She Can Kick It
It’s always a pleasure to get updates from previous contributors especially with newsy emails.
Today Clare McEwen , the author of “She Can Kick It” kindly sent me her updates. She says,
“Books sales have been slow in January. Maybe I was hoping that somehow, magically, the world would find my book instantly. Unfortunately, I now have the self-published author’s next job, promoting the book. Social media is frustrating, finding accurate email addresses to send press releases to is frustrating.
But podcasts are wonderful and I’m so grateful to those who have asked me to go on. This week I recorded an episode for the Daily Women’s Football Beyond the Pitch podcast which will probably be out some time next week. Catherine and I talked about the book and Manchester United.
I’m also grateful to everyone who has bought my book so far – thank you. If you have 5 minutes, please could you write it a quick review on Amazon.”
Who is Clare? She reminds us, “Football fever led me, inevitably, to collecting football cards/stickers as a child. The most memorable for me, was the Football Superstars collection from Panini. Released in 1984, they included the best international footballers in the world: presented as full international teams plus a selection of ‘All Stars’. The cards were clear plastic/acetate with the players printed on. The packets also had a scratch card football game in them. They were super cool and still give me chills now when I see them on eBay. I had a full collection but I’ve no idea where it went! Do you remember them? Let me know (claremcewen@gmail.com).
P.S. The mobile version of the ZX Spectrum Football Manager is excellent.”
On more general terms about Women’s Football she says, “Canada’s first professional league, The Northern Super League (NSL) is due to start in Canada on the 16th April 2025. It’s Canada’s first professional women’s league. Up until now, Canadian players have had to find their league football outside the country, many in the U.S.
But in a few months time, AFC Toronto, Montreal Roses FC, Vancouver Rise FC, Calgary Wild FC, Halifax Tides FC, and Ottawa Rapids FC will make history as the first professional Canadian teams.
Despite not having a professional league, being in the shadow of the U.S. women, and historically getting little support from their federation, Canada’s national team have been consistently successful in the Olympics. They won bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, followed by gold in Tokyo in 2020.
Canada’s first unofficial national team began in 1971. By 1976 there were so many girls wanting to play that an all-girls tournament was set up in Western Canada. Leagues and regional club championships formed and grew.
In 1982, Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) officially recognised women’s football for the first time and in 1986 the first official national team began, But, the CSA had no interest in it and actually told their head coach that if they lost both of their first two games (against the U.S.) that the programme would be stopped. They lost the first game, but fought to win the second, saving their national team.”
Meanwhile Darren Ashley was out and about again. This week takes him to Beaconsfield which is one of my favourite grounds. It was his first visit and he was suitably impressed. You can see the game and his thoughts here