Page 14 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.15 2022-23

Patrick Higgins gives his review of the women’s football year in 2022.
2022 will go down in history as a landmark year in the women's game. The impact of those
glorious July weeks have been felt on an almost daily basis over the ensuing six months
and no doubt will continue into the new year and beyond.
Record attendances in the domestic game, record viewing figures on television,
increased participation at all levels and ages and a Lioness takeover of the BBC Sports
Personality of the Year event. All show the 'Lionesses Effect' - women's football is at an
unprecedented high.
The 50th anniversary of the first ever England international match was rightly
commemorated and the parade of many past internationals during the sold out Wembley
friendly against world champions USA was a welcome acknowledgement of the
contribution of those pioneers.
The other home nations had mixed fortunes internationally. Northern Ireland made
their own history with a first ever appearance in the final stages of a senior international
tournament but Wales and Scotland suffered play-off heartbreak in their bids to reach
FIFA World Cup 2023. Even so, there were encouraging signs of development and
investment in the domestic game in all three countries.
Domestically, Chelsea were the outstanding team but there was plenty of competition
from an improving Arsenal and the ever competitive Manchester clubs which made for a
highly competitive top tier. There were some one-sided matches but the fact that Arsenal's
only defeat was against relegated Birmingham City - which arguably cost the Gunners the
title - whilst the Champions losing to both Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion suggests
a gradual 'levelling up' of the elite with the returning Liverpool a welcome addition.
Drama in the second tier was the incredible escape act of Coventry United defying
potential extinction in mid-season and clawing back a points deduction to survive with an
injury time winner against their relegation rivals Watford. Southampton claimed the
vacated Championship place with a play-off win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and are
thriving in the current season.
The FAWNL continued to grow in stature for the most part although the step up from
the Regional Leagues can be a difficult one, as was shown with unfortunate demise of
Wymondham Town in the current season’s South East Division One. Some outstanding
attendances were recorded when matches were played on the men's team ground, most
notably at Newcastle United but at many other venues too. The challenge is to increase
attendances at games not scheduled as 'one-off' showpiece events because the clubs are
producing good competitive matches up and down the land.
As ever, Tiers five to seven provide great competition and an ever improving standard
of play for thousands of players and legions of dedicated volunteers whose contributions
were often there, long before the explosion in popularity of the women's game.
One hugely welcome development is the increased prize money in the early rounds of
the Vitality Women's FA Cup. Whilst still dwarfed by the funds made available in the
men's equivalent, the rewards for a club like Bournemouth Sports of the Southern Region
League reaching Round Three of this year's competition are of long term value. My
favourite matches in 2022 were FA Cup early round ties at Warminster and Dulwich
Hamlet with great atmosphere and cracking competitive football.
So much progress but two ambitious targets remain for 2023. How about England
lifting the FIFA Women’s World Cup and an English club the UEFA Women’s Champions
League trophy ? You may say I'm a dreamer.....
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