AMMANFORD AFC and Carmarthen Town were due to hold a match entirely officiated by females on 27December.
With strict new guidelines introduced by the Welsh government that took effect from Boxing Day, the game had to be postponed.
This was arranged in association with the organisation called “Her Game Too”, and would have been the first game in the Cymru leagues to be officiated by an all-female officials team.
They aim to prevent and irradicate sexism in football by raising awareness, developing strong relationships with clubs and communities.
They also aim to make their presence known at matches to make women feel safe and welcomed.
Ammanford AFC junior secretary Anika Lloyd, commented on why a team of women officiating a men’s league match would benefit women in the sport.
“By having a team of all female officials, it certainly attracts more women to the game as spectators.
“It also acts as a catalyst for us to promote the girls’ side of the game and encourage involvement through training, playing, and spectating.
“It will also attract female coaches at grassroots level.
Lloyd suggested that the game needed more female coaches overall.
“We are slightly top-heavy when it comes to male coaches, but hopefully this will change with more recognition to women within the sport.”
In 2021, research by Danny Mcloughlin, representative of Run Repeat, it was found that 72.06% of the head coaches in Europe’s top women’s leagues were male.
On top of that, in 2021 the only league amongst England, Germany, France and Spain to have a majority of female managers in their top leagues was England.
Similarly for referees, as recently as June 2019, Wales only had 30 registered referees, with only three making the FAW’s current FIFA International Referees List.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/48580197
https://www.faw.cymru/en/about-faw/referees/fifa-referees/
However, the FAW have released very encouraging figures in the last year regarding female participation in playing the game and have put programmes in place to encourage female participation.
The total of registered female players in Wales is over 10,000 and this is a number the FAW are aiming to double by the year 2026.
https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/our-wales-her/
With an increase in the amount of women playing the game, the work of organisations like Her Game Too are sure to level out other areas of football, with there clearly being a need for more female coaches.
Hawkinsport 