by On Wednesday nights in late March, Baller FC, a joint initiative, hosts women’s football watch parties inside the Stamford Bridge Tea Bar. The group’s DIY decor taps into the real edge of women’s football. There is a cardboard cutout of Emma Hayes from Chelsea. “We trust Sarina,” reads a banner with an illustration of the Lionesses manager. Posters commemorate the seven community teams who were invited here to celebrate their achievements. Tonight’s party ends with Chelsea’s Champions League final against Ajax at Stamford Bridge, with free tickets given to tonight’s guests.
This is the second time Baller FC has worked with Chelsea – Fran Kirby joined at the last event – and it’s a testament to the collective success since they were founded by a group of friends in 2022. As fans of women’s football, they were fed up scoured the capital trying to find a pub that would host games. For the Women’s Euro in 2022 they took over a pub in east London, hosting watch parties for each of the tournament’s 31 matches. The important thing was that they wanted women’s football to be the main focus and not get sidelined for, say, an exciting game of men’s sports.
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“We wanted to make sure we had a space where everyone knew the game would be on, with the sound on,” says Rachel Gould, founder of Baller FC, “and football was front and center – you weren’t going to get turfed out of something else, and you weren’t going to get stuck in a corner.” A generative atmosphere is central to Baller FC events, with games, DJs and karaoke. Humor is key. Given the cancellation of the Arnold Clark Cup this year, the group held a mock memorial service organized with another community group, Studs. There were candles, flowers and judging.
Baller FC is not alone. Women’s football watch parties are on the rise. Since England’s record triumph at the Euros in 2022, concourses have sprung up across the UK, creating fun spaces for fans to gather and watch matches when they might struggle to find a venue to find otherwise. In London, Set Piece Social and The Other Team organized watch parties for international and WSL fixtures. In Glasgow, Pitch Please also host watch parties for WSL fixtures. In the United States, The Sports Bra opened in 2022, showing only women’s sports. For Baller FC and other groups, the organizers work with the venues to ensure that the parties are free to attend, LGBTQ+ inclusive and accessible, and events are often held on the ground floor.
In Manchester, Rain On Me FC have been hosting women’s football watch parties since the Euros. Recent events include a screening of the Manchester Derby, which the team watched at the Carlton Club in the city. Over 100 people came to last year’s Women’s World Cup watch party, where a challenge was held and a raffle for charity. Among the prizes were three Lion chocolate bars.
For Rachel Woolfenden, social secretary at Rain On Me FC, there is a clear need for these parties; Many pubs still don’t televise women’s games, for example another Premier League match. “If we don’t provide it, it won’t exist on a really large scale and then everyone has to split up and go to different small venues, which doesn’t work,” she explains. “You want to be with everyone in a big group where it’s a little lary but it’s still, you know, nice.” That inclusive environment is vital. “It’s open to everyone, but it’s good to see loads of women and queer people with football that you don’t normally see. I think people think it’s just like a bloke’s sport, which it clearly isn’t.”
Since the Euros, Baller FC has organized watch parties during the WSL season. Last summer, the group held watch parties for every game during the Women’s World Cup. His final watch party, held at the Signature Brew Taphouse in east London, drew more than 500 fans, with around 2,000 people on the waiting list. “We were getting sickening numbers of applicants coming at like 8am in the morning for women’s football games, I can’t wrap my head around it,” recalls Selina Travis, a founding member of Baller FC.
In the end, it’s all about having fun. Back at the Tea Bar, the teams have just gone out to watch Chelsea take on Ajax, with the WSL club progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions League 4-1 on aggregate. Gould and Travis are speaking over the sounds of Lady Gaga’s The Edge of Glory; tonight’s playlist has been curated by the guests. “It’s just about trying to bring everyone into the community and create a safe space where everyone feels comfortable to have a good time,” says Gould. Travis says: “We really like the idea that you don’t have to pay to go and watch a men’s football game in the pub. So, unless we’re making an extra event on it, everything is always free. It’s a labor of love.”
Talking points
FA Cup Drama: Manchester United knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Lucía García and Rachel Williams. Meanwhile, Tottenham beat Leicester City 2-1 in extra time, making it the first time the women’s team reached the FA Cup final. Manchester United and Tottenham meet at Wembley next month.
Magpies up: Newcastle United continued their rise over the weekend, gaining promotion to the Women’s Championship with a 10-0 win over Huddersfield Town. The team turned full-time last year, having been officially incorporated into Newcastle United FC in 2022 following the club’s takeover by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). “Our aim is to be good in the WSL by 2030,” Newcastle women’s director of football Su Cumming said.
Out of the gates: Sweden’s premier division, Damallsvenskan, kicked off over the weekend. Highlights included Häcken’s 4-3 win over Norrköping, with a hat-trick from youngster Felicia Schröder, and Rosengård’s 5-0 win against Vittsjö.
Quote of the week
It was ugly, it was terrible, but we didn’t care because we won!” – Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps speaks to BBC Sport after her big save helped Chelsea out of the FA Cup.
Recommended viewing
Emilie Joramo’s stunning 94th minute strike secured a 1-0 win for Hammarby over KIF Örebro DFF in the opening weekend of the Damallsvenskan. It was quite sublime.
Still want more?
Matildas forward Kyah Simon tells Katie Cunningham about her “key to recovery” before a game and her huge collection of jerseys.
Nick Ames made the trip to Sweden to bring a new dawn to Malmö.
Emma Hayes took her team-up with Jonas Eidevall a step further last week by mentioning … Robert Frost.
And Suzanne Wrack was at Leigh Sports Village to see Manchester United beat Chelsea 2-1 to reach the FA Cup final. Her report is here.
