Yates is coaching in America this summer

An aspiring teenage female footballer has hit out at the perceived ongoing male sexism against the women's game.

Hannah Yates, who plays for AFC Telford Ladies and has secured a coaching post in America this summer, said female players suffer from continual jibes.

"You still get called names and it makes you question your own ability," she told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"It shouldn't happen these days, but it does - even though women's football is becoming more and more popular."

The 19-year-old added: "Even when I started playing at my junior school in a mixed side, the boys made us play at the back because were 'just girls.'

"They don't know any better, but even now you still get called names, you're told you're no good.

"Sometimes you think you don't want to play football if people make comments like that because you think - what's the point?

"Male football is always the main feature in this country, and female football doesn't get the publicity it deserves - but you have to stick at it."

Yates admitted that a recruitment day for the American coaching programme in Warwick had more male applicants, but thinks women and girls should not be deterred.

"I think women need to have that recognition of being able to play football, to have their interest grow to increase participation in the game," she said.

"And if those participation rates grow and women were confident they could do it, they could progress onto coaching and feel they are equal to men."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version