Page 6 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.36 2021-22

FAWNL announces new strategy

The FA Women’s National League has launched a new strategy to strengthen the third and
fourth tiers of women’s football in England.
The strategy, titled Empowering For Success, is backed by £1 million of investment per
season for the next three years from the Premier League.
The strategy aims to ensure the advancements in quality across the professional game
are also harnessed throughout Tiers 3 and 4 of the women’s football pyramid. Empowering
For Success is focused across eight priority areas, each with their own strategic goal,
ultimately enabling FA WNL clubs to flourish both on and off the pitch through the
development of players, workforce, and infrastructure.
The eight priority areas are:
● Players: Developing the training, playing and overall environment players experience so
they can be the best they can be, on and off the pitch.
● Coaches and Leaders: Developing coaches to be exceptional across The FA WNL,
ensuring they are representative of society.
● Referees: Driving upwards the standard of refereeing alongside improving the
opportunity and experience of match officials in The FA WNL.
● Club Development: Creating an inclusive, player-centred and sustainable club network.
● League Development: Ensuring The FA WNL keeps pace with the growth of the
women’s game and offers the best-possible development opportunities to member clubs.
● Facilities: Ensuring FA WNL and clubs have access to the required infrastructure on
matchdays, at training venues and off-field.
● Commercial: Defining The FA WNL’s commercial value and engaging with partners to
grow revenues and inward investment.
● Marketing and Communications: Growing the reach and appeal of The FA WNL by
increasing exposure and awareness through matchday activity and league channels,
driving bigger attendances and league following.
The strategy unveils multiple commitments from The FA WNL across the eight priority
areas to achieve each strategic goal. These include: increasing the number of female coaches
in The FA WNL, as well as those from historically under-represented communities; creating
a dedicated pool of match officials specialising in women’s football; reviewing the competition
structure; introducing minimum club requirements to support player development;
providing opportunities for players to engage in non-playing roles within football.
Empowering For Success was created in collaboration with FA WNL member clubs,
ensuring a range of voices from administrators and coaches to players and fans were all given
the chance to help shape the future of the league. By 2025 the strategy hopes to increase the
recognition of The FA WNL amongst women’s football fans, decrease the number of weather-
related postponements per season, increase the number of league commercial partners and
increase the average attendance of league fixtures.
Baroness Sue Campbell, The FA’s Director of Women’s Football, said: “The launch of
this strategy is game-changing for the women’s football pyramid. It will ensure The FA WNL
can maintain pace with the wider growth of the women’s game, and the clubs and their players
can thrive both on and off the pitch. We want to say a huge thank you to the Premier League
for their support, without which none of this would be possible. The money they are investing
will transform the experience of everyone who plays in the third and fourth tiers of women’s
football.”
The Premier League has also announced additional support for clubs in Tiers 3 and 4
Issue no. 36 - 26 May 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk