Fleetwood Town are pleased to announce Joanne Barker has been named as the Club’s official Her Game Too Ambassador.
Town joined a number of clubs from the EFL and beyond to commit to the cause, creating further awareness of the problems faced in football by females.
#HerGameToo was founded by 12 passionate female football fans who are committed to growing the campaign to foster an ethos in football in which women are welcomed and respected equally.
The non-profit organisation aims to create awareness, educate, research, develop a strong sense of community and create strong relationships with clubs, among much more.
Joanne will support the ongoing efforts of improving the match day experience and inclusivity around Highbury Stadium on match day whilst playing a part in the growing emphasis of Fleetwood Town Wrens Ladies and Fleetwood Town Juniors.
On her appointment, Joanne said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Her Game Too Ambassador for Fleetwood Town to continue with the great work the campaign has already accomplished.
"I am proud to say that Highbury, and our training ground at Poolfoot, is and will continue to be a safe and inclusive space for all sportspersons and supporters, free from discrimination.
"Whether it is direct or indirect, women in sport are still consistently being subjected to sexism - attitudes need to change as regards the perception of women involved in football.
“This is something which Her Game Too are fully committed to achieving; I believe that all women and girls should feel able to play or watch football free of any prejudice which can take many forms, such as flippant remarks, being ‘quizzed' on football knowledge or enduring unpleasant chants regarding women."
Steve Curwood, Fleetwood Town CEO, added: “Developing our fan base in such a small area can be very challenging and thus ensuring that everyone is welcome and enjoys matchdays is important.
“We’ve already seen huge increases in participation levels across the club in women and girls’ football in a relatively short space of time and it’s great that we now have an ambassador for ‘Her Game Too’ focussing specifically on the female fanbase, helping it grow and ensuring we make attending games a real positive experience.”
To learn more about Her Game Too and how Joanne’s role within the Club will benefit everyone in the local community, you can head to their website HERE.