SCOTTISH football has a significant opportunity to increase the number of fans attending games – by targeting women, a report has found.
The first independent research into women in Scottish football has been carried out by the Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) in association with Be GambleAware.
The results, announced yesterday, show for the first time female supporters’ views and attitudes on the current position of the Scottish game.
The survey found that nearly 50% of female football fans in Scotland have season tickets, showing they are loyal to their club and happy to make a long-term financial commitment to it.
Among the respondents, 92% feel their club is accommodating to female visitors on match days.
A quarter – 25% – said they attended more games in 2017-18 than the previous season. Only 15% went to fewer matches. The survey showed that, overall, female fans feel safe in almost every context when it comes to stadium safety. However, concerns remain over the safety and comfort of stadium toilets and external aspects of going to matches.
Female fans are also less likely to go to away matches than males.
The SFSA’s online survey was created in partnership with academic researchers Professor Dr Axel Faix and Dr Joachim Lammert from specialist German Research company FanQ. They have undertaken similar evaluations on a national level in Germany and on a European level.
Lammert said: “Overall we were surprised to see how positive the female football family is towards the game in Scotland and this undoubtedly highlights an opportunity for clubs to build on.
“This evidence suggests that clubs are already working hard to make the overall matchday experience a good one because the worst ratings are found in the areas not connected to the stadium, but to the infrastructure outside the stadium, such as public transport and parking spaces.
“A particularly strong area that should be attended to soon is safety in toilets inside the grounds with respondents highlighting this as their biggest concern.”
Alana Watson from the SFSA, said: “This research shows that there is a real opportunity for Scottish football to grow the number of female supporters attending games.
“Clubs have worked hard for some time to make matchday a good experience and those who do go are saying it is working. The fact that almost all have highlighted the toilet facilities at ground as their biggest concern gives clubs a clear action to address.
“It is really important that everyone in Scottish football understands this growing market.
“We plan to widen this research next year and look at how participating can help grow the audience further.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here