Stephen (@stephenJBaker) takes a look at the latest positive step from the FAW – equal pay for the Cymru women’s team – a topic also discussed by Dai and Ruth (@colemans_dream) in the latest podcast.
We have had a strange feeling these last couple of years, that feeling is pride for the FAW. Having started going to Cymru matches in the early 90’s, I’ve lived through the sacking of Terry Yorath, the hiring of Bobby Gould, the continuing employment of Bobby Gould… We had the feeling then of far less pride and more borderline hatred.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis all changed when Together Stronger became our mantra, Y Wal Goch/FAW/Players/Coaches became one group. The use of Cymraeg, and whoever didn’t cry watching some of the World Cup social media clips (especially the Yma O Hyd video) is a liar.
But one thing that makes the country proud of the FAW recently is the news last week that the Cymru Women’s team are now getting equal pay with the men’s team. It was revealed that the men’s team agreed to a 25% pay cut so that women’s team could have a 25% pay rise making their pay equal.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s not perfect yet and other writers might be better equipped on what needs to be done, but it’s a very good start. It wasn’t that long ago that the women didn’t have their own kit, having to wear the men’s team old kit! Yes, they really represented Cymru around the world in a ‘hand-me-down’ kit! I read that great players like Laura McAllister can’t find footage of herself playing because the likes of BBC couldn’t be bothered to go and film the matches.
Embed from Getty ImagesSlowly things are changing and the equal pay announcement follows on from the record breaking World Cup qualifying campaign, attendance record after attendance record was broken. Slowly silencing some of the people who say that nobody wants to watch Women’s football and that the standard isn’t very good. I say to that, being a season ticket holder at Cardiff City isn’t exactly a feast of football and attendances are dropping every week, should we not show them on TV anymore? Hopefully the next campaign will be the one where Gemma Grainger and the team qualifying for the 2025 Euros and we finally get to watch the Cymru women play in a tournament.
Embed from Getty ImagesWe need the changes that are happening at the top filtering down to grassroots level and schools. Working in a primary school I’ve noticed in recent years that there’s a mixture of boys and girls playing football together on the school yard, with boys asking the girls to come and play. This might sound like nothing but look back to when you were in primary school and think of how many girls were invited to play with the boys? Times are changing.
Embed from Getty ImagesWe as a country (not just the FAW) we need to capitalise on this, making playing for girls and women’s team accessible as it is for boys and men. Get the school girls out playing football and keeping fit. We need a clear path way for those who want to play. Get the big clubs in the country out and about around looking for the next Laura McAllister, Gwennan Harries, Jess Fishlock, Ffion Morgan.
Just think that in the near future we will be watching Cymru in a major tournament every summer. Equality at the top is a start, let’s not waste this, Together Stronger!