Bethany Hushon
“I think there is so much to do and work on still in football for girls & women and I am looking forward to be one of the people that will be part of that gamechanging/history making "revolution" that is happening now.”
⸺Who is Bethany Hushon?
Originally from Leicestershire, living in London. I started playing football at 9 years old for a local boys team, until my Dad set up the first girls' team so I could play. Eventhough our team won the Leicester and Nottingham league every season, I was on the bench as I wasn't very good - Netball was more my sport. This didn't stop my love of football, travelling up to watch Liverpool play once a month, going to England matches at Wembley and even the World Cup in Germany 2006.
This exposure to football fuelled my career working for and with Premier League clubs such as Everton FC, Liverpool FC and Man City FC and now working as an Account Manager for Fuse International. I am currently embarking on a part-time PhD.
⸺What team/country do you support and why?
England! But being quarter Dutch I also support the Netherlands. Even though Liverpool FC is my men's team, since moving to London I have adopted Arsenal as my women's team, they pioneered the women's game and help start the movement.
⸺How long have you been watching women’s football and have you noticed any changes within the sport?
I remember watching Karen Carney on the TV when it was rarely on! I first got into Women's football back in 2015 when we missed out on the final of the World Cup, you could tell it was the start of something special.
There have been incredible and deserving changes with Women's football becoming accessible, especially since Covid-19 and the Women EURO's win, we still have a long way to go to growth the fan base.
⸺What impact do you think the 2022 Euros had on women and women’s football in general?
That Women's Football isn't going anyway and deserves the same respect as men's sports. It has given women role models which many women aspiring to get into football and sport never had growing up. It challenges social conformities and pushes more towards equity.
⸺What actions do you think could be made to encourage more diverse younger girls to continue playing and support our current players?
Investment at the grassroots. Currently, only the girls who have the privilege to find places to play are more likely to be playing professionally, hence why we see the Lionesses are predominantly white and not a pure representation of the UK.
⸺How do you view the future of women's football?
It is only going to grow and needs to own its USP. One big thing is to stop comparing to the men's game, we are our own sport with our own fanbase and values, build on this and only learn from the mistakes of the men's game, not emulate them.
