The #SSEWomensFACupFinal is today and it kicks off at Wembley at 5.30pm. Thankfully it is live on BBC1. I was planning to go to Wembley to watch the match, and see Arsenal Women and Chelsea Ladies battle it out to become FA Cup winners, but sadly due to ill health I am unable to make the journey, which has been a huge let down to my six year old twin girls, and also my 20 year old daughter. Who are all huge football fans.
My twin girls have, for the last six months, been going to an after school football club. They’ve started to learn the game and having been introduced to the game, going to Wembley would have been an amazing experience for them to watch the quality that will be gracing the field today. My 20 year old daughter, who has played football since she was a little girl, and has even represented her country, Wales, at different age levels and still plays for her university team, was also looking forward to the final.
I have been involved in girls football for many years through my older daughters, and I have seen it grow hugely where now it is shown live on national television. Who would have thought that would have happened. The talent over the years I have seen is quite honestly phenomenal. My own daughters skill levels at times left me in awe. More interesting was that it also taught them that although football was a male dominated game, they could do anything they want, and football was something they could do as well, and be inspired and fearless in their pursuit of filling their dreams.
#TogetherWeCan is the campaign that SSE and the Women’s FA are supporting. It’s about inspiring a generation of girls that with determination they can be anything they want to be.
As I have said I am unfortunately not able to attend the match at Wembley, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be joining as a family to watch what is going to be a fantastic match, with a record breaking attendance expected at Wembley.
We have decided to sit down as a family with lots of snacks and refreshments, and make a party in our living room for the Women’s FA Cup Final. My children, especially my twin girls, are super excited to see the game, so it looks like we will have a great football party in the lounge watching the match. It will be fantastic to have some excellent family time around such a positive experience that can only help my six year old twin girls grow and inspire, and believe that they can be anything they want. Women’s football is growing at a very exciting and quick rate, which is enabling positive strides for girls and women on and off the pitch.
It’s a massive London derby, Arsenal women versus Chelsea Ladies, and it will be a very exciting match, no doubt there with some of the most exciting talent of the women’s game on display. So don’t forget it kicks off at 5.30pm today live on the BBC. You can also join in the hashtag chat #TogetherWeCan on social media.
Being the father of four daughters, it’s so fantastic to see how women’s football is growing and nurturing talent and showing a generation of young girls and women that anything is possible, and they can fulfil their dreams. Making such a positive future for our young daughters.
Update
A record crowd at Wembley of 45,423 saw Chelsea Ladies win the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final. Beating Arsenal Women 3-1, a fantastic match. Well done! to Chelsea Ladies.
This is a collaborative post produced in conjunction with SSE and Women’s FA #ad
