With the Lionesses returning back to the UK with their runners up medals around their necks, players from the Westminster Women’s Football Team are still celebrating their success and preparing for the upcoming season.
Ellie Schuetze is going into her second year studying a Photography BA Honours degree and has been inspired by the growth and the increasing global attention of women’s football over recent years. This year’s Women’s World Cup saw record smashing crowds, with the total attendance in New Zealand and Australia hitting over 1.9 million throughout the World Cup, with the average crowd reaching just over 30,000 each game. The fan turnout was higher than the record set in 2015 in Canada, which saw 26,000 fans per game.
While Spain took home the winner’s medal, the Lionesses keep inspiring women and girls across the UK to get involved in football. For Ellie, the Lionesses inspired her to continue playing and supporting women’s football wherever she can.
She said: “I think we have come so far as a nation with improving the attitude towards women’s football and it was lovely to see the amount of support given to the Lionesses throughout the tournament.”
Ellie got into football because her brother played but started out playing with the boys at school as it was difficult to find a girls’ team for her age group at the time. Six years ago, she finally found Eastbourne Borough FC and captained their women’s team for her last three seasons before moving for university.
Since starting at Westminster, Ellie got involved with the University of Westminster Women’s Football Team and has enjoyed everything it has had to offer, from representing the University in big games to being part of sports socials. She has loved meeting a range of new people all studying different subjects but who all have football in common. As the new season approaches, she is now counting down the days to getting back to the team.
She said: “I’m looking forward to hopefully recruiting some new first year students to grow the team and play great football together.”
The team trains weekly and plays against other universities as part of the BUCS league. They will also compete this year in the Aldi Women’s South Eastern Tier 4 League, playing against around nine other teams throughout London, Greater London and the South Eastern regions.
The team is open for anyone - whatever the level. There will be a stall at this year’s Welcome Fair and taster sessions for anyone who wants to give football a try and get to know the team.
Learn more about the team and sign up by visiting the team’s Instagram page.
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