Nick Brown possibly has one of the best jobs ever, spending his days writing about football. Travelling across the whole of the UK to tell the stories of clubs, social changes in the game, and the history of the sport. Despite being from South of the Border, Nick came to write his new book, ‘Girls Allowed’, with the help of Hamilton Accies women’s team.
He’s written this week’s blog in preparation for the fundraising event he has planned along with the Hamilton WFC to raise vital funds for the semi-professional team. A link for the event and sponsorship contacts can be found at the end of the post.
It started with my own stupidity. Being from the southern part of the UK and having seen the game explode in England since the Lionesses’ European Championship win, I sort of assumed that the knock-on effect would be more or less the same throughout Britain. The money started flooding into the game, the players started to become recognisable personalities, and many of the top clubs were embracing their women’s teams more than they ever had in the past. It is now, for the most part, a very well-organised professional and semi-professional sport.
When I found out that there were only three full-time professional teams in Scotland (at the time of starting the book), I couldn’t believe it. I thought that it must be a mistake, but, as further research confirmed, it was indeed the case.
I started my more extensive research – more than just asking the Internet, ‘how many professional women’s football teams are there in Scotland?’
It was then that the idea of ‘Girls Allowed’ was born. I didn’t just want to write about the history of women’s football in Scotland, I also wanted to make the point of the struggle that, for the majority, it still is. The struggle today, though, is different from the struggle that was faced by the players of Rutherglen or the team from Gay’s Biscuit Factory or for the now legendary Rose Reilly, who had to leave the country for France and Italy to be able to live out her dreams. The struggle today is for those outside of Glasgow City, Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibbs to even compete.
I contacted the teams outside of the big noises from Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the first to get back to me was Hamilton Academical. ‘Pop in and we can have a chat,’ was the kind offer from manager Robert Watson.
Unfortunately, ‘popping in’ would mean me embarking on a 12-hour round trip, so we met on Zoom instead. A productive meeting ensued and ended with Hamilton giving me any help I needed. I am so grateful for their support, and it turned out to be quite a story. With a budget of next to nothing, they ended the season as SWPL2 champions and also gave their now-retired captain, Megan Quinn, the first testimonial match awarded to a player from a Scottish women’s team.
In my meetings with Robert Watson, it dawned on me just how much of a difference there is between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’. Hamilton and the others outside of the big teams previously mentioned operate on an amateur basis, with all players and staff having day jobs before coming into training two or three times a week, assuming they can get there from work or college. Nobody is paid for what they do. The manager also acts as the secretary, the fundraiser, the sponsorship negotiator and the chief scout amongst the myriad of roles that come along with the title ‘manager’, not just standing on the sidelines giving the stink eye to the other team.
Since the end of last season, just to make things potentially even more awkward, the men’s side of the club got into financial trouble. They left Hamilton to move to Cumbernauld and tried to order the women to stop using the club kit and badge. The women have continued as they were. But are now the only community representation for Hamilton in football.
‘Girls Allowed’ is now complete and will be in the shops in late October. It tells of the struggles women have had through the years, including being shunned and banned, just to play football. It also includes a fascinating insight into just how hard it is to run a club even today.
The book launch event will be at New Douglas Park on Friday, 28 November and will feature special guests, audience Q&A and a fundraising auction. If anyone who reads this would like to be a sponsor of the event, be they a company or an individual, (don’t worry, it won’t cost an arm and a leg!) please do contact me. As I said, everything is run on non-professional terms.
Even though girls are now allowed, it is still incredibly hard for most of them.
Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
For further enquiries: Nick Brown
Email: books.nickbrown@gmail.com
Twitter (X): @nickbrown_books
