I?d like to think we Arsenal Americans are a fairly enlightened bunch. We all have different ethnic, national, class, and religious backgrounds, and we all respect these differences. For all our care to make sure everyone feels included, how did we ever overlook the Arsenal Ladies?
Since their founding in 1987, the Arsenal Ladies FC have won almost as many trophies in less than twenty years as the Arsenal mens team has in the last one hundred or so years. The Ladies have 7 Premier League titles, 6 FA Cups, and 8 National League Cups, a haul which includes two Trebles. Though they?ve never reached the Women?s UEFA Cup final (no English club has, in fact) they have taken part in the tournament many times. The Ladies, managed by Vic Akers and captained by Faye White, are the current English title holders.
I think it is important we as Arsenal supporters pay more attention to this branch of the Arsenal. First and foremost, we should support them more simply because they are Arsenal, too! Many fanatical supporters go not only to all home and away games, but to reserve team fixtures as well. Supporters like this (I will be one of them, one day) say they do it out of love for their club. Well, if we love our club as much as we say we do, we should do a little more to support this segment of it. Of course, women?s football is not quite the same game as men?s football. There again, Arsenal mens football under Graham is not the same as the football of the Wenger era. But the same set of fans largely turned out for both types of the football, saying it didn?t matter what it looked like, so long as it was the Arsenal.
Another more cynical reason we should give a bit more support to the Ladies is because it will help the overall of the Arsenal Football Club. As I?ve argued earlier, part of what makes Arsenal attractive to supporters is the more inclusive atmosphere in its fan base. Through better support of the women?s team, we will likely win the hearts of young girls who play or are interested in football. Young women as a ?target market? have a potential so great that it cannot be overlooked. Some of these young women will later be season ticket holders at first team games; we have to make certain they are buying tickets at the Grove. We can do this by ourselves turning out to support their team, right now. And by supporting both the men?s and women?s teams, we as supporters will be doing our part to ensure the fan community that is the heart of the Arsenal football club will stay strong long into the future.
Women?s football is currently not, and may never be as, popular as men?s football. But that is sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy, isn?t it? Sort of like the place that no one goes to anymore because it?s so busy? Increased support for the Ladies can only be a good thing for Arsenal right now. They?re in top form, so you?re likely to see them dole out a thrashing to someone. It will help increase our fan base by helping make sure young women grow up to be Arsenal supporters, which not only helps sell season tickets, but also just makes the Arsenal an elite club; Barcelona sells itself as a proletarian club to appeal to romantic revolutionaries, why not the Arsenal make itself the feminist club? And besides, lads, they?re Arsenal. Just like us.
26 Responses to “Arsenal Ladies FC”
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November 28th, 2005 at 3:13 pm
Heh, I thought this article was about the bunch of girlies on this site. ;^)
But seriously, Emma Byrne? Very hot.
But very seriously, as American supporters we should give them at least some attention. They are always making the organization look good, and that never hurts. Of course, Charlton’s ladies’ squad make their guys look like sh*t, but that’s not our problem.
As someone who followed very closely the U.S. Women’s National Team, I do on occasion tap an article off Goonernews about them. But to be honest, its not that often. Most times a headline is all I need.
November 28th, 2005 at 3:19 pm
Here’s the problem… we can’t see them play~
If they were ever on TV, believe me, I’d watch them. I have seen a fair share of US Women’s National team football, and obviously, they are fantastic. The quality is excellent. No its not top flight men’s football, but its better than some of the MLS games I’ve seen.
I look to see how the Arsenal Ladies do. I wish them well, and if I lived in London, I’d go see them play a few times a year. But being in the US, its not very easy to support a team you can never watch or even get GAMECAST of on the internet.
Hard to get overseas interest in something we can’t really be part of.
I always wondered why Arsenal didn’t recruit Mia Hamm or other US National Team players. Once the Women’s league folded here, I thought for sure some of them would go to the UK and play.
