TOURNAMENT MONTH HAS ARRIVED
We can count the days left to the Euros on ONE hand now
First of all - if you read nothing more than this sentence of the newsletter, let’s get to the important stuff first - sign this petition demanding WNBA superstar Brittney Griner’s safe return to the US, and read up more on her case and additional action steps here. There’s this Twitter thread from Victoria on BG’s trial which just started, CBC also has an extensive article on the current situation.
It’s been a chill weekend which seems to have rolled over into the week for me. I’ve spent all morning in bed reading/taking in information, and yesterday I was coaching and then played some fives, before getting into the last bits of editing and sending off of a book chapter at 23:58 for one of my friends to go over (our deadline was Sunday the 3rd, and I mean I kept that?!) I’ve also been collaging like it’s an extreme sport, one of the results you can find below. This generally restful vibe is very welcome, considering that we’ve got a few hectic weeks ahead of us with the Euros, only for all the men’s leagues + Damallsvenskan to start right back up again once the tournament is done and dusted.
WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THE EUROS I CAN DEFINITELY SMELL IT - we are now mere days away from the 8PM kick-off of the Euros, only a year after it was originally planned to start (!) and the anticipation is running high. Reports from all the warm up camps have gone online, teams from all over Europe have landed in the UK, and the last hype posts are being posted on social media as we’re gearing up for some serious football battles, and I’ve been having trouble getting to sleep these past few nights, which I think I can put it down to a wee Euros fever ;) I’m nervous! And excited! To get to indulge in top women’s football for a whole month feels like an absolute dream, and not only on the European continent:
HOPE UNITED CAMPAIGN - EE are running a campaign called Hope United, which sees a mixed gender squad team up against online misogyny.
Excited to say that Cathkin Blazes will be part of the campaign! Together with Goal Click, we (alongside other grassroots teams across the UK) have been asked to capture our team as we train, play in tournaments and watch football together, using analogue cameras. The results will show up across EE’s and the FA’s various socials, and it’ll be so exciting to see how it develops and what the end result will look like (which I’ll also obviously be sharing here!)
IRELAND MANAGER VERA PAUW [SEXUAL VIOLENCE TRIGGER WARNING] - Ireland’s WNT manager Vera Pauw published this incredibly brave and personal statement on her twitter a few days ago. This article by CBC also covers some of the response from the Dutch federation. It breaks my heart to read. It brings forth this white-hot rage in me that makes me feel capable of turning over kitchen tables and cars in blind fury.
To think, even for a second, about all the other cases that are out there, that go unreported, of girls that have become women and suppressed the memories and tried to move forward. To think they might’ve had to see their perpetrator afterwards for weeks, months, years, might’ve depended on them. To think about what so many of them get away with, that never gets leaves the girls that become women.
Not only was there the physical assault, but she also tells of "systematic sexual abuse, abuse of power, bullying, intimidation, isolation and framing" as both a player and a coach within the Dutch national team set-up.
TOTTENHAM’S TRANSFER BUSINESS - yes, sorry, I know that it’s a big fat women’s football summer but I just need to quickly express my pure shock at Tottenham’s men’s team activity on the transfer market so far this summer. I mean, we closed deals before the transfer window even opened (!) and also after that we’ve been so quick to close down on several players. So far we’ve gotten Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma, Fraser Forster and Richarlison, all great and sensible names in themselves, with deals for the likes of Clement Lenglet (loan from Barcelona) and Djed Spence (Nottingham Forest) allegedly *immiment*. I’m sorry, who are you and what have you done with our Spurs!
OTHER PEOPLE’S CREATIONS THAT I’VE ENJOYED LATELY:
This BBC documentary by Alex Scott on the future of women’s football, a really great watch that doesn’t hold back from being critical on what still needs to change, which I think is really needed (it’s so easy to stagnate, saying “we’ve made so much progress” and “look at where we were a few years ago.”) Interesting and beyond reasonable musings on what the future holds. Thanks Sarah for recommending ♡
This wee doc on Danielle van de Donk’s return to football following a torn ankle tendon that put her participation at the Euros at risk.
This profile on England manager Sarina Wiegman, for those wanting to get to know the last manager to have won the Euros.
Here’s a good compilation post with a sweeping overview of all the Euros teams to get to know the teams!
These videos by NIKE are gorgeous, the visual language is fabulous and features many big players including Alexia Putellas, Asisat Oshoala, Ada Hegerberg, Deyna Castellanos (who just signed for Manchester City) and Alex Morgan (check out the full list of videos with dif sports people here, loved the Emma Radiucanu one too.)
READ MY:
Low-down on Damallsvenskan 2022