Football and the Fa Women's Super League: Structure, Governance and Impact

Women's football is the fastest growing participation sport in the UK and across the world. In England, the FA Women's Super League (FAWSL) is the premier competition for elite players and clubs which has a fascinating organisational structure that is very different from the majority of the football leagues across Europe. The league has attracted an increased audience in stadiums and in the media, but still faces plenty of opposition. Football and the FA Women's Super League critically explores women's elite football from a sociological perspective, analysing the growth, governance and impact of the FAWSL from its inception onwards.

With analysis of the media coverage of the FAWSL, players' and fans' reactions to and opinions of the league, and assessments of how women's football might expand in the future, this book will appeal to anyone interested in gender, sport and sports governance.

Women's football is the fastest growing participation sport in the UK. This book critically explores women's elite football from a sociological perspective, analysing the growth, governance and impact of the FA Women's Super League from its inception onwards.

Carrie Dunn is a journalist and academic, and is currently a Lecturer in Sports Journalism at the University of East London, UK. Her research interests include fandom, sport and feminism and her recent books include Female Football Fans (Palgrave, 2014).

Joanna Welford is a Research Associate at the University of Loughborough, UK. Her research focuses largely on gender and sport, with a particular interest in women's football, the governance of football and its supporters.

1. The FAWSL's Context within the History of Women's Football2. The Launch of the FAWSL3. The Expansion of the FAWSL4. The FAWSL2 Controversy: Doncaster Belles and Lincoln Ladies5. The Media Coverage of the FAWSL: A Girl Thing?6. The Public Reaction to the FAWSL7. The Future of the FAWSL