So good luck Arsenal ladies, I am sure we all wish them well and hope they win the league… but without access to them, that will be about as far as it can go.
November 28th, 2005 at 3:26 pm
Very good points.
I did see them play when I was over there, but on TV. They were in the final or something and it was pretty big news.
As for our girls going over there, I’m not sure there’s enough business in it. They may actually make more here since they’re compensated to do appearances and such to promote it.
And yes, I would kill A.J. Feeley if it meant I had a shot at Heather Mitts. In case you were wondering.
November 28th, 2005 at 3:28 pm
Yeah that is a big hindrance, not being able to see them. Maybe we should set up a special column to give updates as to how the Ladies are doing every so often?
November 28th, 2005 at 3:35 pm
A column with their results would help keep us informed, but its kinda like me occasionally looking up Wimbledon AFC. They are in the Ryman’s League and I can see their results, but I have no connection to their players or the team.
If I lived in London, I probably would attend some of their matches and follow them.
Can’t do much except have a passing following of them. Hell, if there was no internet, we’d never know squat about it!
November 28th, 2005 at 3:44 pm
“if there was no internet”
-I can’t bear to think of such a world… what would I do with my days??
November 28th, 2005 at 4:33 pm
I agree with stag. The problem is we can’t see them play, so it’s difficult to pay any attention in them.
But personally, to be very frank, I think it’s good to watch when girls playing volley ball, but football is a man’s game.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:14 pm
!
I can’t believe Andez said this!?!
Have you seen the US Women’s National Team play? They are outstanding.
I’d watch Women’s World Cup or any US Women’s match… their skill levels are very good and getting better very quickly.
I think the same was said about Women’s Tennis, Women’s Track & Field, Women’s Basketball, and on and on…
November 28th, 2005 at 9:19 pm
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the most hairbrained suggestion I have ever heard from someone on this site. Arsenal one of the greatest football clubs in the world start billing themselves as “the feminist club”????
FUCKKK THAT!!!!
These hulking, broad shouldered HE-WOMEN are not real women but MONSTROSITIES.
I say scrap their football and give them jobs cooking and cleaning in the club kitchens. While they are at it they can also look after the players kids. And if any of them are even passably good looking (something I highly doubt) then they can do their duty for the club and give Henry a bath while they are at it.
Thats my suggestion. Seriously Clarkey this is definately not one of your great suggestions.
November 28th, 2005 at 11:31 pm
FloridaG…
Tell us how you really feel!
You’ve got to be kidding. You can’t seriously be that sexist… and being in Florida, where the US Women’s Team often plays, you can’t possibly have escaped how good they are, and the large following they have.
So I suppose there should be no women’s athletics at all. Should we scrap Hoops, Track & Field, and anything else women do on the courts and field?
November 28th, 2005 at 11:38 pm
Classy
November 29th, 2005 at 3:30 am
You have to agree that floridagunner’s post was pretty entertaining to read. By the way, Arsenal’s womens team has quite a few hotties.
Sexist, shame on you floridagunner (lol).
November 29th, 2005 at 6:02 am
I dont follow the US womens team or even the Arsenal womens team for that matter. They may have a big following but I am definately not one of their followers.
In any case how good can they be? I agree with Andez, football is a mans game. If these women want to ape men and play football that is their prerogative. However I am not a fan of either their football or the way they look. I only really like very feminine women and a 6ft tall 190 lbs woman with shoulders like Superman does not meet that criteria.
In any case there is no need to ban hoops, track and field, or gymnastics. I just dont care to see them in football.
November 29th, 2005 at 8:21 am
FloridaG, shave your knuckles, mate!
I suggest you take a look at the following:
Heather Mitts
Mia Hamm
Heather Mitts
Lorrie and Ronnie Fair
Heather Mitts
Cindy Parlow
Heather Mitts
Lindsay Tarpley
Heather Mitts
Kylie Bevins
Heather Mitts
Cat Reddick
Heather Mitts
Kate Markgraf
And that’s just the US Women. Emma Byrne of the Arsenal squad is seriously sexy. Problem is its hard to get a picture of these girls when they’re not making faces, sweating and scowling.
