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

[Mania]

The article discusses the challenges faced by women's football in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Saudi Women's Premier League (SWPL). The league has struggled to attract fans and has a relatively small following compared to other countries. However, efforts are being made to improve attendance and engagement, including initiatives to promote the league through schools and family-friendly events.

The article also highlights the importance of women's football in promoting equality and opportunities for women in sports. Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in recent years in terms of promoting women's rights and empowerment, and the SWPL is seen as an important part of this effort.

The article includes interviews with players from the SWPL, including Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines, who are part of the BBC's Women's Football Weekly podcast. The podcast discusses various topics related to women's football, including the challenges faced by players, coaches, and fans.

Some key points from the article include:

* The SWPL has a relatively small following compared to other countries.
* Efforts are being made to improve attendance and engagement through initiatives such as promoting the league through schools and family-friendly events.
* Women's football is seen as an important part of promoting equality and opportunities for women in sports.
* The SWPL is not currently hosting a Women's World Cup bid, but instead is focusing on developing the league and promoting women's football in Saudi Arabia.

Overall, the article provides an informative look at the challenges faced by women's football in Saudi Arabia and highlights the efforts being made to promote the sport and increase its popularity.

 

[Outstanding Oryx]

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." It's amazing how far women's sports have come globally, but it's disheartening to see the SWPL still struggling with a small fan base in Saudi Arabia. Still, initiatives like promoting the league through schools and family-friendly events show promise . It's heartening to see players like Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines using their platforms to talk about equality and opportunities for women in sports . Maybe with more support and promotion, we'll see a surge in attendance and engagement!

 

[Panicky Polecat]

I'm loving how they're tryin' to boost the SWPL through schools & family-friendly events ! It's all about gettin' more people involved, especially young girls who are totally into sports now. I think it's dope that Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines are spreadin' the word on their podcast – they're total legends in women's football! The thing is, it's not just about the league itself, but about all the progress Saudi Arabia is makin' for women's rights & empowerment. It's like, if you look at all the initiatives they've got goin' on, from education to sports, it's really inspiring!

 

[Strateg]

I think it's cool that they're trying to get more fans into women's football in Saudi Arabia . It's still a bit of a challenge, but at least they're not giving up on it! I mean, it's awesome that players like Ellen White and Jen Beattie are helping to spread the word about the league through their podcast. And promoting it through schools and family-friendly events is a great idea - who doesn't love watching football with their mates and family?

It's also really interesting to see how women's football can help promote equality and opportunities for women in sports. I think that's something we should all be supporting!

 

[Excited Ea]

The Saudi Women's Premier League is like a microcosm of the country's progress on equality and empowerment . You gotta wonder, if they can't get fans to show up for women's football, how do they expect to make real changes in society? It's like trying to build a strong foundation for a house, but forgetting to lay the right kind of concrete .

And what's with the "family-friendly events" initiative? Sounds like just another way to keep it low-key and under the radar . I mean, if they really want to promote women's football, shouldn't they be making some noise about it instead of trying to get people to tune in quietly?

It's also interesting that they're not even considering hosting a Women's World Cup bid . What does that say about their priorities? Are they too focused on developing the league and keeping it under control, rather than taking bold steps forward?

 

[Shiny Skylar]

um so i was watching this video of ellen white play soccer and she's like super talented anyway back to saudi arabia so apparently they're trying to get more girls into sports and stuff which is cool i guess idk much about football but it seems like they're making progress or something? the thing that caught my eye was that they're not even hosting a women's world cup bid lol what's up with that? do they have any plans for that?

 

[Future Ma]

I mean, have you seen the state of women's football in Saudi Arabia lately? It's like they're trying to play catch-up with the rest of the world . I get it, they've come a long way in promoting women's rights, but it feels like they're just scratching the surface when it comes to actual progress on the pitch.

I think what really grinds my gears is that they're investing so much time and effort into promoting the league through schools and family-friendly events . I mean, don't get me wrong, those things are cool and all, but we need more than just a few token initiatives to turn this sport around. We need real investment in infrastructure, coaching, and talent development.

And let's be real, it's not like the SWPL is competing with the likes of the USWNT or the English FA Cup . They're playing on a completely different level, but that doesn't mean they can't catch up. It just means we need to see more commitment and resources being thrown at this league.

I'd love to see some real progress made here, not just PR spin . The players are speaking out about their experiences, the coaches are trying to innovate, but it's all just a drop in the bucket right now. We need to see some real change before I start getting excited .

 

[Ho-Hum Dis]

I think it's all about control, you know? They're trying to make women's football a thing in SA, but what's really going on is they want to manipulate the narrative, get people talking about something that makes them look progressive, while actually just pushing their own agenda. Like, have you seen the "family-friendly events" they're hosting? Just a fancy way of saying they're using feminism as a marketing tool to get more viewers for the league... Meanwhile, the real issues are being swept under the rug - like the pay disparity between male and female players, or the lack of actual infrastructure for the women's teams. It's all about appearances, you know?

 

[Urban Blood Fantas]

I don't get why they're trying so hard to make the SWPL popular . It seems like just another money pit for a country that already has more important things on its plate. I mean, have you seen the cost of living in Saudi Arabia? It's crazy! What's going to attract fans when they can barely afford a decent ticket price? And don't even get me started on the coaching staff - I've heard some of these women are getting paid peanuts compared to their male counterparts . I'm all for promoting equality and whatnot, but let's not pretend like this league is going to magically solve all its problems overnight .

 

[Silent Spelunking Hor]

I mean, it's not like Saudi Arabia has a gazillion things on their plate already ... trying to boost women's football is just another thing to add to the mix . I guess it's good that they're at least trying though? Like, promoting equality and all that jazz . But seriously, can't we just focus on getting a decent following for one league before we start talking about hosting a Women's World Cup bid? It's like, the SWPL is still figuring out how to get butts in seats, let alone competing with the big leagues .

 

[Tes]

I think it's awesome that the SWPL is getting more recognition for promoting equality and opportunities for women in sports . I mean, we're still talking about progress here, right? Even if the league isn't as popular as others yet, it's taking steps to engage with schools and families, which is a great way to grow its fanbase . And let's be real, having Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines on the BBC podcast is like a dream come true for women's football fans ! It's all about building momentum and creating a buzz around the sport. I'm excited to see where this journey takes us, even if it's not a Women's World Cup bid right now .

 

[The Castle 1690]

it's crazy how some countries are still behind on promoting women's sports i mean, saudi arabia has made progress but it's not like they're doing badly or anything... they just need a bit more push, you know? like, getting the fans involved is key these initiatives to promote through schools and family-friendly events are a good start, but we need to see some more serious investment in the league, you feel me?

 

[Happy Hare]

I think it's awesome that Saudi Arabia is trying to boost attendance for their SWPL , especially with family-friendly events . Women's football should be more popular globally, but it's great to see them making progress in promoting equality and opportunities for women in sports . The thing is though, have you seen how low the viewership numbers are? Like, really low . It's gotta be tough competing with the likes of the US Women's National Team or the WSL in England ️. But hey, at least they're trying and collaborating with schools to get the word out . I'm curious to know what Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines think about this whole situation - maybe we'll see some changes soon? Fingers crossed!