The growth of women’s football in recent years has been nothing short of remarkable. From a sport that was once largely ignored and played in the shadows, women’s football has now become a global phenomenon, with players and teams from all over the world competing at the highest levels.
One of the most notable examples of this growth is the attendance at the Arsenal vs Wolfsburg Women’s Champions League Semi-Final in 2013 compared to the same game in 2023. In 2013, the game attracted a modest crowd of around 1,500 spectators at Meadow Park. However, ten years later, the same fixture was sold out with over 60,000 fans in attendance at the Emirates Stadium in London on the 1st May 2023. As a huge Arsenal Women’s fan I was devastated by the result, but it was a proud moment to see Irish captain Katie McCabe lead the team out onto the pitch in front of such a huge crowd.
This massive increase in attendance is a testament to the incredible strides that have been made in the women’s game over the past decade. The players are now household names, with the likes of Katie McCabe, Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Viv Miedema commanding as much respect and attention as their male counterparts.
The growth of women’s football has also had a significant impact on the way that teams and organisations approach recruitment. Gone are the days when women’s football was seen as a secondary or amateur pursuit. Today, top teams are investing heavily in scouting and developing young talent, looking for the next generation of stars who will lead them to success on the pitch.
As a recruiter, there are several lessons that you can take from the transformation of women’s football. First and foremost, it’s clear that talent can come from anywhere. Women’s football has seen players emerge from all over the world, with different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. The same is true in the world of work, where the most successful organisations are often those that are open to recruiting from a wide range of backgrounds.
Another lesson is the importance of investing in the development of talent. The rise of women’s football has been driven in part by the investment made in scouting and developing young players. Similarly, successful organisations recognise the value of investing in their employees, providing training, mentoring, and development opportunities that help them grow and succeed.
Finally, the growth of women’s football highlights the power of perseverance. For many years, women’s football was overlooked, marginalised, and underfunded. But the players and organisations involved never gave up. They kept pushing, kept fighting, and kept believing in the potential of the game. This same spirit of perseverance is essential in the world of work, where success often depends on the ability to keep going, even in the face of adversity.
The growth of women’s football over the past decade has been truly remarkable. As a recruiter, there are many lessons that you can take from this transformation, from the importance of investing in talent development to the power of perseverance. By embracing these lessons, you can help your organisation succeed and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
