Barney Ronay’s recent article on the women’s Euros and the radio rant by ‘Dave from Egham’ has prompted a flurry of letters from readers. The original piece discussed the happiness surrounding the tournament and the anger from some men who feel women’s football is being ‘thrown down our throats’.
Helen Johnson from Nottingham describes a family gathering where men complained about the number of women presenters and commentators covering not just women’s football but men’s football and sport in general. She notes that her sister, like ‘Mrs Dave’, supported the patriarchal view, leading to familiar arguments about women’s football being inferior and not deserving equal pay.
Laura Farningham from Spain suggests that the antagonism towards women’s football stems from jealousy and a sense of threat. She recalls the popularity of women’s football in 1920, when Dick, Kerr Ladies drew 53,000 fans, only for the FA to ban women from affiliated pitches for 50 years after the men returned from war. She advises ‘Dave from Egham’ types to stop hating for their own health.
Kathryn Streatfield from Richmond praises the Euros for capturing the true spirit of sport: competitive, exciting, and skilful, but with a sense of proportion. She urges men not to take sport so seriously and to celebrate the joy shown by the Lionesses.
Beth Bolton from Southam, who arrived in Britain in 1968, says she was mystified by football fan warfare. She realised she enjoyed women’s football precisely because it lacked the anger and threat of violence, thanking Ronay for the explanation.
