At Manchester City, we marked the day by highlighting the lives of our players, how women have supported their careers and the impact they are having on the next generation.
After Gareth Taylor‘s side wore a special Emmeline Pankhurst-inspired kit in last Sunday’s Barclays Women’s Super League victory over Tottenham Hotspur and our Premier League warmed up in the same tops the day prior, Wednesday was all about highlighting our players’ experiences.
Here we’ll take a look at what has been published already today...
Kalvin Phillips: The Women Who Shaped My Career
In this video, our midfielder reflects on the key female figures who have shaped him into the person and footballer he is today.
In a candid interview, the midfielder looks back on the influence his grandmother - who passed away in 2021 - and his mother had on his formative years.
He also enjoys an incredibly strong bond with his two sisters, one of whom he still lives with in Manchester.
Watch the full video below...
Kalvin Phillips’ female influences
In an extension of the above video, our long read on the England international highlights how having strong women around him all through his life has shaped his personality on and off the pitch.
Phillips reflects on some of his core childhood memories surrounding ‘Granny Val’, his sisters and mother; the latter of whom stood by his side when his request to leave school early to take on classes and training at Leeds United was rejected.
find our Kalvin Phillips long read here
Demi Stokes: Motherhood and football
In a matter of weeks, she was then helping England to European Championship glory; the nation’s first major international trophy since 1966.
Stokes has continued to be an important figure for City across the 2022/23 campaign, where she is now on the verge of becoming only the third women’s player to make 200 appearances for the Club.
However, as the defender explains, shouldering the responsibilities of motherhood with the demands of being an elite athlete isn’t always easy.
Queen Deyna: Inspiring the next generation
Deyna Castellanos was given the chance to pursue her footballing dream through a scholarship in the United States.
In her own words, it was an experience that changed her life.
Through her foundation, she’s determined to provide the next generation of young girls around the world with that same opportunity.
READ OUR DEYNA CASTELLANOS FEATURE HERE
Same City, Same Passion
In 2018, Manchester City launched the Same City, Same Passion campaign, which focuses on promoting women’s football by demonstrating that the same skills, same excitement and same passion exist wherever a ball is kicked.
One of the first moves was to merge our social channels, providing supporters with access to all things City from one place.
That message serves as a timely reminder to both celebrate the progress in attitudes towards women in football, but also to continue the push for further improvement.
