Today is the UN’s ‘International Day of the Girl Child’ and Lewes are embracing the chance to celebrate girls in their forthcoming match against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 14th October.
Eight year old fan Nancy Hamilton wrote a letter to share with her school mates after attending the recent Lewes v Arsenal fixture and she wrote; “First I saw my friend Eleanor at the women’s football stadium. Lewes lost against the champions. Lewes is the only team in the world who pay the men and women equally. I know one of the players because my dad works with her. Her name is Shannon Maloney.”
Shannon, who plays centre midfield for the team and does indeed work with Nancy’s Dad Andy Hamilton, said that Nancy came to school clutching the letter along with her Autograph Poster full of player signatures.
Shannon said, “A part of playing for a club that promotes equality is that we really want to set a good example to girls. It’s so amazing that we have children going into school on a Monday writing things like this….acknowledging, off her own back, that we pay the women the same as the men and then sharing that with her classmates!”
Lewes FC Women’s Development Manager Rosy Matheson said, “It’s not easy to become a female footballer so if the team can do anything to ease the way for the next generation, they’re up for it!”
On Sunday the team will be led out onto the pitch by a parade of girl mascots, and are encouraging as many girls as possible to come to watch them play.
At Sunday’s forthcoming home match against Tottenham Hotspur Ladies, Lewes will also be supporting the Red Box Project – a scheme which quietly ensures girls have access to free sanitary items in schools, so that no–one misses school during her period because she can’t afford sanitary products.
Lewes FC Women Captain Katie McIntyre said “We’re proud to support this great charity which is stopping period poverty. No girl should have to miss school because they can’t afford towels and tampons.”
