Welcome to Moving the Goalposts, the Guardian’s new (and free) women’s football newsletter. Here’s an extract from this week’s edition. To receive the full version once a week, just pop your email in below.
I will not have been the only one in recent weeks to have turned my eyes to the west coast of America as one of the most eagerly-awaited arrivals to the NWSL seized centre stage. On 20 March, Angel City FC finally took to the field at the Titan Stadium in California under the guidance of the head coach, Freya Coombe. They emerged to a raucous reception as they made their much-anticipated professional debut.
From this side of the Atlantic too, and across the world, it has been hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm. Since Natalie Portman and her star-studded board and investors were awarded expansion rights by the NWSL in July 2020, the interest in their efforts both on and off the pitch has continued to grow. As Coombe says, this distinctive group of more than 100 co-owners, two-thirds of whom are women, have added an energy to the project like no other: “It is incredible. Natalie Portman spoke to the whole team on our first day and really set the stage for what is being built here and showed the players that they are a part of something special from the outset.”
The NWSL expansion draft is an alien concept to someone like me, a product of the English football system. But while the expansion process proves a test for any team, Coombe believes there are positives to the system that allows a project like Angel City to emerge. “It is an opportunity to write your own story,” she says. “Angel City is doing things so differently that never would have been possible with an established club. We are attracting new fans and sponsors and shedding a new light on the league as a whole.”
On the pitch, Coombe’s side has come together in a flurry. Since November, they have quickly assembled a roster of players and staff to compete. The names are there, the most prominent of which is the LA-born Christen Press, but it will inevitably take time for the jigsaw to fall into place. The Challenge Cup, essentially a pre-season competition, provides the platform to do just that. While their start has been tricky – three losses and one draw – Coombe knows success will not happen overnight: “We have a journey ahead, but you can see that we are coming together as a cohesive unit. Every game we learn more and more.”
Perhaps where Angel City is most ground-breaking is its outreach work within the community. Their vast array of partners must commit 10% to local projects, aligning themselves with the organisation’s vision. From delivering meals, to school gardening projects and community events, the club is setting new standards for the sport.
In the meantime, however, focus will return to the pitch as the regular season approaches. Angel City will move into their new home, the 22,000-capacity Banc of California Stadium, for their NWSL opener against North Carolina Courage on 29 April. With 15,000 season tickets sold and six official supporter groups already established, the anticipation around the team is infectious.
“Supporters planted the seed to bring an NWSL club to Los Angeles,” says Coombe. “They showed up in incredible numbers at our first preseason Challenge Cup game and their support hasn’t wavered … it’s not just attendance. 465,000 watched our pre-season game against San Diego two weeks ago, which is the second highest viewership of any MLS or NWSL game in 2022. That shows that people are paying attention to what we are doing and want to be a part of Angel City history.”
I, along with many others, will be keeping a close eye on their progress. The interest and supporter numbers they have generated in a relatively short amount of time are truly remarkable.
Talking points
New era in North Macedonia: It has been a special year for the women’s game there. On 8 March, the Football Federation of North Macedonia launched its first ever women’s football strategy. Spearheaded by Ana Trajkova, its goals are to develop a competitive domestic league, increase awareness and develop national teams at both youth and senior levels. “We will do everything that we can to provide the best for women’s football to go straight ahead and to make it sport No 1 for girls and women in our country,” she says. Very much a young nation on the international stage – their first official senior match was in 2005 – the energy around the sport is palpable.
Bend It Like Beckham at 20: As a young girl, with little access to football, my contribution to the sport I loved was mainly in my dreams. That is why Bend It Like Beckham hit so close to home, providing visibility for many who had never seen themselves before in mainstream media. This iconic movie celebrates its 20th anniversary this week, a cinematic success that helped to shape a generation. But it wasn’t only for the women’s football narrative that it should be celebrated. It was in many ways ahead of its time. Steeped in humour, Gurinder Chadha’s creation tackled many inequalities – sexism; racism; homophobia – throughout that we fight so passionately against today.
Got a question for our writers – or want to suggest a topic to cover? Get in touch by emailing moving.goalposts@theguardian.com or post BTL.
