World Footy News

The development of women’s football in Europe outside of Ireland has been slow and troubled. In previous years, teams have sprung up quickly in Italy and then Switzerland, a promise of how appealing the game is to European women and how quickly it can be developed, but after the breakaway of most Italian players to play the similar 6-a-side game O-Rules, it left the map of remaining female players very sparsely populated.

However, with the rise of European tourists getting into the game in Australia, there are growing numbers of talented European female players cropping up across Europe. With no teams left to face the Irish, and no one country able to field a full 9-a-side team, a handful of female players travelled to Reading in early July, and after having a kick about together at the Brit Cup, the decision was made to amalgamate numbers and enter the Euro Cup as a joint European team.

The reasons behind the decision are simple- not only would it be a tragedy should there be no women’s game at the Euro Cup this year, it would be bad for the development of the game in Ireland and across the continent. The women’s game needs the exposure and the girls need the playing experience. Furthermore, as Aussie Rules is considered to be an addictive sport, it was hoped that bringing the individual players together at an event like the Euro Cup would provide the enthusiastic spark necessary for them to get involved in the development of the game in their individual countries.



So far, female players from Scotland, England, Ireland and France have confirmed their attendance, with other players from Italy, Germany and Finland unable to attend but expressing their support. Here’s what some of the players had to say about their love of the sport, the Euro Cup and the future of the game across Europe:

Vannessa Temple, of England, is now an experienced VWFL player, but had never played football before watching it in Australia and deciding to have a go. “I immediately fell in love with the skills and physical side of the game,” she said. “It is such a varied game, not just one skill to it and there are so many positions it’s hard to not fit into one if not a lot of them.”

“The sport gives you a lot of useful skills that can either be taken from other sports or be put into other sports depending where your coming from or wanting to go to. I think once people give it a go it’s hard not to fall in love with this robust and exciting game. I feel it brings people closer and it’s a great way to meet new people from all over the world.”

Vanessa is a huge AFL fan and would love to see the game one day be as big in England as it is in Australia. She also thinks, “If we could get more women involved and make it a real, bigger sport, who even knows, maybe they will add it to the Olympics in the future.”

Berengere Portal is the French women’s football co-ordinator. Talking about the growth of the game, she says, “Today there are 8 teams in France: Paris Cockerels, Cergy Coyotes, Strasbourg Kangaroos, Bordeaux Bombers, Aix-Marseille Dockers, Toulouse Hawks, Perpignan Tigers and finally Montpellier Firesharks. All these teams are happy to welcome girls, though at the moment we are only 4: one in Aix-Marseille, one in Bordeaux, one in Toulouse and finally one in Paris.”

Of these four players, three are hoping to join the European Crusaders and play against the Irish Banshees at the Euro Cup, but for Berengere, of course the main goal is to create a French national women’s team to take part in international competitions.

Berengere discovered Aussie Rules when she went to Australia 4 years ago for an internship. “I totally fell in love with this sport, it is the most complete sport I have ever seen,” she said. “You need endurance, speed, to jump high and all the quality you need in soccer, basketball or handball! I discovered there were teams in France, and so it is now more than 2 and half years that I have been playing footy. And compared to other sports, the guys are really happy to welcome girls at their training sessions! So girls if you want to discover a new sport, or to try a very complete sport in Europe it is time to begin!”

Meanwhile in Scotland, just across from where the Euro Cup will be hosted this year in Edinburgh, Glasgow Sharks player Hazel Stevenson is also preparing to represent her country as a Scottish player in the Crusaders team.

“I think the Euros provide us with an amazing opportunity to not only get a competitive game but also a bit of exposure for women’s footy,” she said. “I hope that the Euros will raise more awareness of the game in this country for both men and women and bring in new players to both.”

Hazel is new to the game but most importantly, she got into Australian Football at home in Scotland when she was invited to train with the Sharks at the start of the season.

“I got into game as I have known couple of the Sharks guys for years,” she explained. “I have always been intrigued by the sport so when I was invited along to train at start season, I jumped at the chance. I loved the sport straight away and the girls were all made more than welcome by all guys and given so much encouragement.

“I have played a lot of soccer over the years but footy has a real sense of team spirit and belonging straight away. I would like for anyone who is intrigued by or interested in the sport to go along to a training session. We all started with very little knowledge of the sport so it’s important that people don\'t let their lack of exposure to the sport to stop them coming along. All the girls that have come to training have really enjoyed it!”

The Euro Cup will take place in Edinburgh on the 22nd of September. There are still places available for European players who wish to play for the European Crusaders women’s team and interested players should contact AFL England women’s football co-ordinator Tobietta Rhyman as soon as possible littlepommygirl@hotmail.com

If you are interested in playing next season, or would like to know more about the game, please get in touch with your local team or one of the following players:

Scotland: Hazel Stevenson- hazelstevenson27@hotmail.com
England: Tobietta Rhyman- littlepommygirl@hotmail.com
France: Berengere Portal- berengere.portal@gmail.com
Ireland: Leiha Shrubsall- leiha.shrubsall@pinebridge.com
Italy: Vronnie Ceradini- ve82ru@yahoo.it
Germany: Leni Frank- marilenafrank@gmx.net