Prospect represents 160 sports professionals, most of whom work in football as referees or Assistant Referees and was able to share our experience of dealing with issues of sexism in Football. It was heartening to hear keynote speaker, TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady praise Prospect for its work in organising in the sector. O’Grady also praised other unions such as the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists for raising the number of women trade unionists in the sector. She challenged the unions to do more, however to encourage women in the football industry to join unions and to challenge the rise in sexism.

O’Grady referred to the WiF research showing that nearly half (46%) of women working in football had experienced sexism in the workplace; that the number of women in football who had suffered from sexism had doubled in the last two years from 7 to 15% and, that 90% of women in football believe that more could be done to increase the chances of women breaking into the sport and gaining further opportunities once in it. She also called for more women to be appointed to leading positions in football and for a zero tolerance attitude to sexism in the workplace.

Following the keynote speech participants engaged in a useful networking session before a panel discussion, chaired by Executive Producer Jo Tongue and involving Sue Ferns, Simone Pound from the PFA, Sue Unerman, author of The Glass Wall and Richard Bevan of the League Managers Association.

The discussion was held on the basis that the detail would not be reported but Ferns was able to explain how Prospect had tackled sexism in male dominated industries. She showed how in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics we had tacked the issue in a variety of ways eg through the use of role models, unconscious bias training as well as mentoring and networking.

Some broad conclusions arising from the discussion were that unions needed to explain more about what they were, what they did and, what they could do for women members in the football workplace. There also had to be clear guidance for members and prospective members about how sexism could and should be challenged and a willingness to deal with the matter as a collective issue.

Prospect encourages all of our members working in football, and sport more widely, to encourage women colleagues to join Prospect (www.prospect.org.uk/joinus) and to ensure that Prospect is an attractive and welcoming organisation for women.

More information about Women in Football is at www.womeninfootball.co.uk