Jill Scott has called for better gender equality in football despite the rise in popularity of the women’s game thanks to Lionesses.
The I’m A Celebrity…Get Me out of Here! star spoke out after new research was released.
It revealed women feel less welcome in the sport.
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Just over half – 51% – believe that football pitch providers have treated them unfairly.
Women are three times as likely to frequently lose booked pitches to men’s teams than men.
As a result, twice as many women consider hanging up their boots due to poor pitch access than men.
The research was carried out by Starling Bank.
Man City legend and England Lioness Euro winner Jill called for better facilities access to keep women in the game.
“It leaves girls thinking what’s the point, and you could be closing the door on a future Lioness,” Jill, 37, told What’s The Jam.
“You want the best players on the pitch week in week out.
“We need to focus on the grassroots, the top of the pyramid is only as good as its base.”
“You don’t know where you will end up training, there are so many dedicated coaches and volunteers.
“And I remember in the past going to pitches with no lights on, no toilet facilities, having to play in car parks.”
Ex-midfielder Jill was capped 161 times for her county and scored 27 goals.
“If girls are dropping out of the sport because they feel uncomfortable in kits, need equipment, it will have an impact on the higher levels,” she added.
“They won’t drop out if they feel comfortable.
“Since the Euros a lot of good things have happened, a lot more girls are getting the chance to play football in PE.
“Even Arsenal having 11 matches at the Emirates, the main stadium.
“When you put the club games in the stadium, you can see that people do watch the women’s game, which is a massive step forward.”
However, Jill continued: “There are lots of things where it still needs work, we feel overly grateful when we get something.
“If you fight for equality it is okay to be grateful but it is okay to still want more.”
The bank’s #KickOnWithStarling initiative aims to celebrate and champion equality through football kit in the ever-changing nature of women’s football.
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