6. The Future

Interview 3 - Sadia Sheikh

Dr Sadia Sheikh founded DIYA FC in Pakistan, in 2002. It started life as a football centre for young girls & women, and has developed into a highly successful academy that not only coaches football, and runs a team in the National Women Football Championship, but changes girls' lives. This inspirational interview was recorded in late 2024.

Interview 2 - Moya Dodd

Moya Dodd believes that women's football "should be given its own head".She is a Lawyer and Sports Consultant, Co-Chair at Common Goal, member of the Women's Leagues Forum. She has also been a FIFA ExCo and AFC ExCo member. As a player, she was vice Captain of the Matildas.Her views on women's football and its governance are a must-hear for anyone who cares about the integrity and future of the women's game.

Interview 1 - Sue Campbell

Baroness Sue Campbell became the FA Director of Women's Football in 2016. She created and oversaw implementation of the roadmap for developing the women's game, that set it firmly on the path to professionalisation and success. This very candid interview was recorded in late Summer 2024 and was the final full-length interview she gave before stepping down from her role in December 2024.

6. The Future

If the future of women's football is left to 'market forces', then it risks becoming just a version of the men's game. Because the 'market' is dominated by men's football and the money to which it has access. In this final episode, we look at the optimal conditions needed to create a strong, authentic women's game that benefits every club and every player, not just the elite. Guests (in order of appearance): SUE CAMPBELL               FORMER FA DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL ALEXANDER VON SCHIRMEISTER      MD, Xero UK & Emerging Markets JULIAN HADWIGER     WHU-OTTO BEISHEIM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT LEE SANDERS                  HEAD OF FOOTBALL, DURHAM WOMEN FC ELLIE LEEK                         FORMER PLAYER JENNIFER HASKEL       DELOITTE SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP MOYA DODD                    LAWYER, SPORTS CONSULTANT KIERON O’CONNOR    THE SWISS RAMBLE  NATALIE BURRELL         WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FAN ROLAND GISCARD D’ESTAING    WOMAN UP AGENCY PAUL DRESIBACH          WOMEN’S FOOTBALL STRATEGIST HELEN WARD                  GENERAL MANAGER, WATFORD WOMEN JENNIFER HASKEL       DELOITTE SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP BETTINA BAER                 LEAD CONSULTANT, TWO CIRCLES YVONNE HARRISON   CEO, WOMEN IN FOOTBALL DR SADIA SHEIKH          FOUNDER, DIYA WOMEN FC ANJALI SHAH                   PIFA, INDIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL ALLIANCE

5. The Role of Men

The biggest factor affecting the development of women's football is... men's football. It casts an enormous shadow that creates a big challenge to the women's game. Partly because of the temptation (wrongly) to emulate it, but partly also because it currently controls the capital that funds the growth of the women's game. So, what is the role of men's football and men, right now, and also historically? Guests (in order of appearance): HELEN WARD                  GENERAL MANAGER, WATFORD WOMEN JENNIFER HASKEL       DELOITTE SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP NATALIE BURRELL        WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FAN BETTINA BAER                 LEAD CONSULTANT, TWO CIRCLES PAUL DRESIBACH         WOMEN’S FOOTBALL STRATEGIST MOYA DODD                    LAWYER, SPORTS CONSULTANT KELLY LINDSEY               COO, DIRECTOR FOOTBALL, LEWES FC FANNY ALMERSSON   STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS ANJALI SHAH                   PIFA, INDIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL ALLIANCE ROLAND GISCARD D’ESTAING    WOMAN UP AGENCY LEE SANDERS                  HEAD OF FOOTBALL, DURHAM WOMEN FC ELLIE LEEK                        FORMER PLAYER IRENE MERINO              GLOBAL HEAD OF GENDER BALANCE, DECATHLON YVONNE HARRISON CEO, WOMEN IN FOOTBALL DR SADIA SHEIKH        FOUNDER, DIYA WOMEN FC JULIAN HADWIGER    WHU-OTTO BEISHEIM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT MARK BRADLEY             FAN EXPERIENCE COMPANY KIERON O’CONNOR    THE SWISS RAMBLE