This year Roses is promoting a special campaign to celebrate women in sport. The largest inter-university sports competition in Europe is just around the corner, conflict is rife over the weekend, but one thing York and Lancaster can come together for is the promotion of #ThisRosesGirlCan.
The theme of the weekend plunges women’s sport into the spotlight of the competition. The opening ceremony on Friday 29th will be opened by the women’s 1st football teams going head to head in a battle that is not to be missed.
Having women’s football as the opening to Roses will give us a taste of what what women’s sport has to offer over the coming weekend.
UYWAFC President Sophie Jermy showed her delight about the release of the theme, saying: “UYWAFC are so proud to represent not only York but women’s sport and specifically women’s football at Roses in the opening ceremony.
“It is great to see that women’s sport is being given a platform at such a big event, and hopefully it will inspire female students to get more involved in sport. Often women’s sport are under-represented and we are grateful that we have been given this opportunity to show that women’s sport deserves more recognition.
“For us in particular, with the growing popularity and coverage of women’s football after the World Cup last summer, we’re hoping that everyone will get a chance to see just how good women’s football can be.”
She also explained the clubs growing success: “We’ve had an incredible past two seasons, with the introduction of the 2nd team and the 1st team winning back to back promotions. We’ve been training hard with our amazing coach, Sam Gevaux, who has had a massive impact this year. We have become a more professional club under his leadership, and will look to reflect that in our opening ceremony performance.
“Both of our squads are looking strong and everyone is looking forward to showing what we can do in what is the biggest game in UYWAFC history. Having said that, we will not let the occasion get to us and will just continue to play football to the same high standards we have set for ourselves this season, and hopefully will help to give York a winning start to the weekend.”
The campaign is set to to raise awareness of the gender gap that we are exposed to in sport and give women the confidence to participate in all sport’s at all levels of competition.
The massive efforts of inclusivity promoted by York sports clubs alongside of This Roses Girl Can may give us the edge of securing the victory for another year and keeping the Carter James trophy at its current settling in York.