I named my project ‘Bend it like Becks? Nah more like bend it like Beth!” in honour of England Lioness and Arsenal player, Beth Mead. It is centred around Arsenal Women’s Football Club but more specifically the inclusivity and community that comes with it.
I think if someone has never attended a football game before and has had no family members to pass down the baton of football allegiance and knowledge, the prospect of attending a game can feel quite daunting. Which tube station will get me to the right end of the stadium? What turnstile do I go through? What am I allowed to bring in? Do I have to stand up and chant too? What if I don’t know the chant? Therefore, I wanted to open up this world, that is women’s football and show that it genuinely doesn’t matter who you are the women’s game is for anyone and everyone.
I initially created a zine on how to start a chant, leaving them around the Emirates, in an attempt to make it less of a stressful experience but instead, highlight the humour in it.
I then realised that I shouldn’t be celebrating those who already feel ingratiated enough to debate starting a chant but instead, I should be celebrating the harder part, which is actually attending the match in the first place. Therefore, I focused my attention on the Silent Spectator, the one who doesn’t want to participate in all the stereotypical boisterous activities of a football match. Like the chanting, booing or cheering but instead is happy to sit and observe and then leave quietly at the end when the match is finished. I did this by describing the sounds heard when travelling to, from and during a football match such as the sizzle of the burgers from the stands on the streets or click-clack of the turnstiles. The scarf is to be worn while reading the text on the back of the shirt to further cement oneself into the beautiful world of women’s football.
