MX23RW : Monday, September 30 12:28:37| >> :120:58928:58928:

Gareth Southgate accepts there are not enough women in his England set-up

Gareth Southgate accepts there are not enough women in his England set-up
© Reuters
The England boss admits the progress that the women's game has made is not reflected in his staff.

England manager Gareth Southgate accepts there are not enough women in the men's national team set-up.

Southgate feels that while the women's game has progressed in many aspects in the country, that is not reflected around his staff.

Speaking at the Royal Television Society's Cambridge Convention, Southgate said: "Women's football, firstly, where I know changes (have) come is that I meet dads who proudly come up and say, 'My daughter plays football'.

"Five years ago, that didn't happen. I don't know if that's that the girls weren't playing or the dads weren't proud that they were playing, but that's been the shift.

"I think (it is) far more acceptable, if that's the right word, for girls to play now and (there are) more teams, more clubs. Dads (are) now excited by that. I coach my daughter's team and there's a real enthusiasm for it.

"I think that's different to where we are currently in terms of diversity of staff within the game. We haven't got that right with my team.

"We've got some women that work with the team but we haven't got enough."

Southgate named two women who are currently working with the team.

"We've got a staff of 40, so that's nowhere near where we should be," he said.

Southgate pointed out the picture, in terms of gender equality, is better across the whole of the Football Association but, even there, there is room for improvement.

Some of the motivation to push for change has come from his own daughter.

He said: "Within the FA we are actually very diverse, gender wise, with 38 per cent female, I think.

"But as my daughter said to me, 'Oh, that's good is it, Dad?'. I had to say, 'Er, good point'.

"For me that's a great reminder. What world do I want for my daughter? What opportunities do I want for my daughter?

"That very quickly changes your outlook on the way that you view women's sport and the way you view opportunities for women within our sport."

ID:464067:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect2399:

Click here for more stories about Gareth Southgate

Click here for more stories about England

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Netherlands Women head coach Sarina Wiegman pictured in July 2019
Read Next:
England to host new annual women's four-nation tournament
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
Read more about Gareth Southgate Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bills
10-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool65011221015
2Manchester CityMan City6420146814
3Arsenal6420125714
4Chelsea6411157813
5Aston Villa6411129313
6Fulham632185311
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle632187111
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs6312125710
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton623110829
10Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest62316519
11Brentford6213810-27
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd621358-37
13Bournemouth512258-35
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham6123610-45
15Ipswich TownIpswich6042510-54
16Everton6114715-84
17Leicester CityLeicester6033812-43
18Crystal Palace603359-43
19Southampton501429-71
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves6015616-101


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!