Swansea City welcomes two new Her Game Too ambassadors
Swansea City welcomes lifelong Jacks Harriet Williams and Sophie Hughes as the club’s new Her Game Too ambassadors.
Her Game Too is a non-profit organisation which launched in 2021 to tackle sexism and support women in sports ensuring football remains a game for all. The Swans were one of the first clubs to join the campaign when it launched.
Sophie and Harriet will take on similar but differing roles as the club works with supporters to make playing and watching football as accessible as possible for female football fans.
Harriet joins the campaign in a role primarily focusing on the Swansea City Women team and access for girls playing football, while Sophie becomes ambassador focusing on supporting women in attending men’s games.
Both women have experienced the ups and downs of following the Swans from the heights of playing in the Premier League and Europe to the lows of relegations and cup exits - while pursuing their own footballing journeys as players.
Harriet fell in love with football at the age of three and joined her first club - a mixed team - aged six, when her family moved to north Wales.
“There were no girls' teams locally so, aged 11, I joined Pilkington Glass Women’s team, where I played until returning to Swansea and joining Kingsbridge Colts at the age of 13,” she explained.
“My football journey has continued into adulthood, with Neath, Afan Lido and Briton Ferry, but sadly my knees no longer like me and I play walking football instead, with Trefelin and Cymru Amdani Hi.”
As well as playing the game, Harriet loves watching and being part of the matchday atmosphere.
“I’ve supported the Swans for as long as I can remember and loved my time with my best friend down at the Vetch (Swansea’s home stadium until 2005),” she added.
“When we were not joining in the songs and chants from the North Bank, we were being chased around the stands by club mascot Cyril the Swan!
“I am so pleased and excited to be a part of Her Game Too for Swansea City, and hope to make football journeys a much less bumpy ride for women and girls of all ages who love to watch or play this wonderful sport.”
For Sophie, rediscovering a love of playing football as an adult - having not had many opportunities to play as a child - has motivated her to become a Her Game Too volunteer.
Sophie’s highlights of following Swansea include watching the men’s team win the Carabao Cup in 2012-13 and going on to play in the 2013-14 Uefa Europa League, when they progressed through the group stage before losing to Napoli in the last 32.
“I’m delighted to join Her Game Too as a keen football fan with many happy memories of watching Swansea,” she said.
“I also enjoy playing the game. Even though I didn’t have many opportunities to play football when I was younger, I’ve recently rediscovered my passion for playing again and have attended a casual football group and joined a walking football group.
“I’ve really loved seeing women of all different ages discovering and rediscovering football, and it’s great to see the opportunities that are available.
“That inspired me to be a part of the Her Game Too campaign.”
Swansea City was one of the first football clubs to partner with Her Game Too following the campaign’s launch in 2021, and it’s been a strong partnership with plenty of room to grow.
Hayley Ford, Swansea City's head of supporter services, said: “We are delighted that Sophie and Harriet have agreed to be our new Her Game Too ambassadors.
“Our previous ambassador did a great job and we want to thank her for all her efforts over the years. But I can already see that Sophie and Harriet have loads of ideas for what they want to bring to their roles.
“They’ve shown so much passion and drive to help us improve the club and spread the brilliant work of Her Game Too far and wide across Swansea. I’m really excited about what we can all achieve together.”
Roopa Vyas, COO of Her Game Too and director of Her Game Too Cymru, also welcomed Sophie and Harriet to the Her Game Too Cymru team, which is entering its third year in March.
“I am thrilled to welcome Sophie and Harriet as our new ambassadors for Swansea City,” she said.
“Their roles, focusing on different areas, will provide invaluable support to fans in unique ways, while also working collaboratively to strengthen the Her Game Too and Swansea City partnership.
“This collaboration will greatly benefit our campaign and we’re excited to build on the incredible progress made so far.
“We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with Swansea City - championing equality and celebrating the love of football for everyone.”