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Picture this: a group of women playing football on a Tuesday night, while a few men stand by laughing, waiting for their turn.
This moment, familiar to many women and girls, is exactly what the poem 'To The Men' captures.
It features in the latest edition of the Chelsea Women fanzine the Kingsmeadow Chronicle, which dedicated its March edition to Her Game Too by having all of the articles written by women.
Grassroots footballer and poet Rebekah Grassby wrote the poem, inspired by the experiences her team had when playing six-a-side football.
'To The Men' is a moving piece on the discrimination some women and girls often face when expressing themselves on the pitch; acting as a call for change from the dismissive attitude some men still have towards females playing football.
Rebekah’s poem is one of the many reasons why the campaign, Her Game Too, was first created, with the aim to maximise inclusivity and offer equal opportunities to women and girls within the game.
Rebekah said: “The impression we had was that these men wanted to make us feel unwelcome - and send a message that this was their space, not ours.
“They acted in a way that can only be described as deliberately intimidating, as well as the mocking comments and cat calls that are sadly familiar to many women who have played football.
“Football has changed - whereas once it was a man's game, it isn't any longer.
“It's our game too and we have just as much a right to be there as any male footballer.
“The poem was me standing up for myself, as a woman, a female footballer - and standing up for my teammates."
'To The Men' encourages men to reflect on their attitudes and consider whether they’d want their own daughters, sisters or aunties to experience the same barriers many females face.
Her Game Too works to challenge these outdated stereotypes and amplify women’s voices and presence in football to make it a safer space for all.
Rebekah, like many other women and girls, views sport as an escape from the real world.
“I have played football all my life - from school to university, and now alongside my professional career as a doctor.
“Football is a huge and defining part of my life - I consider myself inseparable from it, it has shaped so many of my friendships and relationships, and the person I am today.”
Through her poem, Rebekah is giving a powerful voice to female footballers who may feel overlooked or excluded.
At Her Game Too, we admire her dedication to challenging sexism and pushing for gender inequality.
When asked on her thoughts of the campaign Rebekah said: “I've been aware of the Her Game Too campaign for a while through social media.
"It cannot be understated how important this campaign and others like it are.
“We need to be loud and proud about our community of women, and women's footballers - and we need to stand up for those who may need that extra support.”
“Knowing that Her Game Too is there to support us makes a huge difference - it emboldens me to challenge the men at the side of our pitch and to speak out in any way I can.
“The message is clear - the game has changed, and football is for everyone.
“That's what Her Game Too is about to me.”
To The Men - by Rebekah Grassby
To the men,
Walking past, as we play.
The men waiting impatiently,
Turning to one another,
And laughing, as we play.
Why are you here?
On a Sunday morning, or a Tuesday night,
On this artificial turf, all weather and year.
To play, you’d say.
And why do you play?
Well you love it, of course.
You love the thrill of pulling off a skill.
The sight of the ball nestled in the net.
You love making that tackle or thumping it clear.
You love being a part of your team,
On a Sunday morning, or a Tuesday night.
And why do you think we are here?
Because we love it, too, of course.
We share that ground - and we share these pitches, too.
There are differences, true.
You grew up being passed to,
We grew up being told “no, not you”.
Football was not given to us,
And we got here in our own ways.
But now - this is our game too
That you are walking past, or waiting impatiently, or laughing at,
As we play.
We are sisters, daughters, mothers, wives, friends.
Some of us forced our way in, to play with the boys.
Some of us did not get the chance.
It was a man’s game - but women were always there, too.
The mums and aunties and grandmas who took you to games,
And washed your kit.
The sisters you put in goal,
The girlfriends who came to watch.
We were always here.
Some of you will have daughters.
Some of them may play.
Some of you will have daughters who may want to play, one day.
And you will want them to love it, like you.
To love pulling off that skill, making that tackle, or thumping it clear.
To love being part of your team, on a Sunday morning or Tuesday night.
You will not want them to tense up as men walk by.
You would not want them to lose their joy of trying something new
To feel embarrassed as they do,
And hear men laughing at you.
We do not need your approval, permission or applause,
But we do not need your derision, too.
We are here because we play football,
And we have a right to love it as you do.
So next time you walk past, think about why you play.
Maybe, we are not so different, in that way.
And get used to it…
Because it’s now our game too.