And besides, the quality is there. Its all a matter of scale.
Funny post, though.
November 29th, 2005 at 9:39 am
Do you play football?
November 29th, 2005 at 12:39 pm
I play Clarkey and I hate playing pick-up with females, unless they smell really good. They simply play too rough, especially when they’re playing against other females. Playing indoor soccer they try and knock each other through the fiberglass. You just hear this loud bang and it’s like “whoa! I ain’t going over there.” It’s like they feel they have something to prove when they play with men.
We had two or 3 that were truly hot on our womens team in college. The real hotties were playing volleyball wearing those tight shorts. Boy’s that’s something serious. It seems like they were all hot.
November 29th, 2005 at 1:13 pm
I’ve played a few coed games as a spare. One game I shoulder-barged a tiny chick. Funny thing is, she was on my team, but she was running right in my blind spot behind me so as I went to cut right I smashed into her. That didn’t look good
The only thing about women’s football is it tends to be slower. There again, so is Italian football.
November 29th, 2005 at 5:18 pm
Scotty, man. I gotta wonder about your lady.
November 29th, 2005 at 6:50 pm
Nowadays with work and everything the closest I get to playing football is on the playstation at my cousins house. Other than that the last time I actually played was more than 5 years ago.
November 29th, 2005 at 6:52 pm
Heh. Snap!
FYI, my girlfriend’s name is Heather. Now look her up! Mitts, I mean.
November 29th, 2005 at 6:55 pm
“Problem is its hard to get a picture of these girls when they’re not making faces, sweating and scowling.”
My point exactly Scotty. As I said before I am only really attracted to very feminine women and I definately do not find female footballers attractive in any way shape or form.
That however is beside the point. Its the quality of football that is the real question and in my view that is seriously lacking and as well as being unappealing.
November 29th, 2005 at 6:58 pm
Right on Andez!!!
I cant really comment on volley ball as I dont ever watch it but I can tell you with complete confidence that my local Junior High league plays better than all the teams whose names have been bandied about here.
November 30th, 2005 at 2:36 am
I know who Heather Mitts is. My nephew has a crush on her. She’s too typical looking for me. Dime a dozen of her around. But at least she plays the beautiful game.
November 30th, 2005 at 3:05 pm
Jr.High Volleyball maybe.
The US Women’s National team could beat some MENS University teams.
November 30th, 2005 at 3:12 pm
I’d MUCH rather an athletic female than a non-athletic female any day of the week.
Give me Gail Devers, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Annika Sorenstam, Serena Williams, ANNA KOURNIKOVA, MARIA SHARAPOVA, Gabrielle Reese…it goes on and on…
As far as skill level is concerned… the female football players on Arsenal or the National teams would kick your ass ALL OVER THE PITCH. There is not even remotely close to a debate about that.
They are highly skilled athletes.
December 1st, 2005 at 4:29 am
Hey, I don’t think Swoopes is your type. Not too sure but I think I read something about carpet munching or something like that. (that totally lacked class, lol).
BTW ain’t no female kicking my ass in no way, form, or fashion and definitely not all over a football pitch. Not in this lifetime.
Okay, maybe Devers will beat me by a fraction of a second and Serena will skull-drag me in tennis. I’ll definitely lose in golf. I know my limits. That’s why I stay in my lane. Women might beat me in extreme dish-washing, speed cooking, or underwater basket-weaving, but football? Hell no!
The day a woman kick’s my ass in football, is the day I question my manhood. I’ve got too much pride for that. If that day comes, you may as well take me out back and put a bullet in my head. Before that happens, I’d “Bobby Boucher” a female athlete all over the soccer field. She’d have to deal with me something serious. Like I said, stay in your lane and football is mine. I kick 6′4″ German dudes weekly so a female athlete posing a football threat to me would definitely catch it.