Securing Volunteer Opportunities, Ellen White’s Inspiring Journey, and Katie Zelem’s Revealing Insights on Her Manchester United Departure
This week's edition of the Beyond the Pitch FREE email newsletter.
Introduction:
We’re here to keep you connected to the world of women’s football.
Every week in this email, you’ll find:
A deep dive into an essential aspect of building a career in the women’s football industry.
All the articles uploaded to our website this week.
A roundup of the biggest headlines from women’s football across the globe.
Delivered straight to your inbox, this newsletter is your go-to for insight and updates - all in ONE CONCISE EMAIL PER WEEK.
The Lowdown on Volunteering - Finley Chung:
Recently, I have taken a bit of a back seat and actually thought about the journey to get where I am today. That journey, like many others, has been filled with ups, downs, and everything in between.
A crucial part of that journey has been volunteering, whether that be from my time in Sixth Form to a voluntary placement at my local Women’s Football team. The volunteering field has given me some brilliant opportunities to date.
Now, it can be a daunting prospect to try and know where to even start when it comes to volunteering, something I have also experienced myself.
Below are my top tips on how to start volunteering if you aren’t sure where to start.
Start low - most grassroots football clubs are always looking out for media volunteers
Find somewhere you're comfortable travelling to - remember, you’re the one often out of pocket for volunteering with things like travel costs, there’s no point incurring like a £30 travel bill to do something for free!
Keep your options open - you can always volunteer for multiple organisations at once if you feel comfortable doing so
CV - make sure to keep your CV updated with your volunteering exploits - people always look out for it.
The latest Beyond the Pitch articles:
The importance of female representation within the sports journalism industry - Emmy Somauroo:
Within the 2023/24 academic year, around 20% of students registering to study a NCTJ-accredited sports journalism course across the UK were women. This has increased from 7% within the 2021/22 academic year and 14% in the 2022/23. The visibility of the Lionesses winning the European Championship in 2022, had a significant impact in the increase of young girls playing grassroots football: with 129,000 more girls playing regularly in schools and 10,300 more girls playing competitively. Highlighting that if they can see it, they can be it. So how does this link to the representation for female journalists within the sporting industry?
One step forward, two steps back: Arsenal’s scheduling conflict by Angharad Evans:
Arsenal FC, a club celebrated for championing the growth of women’s football, has come under scrutiny after announcing that their women’s UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) group stage fixture will be relocated due to a scheduling conflict with the men’s Carabao Cup game. This decision has sparked criticism from fans and advocates of women’s football who feel that it contradicts Arsenal’s ‘one team’ mentality. The club has long promoted a unified identity across both its men’s and women’s teams, but this choice suggests a prioritisation that runs counter to that message.
Corinthians Women: the Latin voice that needs to be heard by Beatriz Cruz:
Brazil has long been celebrated for producing exceptional, skillful players who have left an indelible mark on football history with their performances in clubs across the globe. In women’s football, Brazil’s national team has been shaped by legendary players like Marta, Formiga, and Sissi from the very beginning. Their contributions not only sparked a deep national passion for the sport but also attracted crucial investments and fostered a stronger, more supportive culture for women’s football in the country. Talking about the recent history of national women’s football, there’s a big club that stands out not only countrywide but continent-wide: Corinthians.
Overcoming Hurdles: Ellen White’s Fight Against Online Hate and Empowering the Next Generation by Bethan Smith:
Ellen White’s story is a powerful reminder of resilience in the face of adversity. By sharing her experiences, she hopes to inspire young girls to continue pursuing their dreams, no matter the obstacles, and to combat the culture of online hate that threatens to hold them back.
Football Manager 2025: Bringing Women’s Football to the Forefront by Abdullah Mamaniyat:
Football Manager 2025 is set to launch its highly anticipated new edition in March 2025. This year’s edition marks a significant milestone for women’s football fans. For the first time in the franchise's history, players will have the opportunity to experience the women's game. The addition of women’s football is more than just a new gameplay feature—it is a crucial step in promoting equality and representation in the gaming world. Women's sports, especially football, have long struggled for visibility and recognition outside of North America. This inclusion in a globally recognised platform like Sport Interactive’s Football Manager will undoubtedly amplify their presence.
This weeks key stories in women’s football:
Katie Zelem reveals why she left Manchester United:
Katie Zelem, former Manchester United captain, criticised INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's management of the club, highlighting the lack of prioritisation for the women's team during her six-year tenure. In an interview, Zelem detailed challenges like reduced budgets, inadequate facilities, and insufficient investment compared to the men’s team. She cited Chelsea’s successful women’s team as an example of the benefits of proper funding and urged Manchester United to follow suit.
Zelem’s openness underscores the importance of players sharing their experiences to expose systemic issues and advocate for change, potentially influencing future improvements in women's football.
Mary Fowler withdraws from upcoming Matildas game due to mental and physical fatigue:
Mary Fowler, a key player for the Matildas and Manchester City, withdrew from friendlies against Brazil and Taiwan, citing mental and physical fatigue. Fowler emphasised the importance of balancing her demanding schedule with prioritising recovery, highlighting the lessons she has learned about safeguarding her mind and body.
This announcement follows similar breaks taken by teammates Sam Kerr, due to injury, and Cortnee Vine, who is focusing on mental health. Fowler’s transparency reflects a growing recognition of mental health in professional sports, underscoring the importance of open conversations about well-being to inspire systemic support and resilience for athletes.
Barbra Banda voted BBC Women's Footballer of the Year:
Barbra Banda, forward for Zambia and Orlando Pride, has been named the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year.
Barbra Banda shone at the Paris Olympics, scoring four goals, including a hat-trick against Australia, to become the top African scorer in Olympic history with 10 goals. Despite joining Orlando Pride in March, she tallied 13 regular-season goals and netted the championship-winning goal as the Pride claimed their first NWSL title.
Banda has faced a surge of online abuse, with many comments targeting her appearance and falsely accusing her of being male and unfairly competing against female athletes.
These allegations trace back to reports from two years ago when Zambia’s football federation excluded her from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, citing concerns over passing a gender verification test required by the Confederation of African Football. Despite no evidence of misconduct and her continued success in the U.S., the harassment persists.
The BBC has also been unfairly criticised, even though the award was determined by independent experts and a public vote.
Banda’s case highlights the undue scrutiny and biases faced by women in sports, especially those challenging stereotypes.