FOREWORD
I RMAN
ECA CHA
It is a great pleasure to introduce the latest report in the ECA Future of Fandom series, ‘Growing the Women’s Game’. At ECA, our mission is to develop women’s and men’s European club football, working in partnership with all stakeholders, in the interests of all. We aspire to make a positive difference to the clubs and communities we support every day. In that context, the development of the women’s game is a particular and permanent priority for ECA. Our vision for the further professionalisation of the women’s game was first set out in our ‘Be a Changemaker’ strategy in 2021, which continues to guide our commitments and efforts in this area.
Our recent governance reforms mean European clubs can now qualify for full ECA membership through the performance of their women’s team; and for the first time, women’s clubs have two dedicated seats on our Executive Board. However, we are especially proud that ECA is a leading centre of excellence for research and insights into women’s football. Our ground-breaking research positively guides women’s and men’s club decisions, whether in the medical and high-performance space, or – as is the case with this report – in understanding the evolving needs of our fans.
Central to the recent success of the women’s game has been the deep, positive and collaborative engagement with fans; and this will remain a foundation for growth of the women’s game in the future – as our report explains. We hope you find the ‘ECA Future of Fandom – Growing the Women’s Game’ report both thought-provoking and insightful, and we thank all those who have contributed to this important publication. n
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