Ashleigh Plumptre: 'I deeply hurt people by moving to Saudi Arabia'

The article discusses the women's football league in Saudi Arabia, known as the Saudi Women's Premier League (SWPL). The league has made significant progress in recent years, with several major international players joining the league, including Asisat Oshoala and Kheira Hamraoui. However, there are still challenges to be addressed, such as low attendances and a lack of community initiatives to promote the sport.

The article also features an interview with Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines, who discuss their experiences playing in the SWPL and provide insights into the challenges faced by women's football in Saudi Arabia. They also talk about the importance of promoting women's football and creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for female players.

The article highlights the progress made by the SWPL in recent years, including the growth of attendances and the increasing popularity of the league among fans. However, it also notes that there is still much work to be done to create a sustainable and successful women's football league in Saudi Arabia.

Overall, the article provides a balanced view of the challenges and opportunities facing women's football in Saudi Arabia, highlighting both the progress made and the areas that need improvement.

I gotta say, it's insane how far the SWPL has come, but like, we can't just sit back and expect everything to be fine, you know? I mean, low attendances are still a major issue, and I feel for the players who have to travel all that way to Saudi Arabia just to play. And don't even get me started on community initiatives - it's all well and good to have top international talent playing in the league, but what about the grassroots level? We need more youth programs and outreach efforts to get more women involved in the sport.

It's also interesting to hear from Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines, they're all like, super passionate about promoting women's football, and I'm totally here for it. They're talking about creating a more inclusive environment, which is music to my ears. But at the end of the day, we gotta do more than just talk - we need tangible actions and concrete steps towards making the SWPL sustainable and successful.

Just saw this - it's kinda sad to hear SWPL still has low attendances ... like, what's the point if nobody shows up to watch the games? shouldn't they be able to get some decent crowds with all those international players coming in I mean, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are legends of the game, you'd think more people would want to see them play

I'm loving how passionate Ellen White is about promoting women's football ! She's right, we do need more community initiatives to get more people involved, especially from underrepresented groups. I mean, can you imagine watching a women's football match in a packed stadium with fans of all ages and backgrounds cheering on their favorite teams? It's like that iconic scene from Rocky III when Rocky's got the whole stadium on its feet ! Anyway, it's great to see these legendary players using their platforms to advocate for more support and recognition for women's football in Saudi Arabia. Fingers crossed we'll see a major turnout at the next matches

I think it's dope that they got major international players joining the SWPL , but like, the attendances are still kinda low lol? It's not a bad thing tho, at least people know about the league now . I also love how Ellen White and Jen Beattie are all about promoting women's football and creating a more inclusive environment for female players , that's what it's all about . But, like, we need to see more community initiatives and stuff to help grow the sport, you feel?

I think it's amazing how far the SWPL has come in such a short time ️! I mean, getting international players like Asisat Oshoala and Kheira Hamraoui to join the league is no easy feat . But what's really inspiring is that these talented women are not only playing for themselves, but also helping to promote the sport in Saudi Arabia . I feel like we're seeing a real shift in attitudes towards women's football here - it's all about creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for female players . Of course, there's still work to be done, but I'm excited to see where this journey takes us!

I'm loving the growth of the SWPL, it's like how I remember the early days of the WSL back in 2011 when only 2 teams participated . But for real though, it's amazing to see Asisat Oshoala and Kheira Hamraoui on the pitch - they're giving those old-school England ladies a run for their money! Still, I do feel bad for the low attendances - can't help but think of how we used to pack stadiums for England matches back in 2007 when it was like the whole country was buzzing about them . Maybe the SWPL just needs more grassroots initiatives and community support? That's what worked for the WSL, innit?

The more top talent joins SWPL, the better it'll be . Low attendances still a no-go tho . More community initiatives needed to get Saudi fans hyped about women's footy!

I'm not sure how many more times we gotta keep talking about this SWPL thing ... it's like they're making all these huge moves to get international players on board but are they really tackling the real issues? Like, I get it, attendances are low and community engagement is lacking, but what's being done to actually fix that? It feels like we keep hearing about how great things are and then there's just this big void of "what's next?"

And I love Ellen White's point about creating a more inclusive environment for female players - that's SO important. We need to be supporting each other, not just the top-tier talent. It's all well and good when they're talking about how awesome it is, but what about the rest of us? What about the girls just starting out who don't have the same opportunities or resources?

I'm so over how hyped everyone is about the SWPL growing attendances Like, yeah, it's still not as packed as some of the other leagues out there, but do we really need a sold-out stadium to prove its worth? I mean, what's more important - having a full crowd or actually developing a community around the game? And another thing, all these international players joining the league is just gonna make it even more elitist I'm not saying they can't be awesome athletes and all that, but come on, how are we supposed to build a loyal fanbase when everyone's just there for the famous girls playing on the field instead of actually caring about the sport?

