Exeter City celebrate role of women and girls in football
Exeter City FC will be celebrating the role of women and girls in football at its specially designated One Game One Community (OGOC) home game against Burton Albion (Saturday 26 October).
Each season the Supporters’ Trust-backed Exeter City OGOC group organise a match with an equality and diversity theme. Previous events have put the spotlight on issues including racism, homophobia and disability. This year the focus is on promoting female participation in football.
The choice has been applauded by City’s new OGOC Ambassador, first team goalkeeper Artur Krysiak.
“Football is a game for everyone and it is great to see so many women and girls getting involved as players, fans and in lots of other roles,” said Artur.
The Devon FA is helping to encourage more of this involvement by hosting a stand prior to the game to give female fans the chance to explore opportunities in football from playing to coaching and refereeing. The stand will be in the Red Square area of the stadium.
Several local women and girls football teams will be watching the match including Moors Youth Under 12s, Newton Fire, Feniton Ladies and Exeter and Tedburn Rangers. The Rangers' Ladies Manager, Rod Hawker, supported the OGOC initiative, commenting “Whether or not some girls or women choose to play football is less important than ensuring all girls and women have the choice and opportunity to play the game”.
Local female youngsters will be showing off their skills at half time when members of the Exeter City Girls Player Development Centre will be undertaking the half time shoot out. The City and Burton players, wearing their OGOC shirts, will be led out by some of the girls prior to kick off.
Also being profiled will be the Exeter City Ladies team. The afternoon’s bucket collection will aid their funds and before the game three of their players, Helen Kukor, Tash Knapman and Lola Garcia Sanchez will receive their kit sponsorship from the Exeter City Supporters’ Trust.
One Game One Community is part of the national Kick it Out campaign which aims to address all types of discrimination in football. To contact the Exeter City OGOC group: email kickitout@exetercityfc.co.uk
