With the popularity and presence of women’s football on the rise, City continue to commit to celebrating equality, diversity and inclusion in football with the likes of our Same City, Same Passion campaign.
Despite the rapid growth the sport has experienced since then, the general public perception of women’s football does not always match the reality of what can be seen on the pitch, but the club believe in promoting the women’s game in any way possible.
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Our Women’s side take on Chelsea on Sunday 14 April at the Academy Stadium after booking their spot in the semi-finals of the FA Women’s Cup with a 3-0 home win over Liverpool in the previous round, courtesy of a goal from Janine Beckie and a Georgia Stanway second half brace.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Chelsea, Parris praised the progress of women’s football in England and credited the FA for their help in growing the game.
“I think it’s massively important to grow the game, that we have infrastructure underneath the England women’s team, that the young girls across the country understand that there’s now a pathway that they can build towards. And hopefully if we have success, they have success.
“It’s a big strategy and one that’s going to gain momentum over the years, you can even see now how far not just women’s football but women’s sport in general has come in England and we’re going to push it all the way.
“Any strategy is only successful if you’re successful at the top and it filters down. Ultimately our U19s, U20s, U17s team are all getting into Euro finals, World Cup finals, winning bronze medals, we’re winning bronze medals.
“But I’ve got to congratulate the FA and all the work they’ve done over the last couple of years because women’s football is in a much better state and it’s because of their hard work, people like Sue Campbell who each and every day is fighting for women, we’ve got to be proud of that.”
Having played some attractive football and already secured the Continental Cup trophy this season, Nick Cushing’s side have been attracting big crowds at the Academy Stadium.
Parris insists that it is a step in the right direction, but said her side are focused on filling the Academy Stadium before they think about playing home fixtures fixtures at the Etihad Stadium.
“You want to build towards that but first off let’s get the Academy Stadium full before we try and go to the Etihad, let’s build women’s from the bottom before we get to the top.”
Watch Parris in action as Manchester City take on Chelsea in the FA Women’s Cup semi-final on Sunday 14 April, kick-off at 3:30pm BST.
