry business. Feels like a story that needs wider sharing! youtu.be/tafzNl9AQv8?...