A number of famous faces have joined forces to fight against gender bias in football ahead of the Women's Euro 2022 tournament which kicks off this week.
Greater Manchester will host a series of games, with fixtures at the Manchester City Stadium in east Manchester, Leigh Sports Village in Wigan and Old Trafford. The contest is due to last three and a half weeks.
Whilst support for women's football is continuing to grow, bias and gender stereotypes still exist in the game, prompting a campaign by the tournament's official partner, Heineken.
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Former football stars Harry Redknapp, Jermaine Jenas and Karen Carney, along with comedian Ellie Taylor and presenter AJ Odudu have been appointed ambassadors of the '12th Woman' campaign in a bid to rally fans using a twist on the term usually associated with collective fan support; the 12th man.
The ensemble of Taylor, Redknapp, Carney, Jenas and Odudu have appeared in a new film where they all declare themselves to be the 12th woman. In the video, they bring attention to the decades-long gender imbalance in football language and encourage other fans to join the movement ahead of the tournament this month.
The film shows Harry at the wheel of a van as he rounds up the celebrity fans to watch a tournament match at Wembley. Along the way the famous five question the unconscious bias in football terminology before exiting the van, walking down Wembley Way and proudly revealing their t-shirts – all emblazoned with the slogan ‘I Am The 12th Woman’.
Karen Carney, who played 144 times for England said: "There are 11 women on the pitch who are giving everything to win for their country. Knowing that fans are cheering them on in the stands, at homes and in pubs across the country makes a difference and that’s why being a 12th Woman and saying it aloud really matters.
"Football fans’ approach to this tournament could be a major stepping-stone to real change in terms of how we all talk about football."
With two-thirds of women in football having experienced gender discrimination, football manager Harry Redknapp said he was proud to be a part of the campaign, and urged others to get involved.
"When I was playing professionally it really was a man’s game – women were banned from playing football in 1921 and the Women’s Football Association wasn’t even established until 1969," he said.
"Thankfully times have changed, and in a big way, and I’m really proud to be a 12th woman and to wear the T-shirt for all to see. Some people could be confused by the term the ‘12th Woman’, they might have to stop and think. But that’s the whole point, that’s what Heineken is trying to do with this campaign."
Yvonne Harrison, CEO at Women in Football said: "We’ve been really impressed by Heineken’s commitment to addressing gender inequality in football.
"That's what Women in Football is all about too, so it’s fantastic to team up with them on the 12th Woman campaign. Every action that supports our work and amplifies our message helps to level the playing field and make football a fairer and better place."
Stephanie Dexter of Heineken commented: "For so long football culture and fandom has been influenced by the men’s game. So, while the women’s game has grown massively, a legacy of terms such as ‘man on’ and the ‘the 12th man’ continue to dominate.
"Meanwhile the ‘12th woman’ is relatively unheard of. We want this campaign to help close the gender phrase gap in football language, but also invite a conversation about the entrenched bias and inequality that persists across football culture."
The campaign t-shirts are being made available for public sale on Amazon for £12 here with all profits donated to the NFP Women in Football. Throughout the tournament supporters are encouraged to wear them in a show of allegiance, wherever they may be watching the action.
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