I'm so hyped about the growth of women's football in Saudi Arabia! It's amazing to see players like Asisat Oshoala and Kheira Hamraoui joining the league and bringing international attention to it . But for real, the low attendances are a major issue - how can we expect to build a strong fanbase if people aren't showing up to support their favorite teams? I'm also loving that Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines are speaking out about the importance of promoting women's football and creating a more inclusive environment for female players . We gotta keep pushing for change and supporting these incredible athletes!

So I'm reading about this women's football league in Saudi Arabia and it's like, they're making huge strides, but there's still so much to be done . These international players joining are a big deal, but what really matters is the grassroots stuff – getting more people involved and excited about the sport. I mean, low attendances? That's a major issue . And it's not just about the football itself, it's about creating a culture that supports women's sports in general.

I loved reading those interviews from Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines – they're so passionate about promoting women's football and making it more inclusive. It's all about creating a safe space for female players to thrive . The fact that the league is growing in popularity among fans is awesome, but we can't just stop at that – we need to think about long-term sustainability here .

I'm loving how Saudi Arabia is finally trying to get its act together when it comes to women's football... like, who wouldn't want to watch some awesome ladies kick a ball around? But seriously, I'm glad they're putting in the effort to promote the sport and create a more inclusive environment for female players. Asisat Oshoala and Kheira Hamraoui are total goals on the pitch! The thing is, though, low attendances are still a major issue... like, what's going on? Are people really just not into watching women play football? Also, it's crazy how much work there is to be done to make the league sustainable. I mean, I get it, progress takes time and all that jazz... but still, let's hope they can get it together soon!

I'm loving how the SWPL is getting more popular, but low attendances are still a bummer ... I mean, can't we just get people excited about the beautiful game like they do in other parts of the world? But for real, it's great that Asisat Oshoala and Kheira Hamraoui are killing it over there. Like, who wouldn't want to watch a league with players as talented as them? And honestly, I think the SWPL is doing its best with what it has, so let's give 'em some props for that ... maybe they just need to figure out how to get more people hyped about women's football?

I'm loving this SWPL growth ! But let me tell you, back in my day... we didn't have all these international players showing up . I mean, I know they're making a difference and all, but it's crazy to think about how far the league has come. Still, gotta say, those attendances are pretty low . I remember when I was playing rec league in high school... we'd get crowds of like 20 people . Now, I know Saudi Arabia is a huge country and all, but it's still weird that they're not filling up stadiums for women's football. Anyway, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are totally on point with their interviews . We need more female voices in the game, you feel me? And I love how Ben Haines is all about creating a supportive environment . That's what it's all about – empowering women to play the sport they love .

I'm loving how this SWPL is coming along! I mean, it's awesome to see Asisat Oshoala and Kheira Hamraoui getting involved - they're total goals on the pitch ! But seriously though, I think it's great that Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines are speaking out about the challenges they've faced playing in the SWPL. It's clear that there's still a lot of work to be done, like increasing attendances and creating more community initiatives - but hey, progress is progress, right? I think what's really important is making sure that women's football becomes sustainable and successful, so future generations can enjoy it just as much as we do! The fact that international players are joining the league shows how serious everyone is taking this... now let's get those attendances up!

I gotta say, I'm a bit skeptical about the SWPL getting all this international attention ... Like, don't get me wrong, it's awesome to see more women playing in SA, but have we forgotten how tough it is for them to get picked up by teams from top-tier leagues? Still, gotta commend these international players joining the league and trying to make a difference . And I agree with Ellen White and Jen Beattie, promoting women's football is super important – we need more initiatives that support our girls on the pitch . But let's be real, attendances are still pretty low ... Guess it's gonna take time to get fans to come out and show their support .

The more I think about it, the more I realize women's sports is still all about breaking barriers - it's not just about winning, but also about equality

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s great that the SWPL is getting international recognition... Asisat Oshoala and Kheira Hamraoui are total game-changers for the league! But seriously, I do wonder if the low attendances are just a phase or if there's something deeper going on. Maybe they need to find more ways to engage with local fans and get them excited about the games? Also, it would be awesome to see some community initiatives pop up, like coaching clinics or girls' teams in schools... that would really help build a sustainable future for women's football in Saudi Arabia!

I think it's awesome how far the SWPL has come ! I mean, having Asisat Oshoala and Kheira Hamraoui on board is a huge deal for female football in Saudi Arabia . And let's be real, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are total legends . Their experiences playing in the league are super insightful and it's crazy to hear about all the challenges they faced .

But you know what's even more impressive? The fact that the league is growing in popularity and attendances are increasing ! It shows that people are starting to take notice of women's football and that's a beautiful thing . Of course, there's still work to be done, but I think the SWPL is on the right track .

And can we talk about how cool it is to see more and more female players breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings? It's not just about football anymore, it's about equality and empowerment . So let's keep cheering on these amazing women and celebrate their successes !