No to Pink Football Boots
Growing up as a female footballer just as obsessed and in love with the game as any other West London boy in the area of Ladbroke Grove has its pros and cons. I wish to outline them below in the best way possible. Looking back, while I do have a certain fondness for W10, it was always difficult feeling like such a minority at the Westway soccer schools and hearing people say "I didn't know girls could play". Yes they can, and did you also know that my favourite colour is NOT pink!
As mentioned, Westway soccer schools were my initial memories of playing football. I would go down each half term as my parents were working and be thrown into football sessions with a load of boys from the area. Sadly, this football space is now loomed over by Grenfell tower but I am glad it is still a great space used by the community. Some I knew and there would be the occasional new face, all however were threatened by me and my feminine presence in their male coded space. I remember winning an award at the end of the week for 'most improved', a patronising award to say the least but still one on my trophy shelf at home. I did meet a few great players that have gone on and achieved great things whether in football or other avenues who from my memory have always strongly endorsed female football and asked whether I still play when I have bumped into them on Grove. Still however I have always avoided trying to play with boys and this often runs into its problems as there is a distinct lack of accessibility to girls/women's football in West London....My poor dad who has always had to Drive me to XYZ location across London can account for this.
I joined the next closest girls football team I could find. Funnily enough this wasn't close at all. This picture was taken at an QPR's training ground in Harlington. The harsh reality was that the only girls team in west London was a mere field away from the runways of Heathrow. Great flat surfaces for football, but a windy place that required Dad and I venturing down the M4or trekking on various tube line colours that I don't recall. This all a long way from my W10 postcode. Despite living right next to Loftus Road, it was worth the travel for these oversized T-shirts and great group of girls that travelled from all areas of London to meet their people. Alass we were cute.
I was always quite sensitive to comments made to me growing up. Now I couldn't give two flying saucers about whether my game is accredited by a man and it upsets me that it bothered me so much growing up. One particular instance stands out and has stuck with me throughout the years. That being when I was in Sports Direct one time standing awkwardly in front of the vast array of boots that 21stcentury capitalism has to offer. Stuck for choice, hesitant on whether any of them would fit my narrow feet and sceptical to if any of the shop assistants would take my female customer concerns seriously. A young man approached me, asked me if I was looking for the running section. "No" I replied shamefully. After a few seconds and while baring in mind I had a game the next day, I mastered the courage, "I need a new pair of football boots" I responded, "I'm a winger, I have fast feet, I want something light". The shop assistant hesitated, reluctant to believe that a young girl was perhaps indicating that she could be the next Cristiano Ronaldo. Confused yet still willing to do his job the young man picked up a pair of pink mercurial football boots. Great, that was just the boot I was looking for. What a fantastic salesman you are, I must sing your praises to the manager. No boots were bought that day and no Pink football boots will be bought in the future from this customer.