CharlotteRichardson shares a tale all too familiar to women in soccer.
A marketing and PR professional, Charlotte has worked in the game at English third-tier men's club Gillingham and the Kent FA, the governing body for soccer in the county.
But not everyone she met along the way gave her a positive experience.
"I would often have people assume I wasn’t a member of staff - perhaps someone’s partner or family member," she told Women's Soccer Coaching.
"That assumption exposed a huge absence and understanding of the role women can play within football."
With that in mind, Charlotte created Eighth Wonder, an organisation to create more leadership opportunities within football for women.
We spoke to her to find out more, discover its success stories and ask her about its immediate future...
Participants gather at Eighth Wonder's first event in 2016
WSC: How did Eighth Wonder come about?
CR: "I founded Eighth Wonder back in 2016. I had been working in football for several years and each season I would notice more and more that there were so few other women working alongside me.
"People would often assume I wasn't a staff member - maybe someone's partner..."
"It got me thinking about my own career and how I started. I realised I didn’t really have any role models within the game growing up.
"The visibility wasn’t there, the support wasn’t there and the opportunity wasn’t there.
"So I created Eighth Wonder to do something about it."
WSC: What is the idea behind Eighth Wonder?
CR: "Eighth Wonder was set up to create football’s future female leaders. I wanted to develop a programme that would have broad appeal to support young women aged 14-20.
"I think this is quite an influential period in a young person’s life. And for those who love football but might not play, or have stopped for whatever reason, I wanted to ensure more was done to showcase things they could do to stay involved and enjoy the rewards and gratifying experience of working and volunteering in football.
The idea has evolved, and we have started to develop opportunities for people outside of that age range too.
"I was really proud that we were able to collaborate with the Kent FA to run two Level 1 coaching courses, helping to create more than 35 new female coaches.
"Empowering women with the knowledge, confidence and qualifications they need to go into the world of professional or grassroots football is what we’re all about."
WSC: Why do you feel there has been a lack of female leaders throughout football to date?
CR: "I think, in the past, football might have been a bit of an exclusive, male- dominated and intimidating environment.
"It was an environment that didn’t especially welcome women, or pigeon-holed them into certain roles and responsibilities - and those roles weren’t especially visible or empowering.
"Over the years, women have smashed stereotypes and overcome barriers to lead the way, and in the process created more opportunities for women and girls to get involved with the game and lead it.
"In doing so, perceptions have changed. Those in power and with influence have realised more needs to be done to represent women and girls.
"More funding has gone into making this happen and now we’re beginning to reap the rewards of all that hard work.
"Football is beginning to reap the rewards, too, because the more inclusive and representative football is, the better."
Eighth Wonder has helped more than 35 women into coaching since it was founded back in 2016
WSC: How are you hoping to address this imbalance and provide opportunities?
CR: "Working in collaboration with supportive, like-minded individuals and organisations is key.
"Teamwork is an essential tool in football, and it is one that has served the Eighth Wonder programme well in trying to address the imbalance.
"I always like to keep up to date with what is going on across the game. If there are ways we can support positive momentum and also identify gaps that will help women and girls in the game, then we will be proactive and craft such opportunities."
WSC: Why is it so important to develop female leaders in football? Is it just coaches you are looking to develop or across other areas too?
CR: "The absence of female leaders, growing up, was a problem. Football wasn’t representative, it wasn’t welcoming and I suppose that meant extra hurdles and challenges based on my gender.
"Removing these is something I’m passionate about so that future generations have as positive and enriching experience as possible.
"Coaching is a key career opportunity we champion but we promote and highlight all sorts of careers, from marketing to physiotherapy, general management to financial services.
"There are so many fantastic ways to be involved in football - whatever your skill set, whatever your passion, it is highly likely there is a role you can excel at and enjoy."
WSC: What have the programme’s biggest achievements been?
CR: "There have been several. It is always special when I get a message from a parent or participant who has found the programme useful, or has helped them decide what degree to read at university or job to apply for.
"Helping more than 35 women become coaches is something I am very proud of..."
"Seeing and hearing of Eighth Wonder girls going onto achieve success is the ultimate achievement for the programme.
"Our numbers are pretty gratifying, too. So far, we’ve had more than 50 participants attend development days and contribute more than 1,500 volunteering hours to the grassroots game.
"That, and helping more than 35 women become qualified coaches, are achievements I am very proud of."
WSC: What are the plans for the immediate future of Eighth Wonder?
CR: "Our immediate plans are to re- introduce our Development Days. After a tough couple of years in the Covid-19 pandemic, to be able to deliver events in person again is brilliant.
"Also, Euro 2022 is just around the corner and I think that is going to be huge for women and girls’ football in England.
"It will be great to explore ideas on what we can do to support the legacy of having such a significant tournament here."
WSC: How can someone get involved with Eighth Wonder, either as a potential female football leader of the future or someone who might be able to offer support, experience and mentorship?
CR: "It is always wonderful receiving messages and emails from people who support the programme, want to get involved or simply appreciate what we do.
A qualified marketer, Charlotte has worked as a presenter and commentator for the BBC and has 10 years’ experience volunteering and working in the professional, non-League and grassroots game in England. She founded Eighth Wonder in 2016.
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