Hilltop Football Club appoints its first Muslim woman as Director of Women’s Football
Iqra Ismail has been made the Director of Women's Football, which has been celebrated as a step towards inclusivity and diversity in the realm of sports leadership.
Hilltop Football Club announces the appointment of its first Muslim woman as the Director of Women’s Football this month.
The 23-year-old British-born Somali footballer, coach, and club director Iqra Ismail, is known as “a catalyst for change in the women’s game”, carving out a space for herself and others like her.
The genesis of Hilltop Women’s Football Club was rooted in a desire to encourage more Muslim and under-represented women to embrace football confidently.
Young footballers facing challenges
City News spoke to young footballers Hannah and Reema, who told us about the challenges they face with the sport. They found it difficult to get into football when the teams they see mostly feature young white players.
For South Asian, mixed-race, and Black girls, having few role models who look like them in the squads also “makes it hard to imagine themselves playing football” and many doubt whether football is for them.
Picture of the Director of Women’s football, Iqra Ismail. CREDIT: Garry Strutt
Iqra Ismail acknowledges the rarity of her position in the game:
“The intersectionality of my identity made it like three or four fights at the same time”
She told us about fighting against preconceived notions about young Muslim girls’ interest in football, and how she works on addressing a lack of understanding within her community.
The landscape of women’s football, as she points out, is fraught with challenges, especially when aspiring to reach the pinnacle. Unlike the men’s game, where semi-professional football acts as a bridge, women face a gap between grassroots and elite levels.
Iqra Ismail also became the youngest winner of the Football Black List in 2019 at the age of 19.
More diversity in football
Hilltop Football Club is not only signalling a broader movement towards a more inclusive future for women in football, but they say they aim to actively involve more minorities and women.
Their goal is to create an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel “encouraged to join, inspired to play, and motivated to excel”.
Nevertheless, despite having a female director, there is still a significant gap to bridge in achieving sufficient female representation in the realm of football.
Young footballers we spoke to say more clubs also need to follow suit by appointing and employing women as trainers, coaches, and directors to foster encouragement and inclusivity.
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HeadlineHilltop Football Club appoints its first Muslim woman as Director of Women’s Football
Short HeadlineHilltop FC appoints its first female Muslim Football Director
StandfirstIqra Ismail has been made the Director of Women's Football, which has been celebrated as a step towards inclusivity and diversity in the realm of sports leadership.
Hilltop Football Club announces the appointment of its first Muslim woman as the Director of Women’s Football this month.
The 23-year-old British-born Somali footballer, coach, and club director Iqra Ismail, is known as “a catalyst for change in the women’s game”, carving out a space for herself and others like her.
The genesis of Hilltop Women’s Football Club was rooted in a desire to encourage more Muslim and under-represented women to embrace football confidently.
Young footballers facing challenges
City News spoke to young footballers Hannah and Reema, who told us about the challenges they face with the sport. They found it difficult to get into football when the teams they see mostly feature young white players.
For South Asian, mixed-race, and Black girls, having few role models who look like them in the squads also “makes it hard to imagine themselves playing football” and many doubt whether football is for them.
Picture of the Director of Women’s football, Iqra Ismail. CREDIT: Garry Strutt
Iqra Ismail acknowledges the rarity of her position in the game:
“The intersectionality of my identity made it like three or four fights at the same time”
She told us about fighting against preconceived notions about young Muslim girls’ interest in football, and how she works on addressing a lack of understanding within her community.
The landscape of women’s football, as she points out, is fraught with challenges, especially when aspiring to reach the pinnacle. Unlike the men’s game, where semi-professional football acts as a bridge, women face a gap between grassroots and elite levels.
Iqra Ismail also became the youngest winner of the Football Black List in 2019 at the age of 19.
More diversity in football
Hilltop Football Club is not only signalling a broader movement towards a more inclusive future for women in football, but they say they aim to actively involve more minorities and women.
Their goal is to create an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel “encouraged to join, inspired to play, and motivated to excel”.
Nevertheless, despite having a female director, there is still a significant gap to bridge in achieving sufficient female representation in the realm of football.
Young footballers we spoke to say more clubs also need to follow suit by appointing and employing women as trainers, coaches, and directors to foster encouragement and inclusivity.
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