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International Football Institute Conference 2005
Women, Football and Europe
Monday 13th to Thursday 16th June 2005

Conference Background

Women's football is one of the fastest growing sports in Britain.
There has been a parallel growth in the number of people interested and
involved in various aspects of the game, including supporting, coaching,
football development, organising, officiating, fundraising, and media
representation. Women's football has also become an emerging and
exciting area of study at a global level and attracts a growing body of
scholars from across various disciplines.  By providing a forum for both
those involved at a practical level and scholarly engagement into
women's football, this conference recognises the importance, depth
and variety of such activity. Subsequently those who contribute to the
conference will enhance the knowledge base regarding women's football
in Europe for those operating in all areas relating to the game.

The hosting of the UEFA Women's Championship 2005 in the North West
of England is a major event in an important year for women's football
in Britain and Europe.  The tournament, first held in 1989, represents a
key step towards further raising the profile of women's football
across the continent and will involve leading nations including Germany
(current World Champions and Olympic Bronze Medallists), Sweden (FIFA
2003 Women's World Cup Runners Up) and host nation England.

The International Football Institute (IFI), a partnership between the
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and the National Football
Museum, successfully hosted the international conference, "European
Football: Influence, Change and Development" in September 2004. This
was the second conference hosted at UCLan dedicated to the study of
football. As part of the 2005 Championship the IFI will host 'Women,
Football and Europe', the first ever international conference of its
kind. The conference is to be held in conjunction with Sport England as
part of the Euro 2005 Legacy Programme whose objectives are:
*To increase awareness of women's football.
*To increase participation in women's football and sport generally
*To raise awareness of health issues and the contribution sport can
make to deliver health programmes.
*To create a legacy programme that extends across the North West

The Conference Organisers have decided to divide the Conference
Programme into three streams: academic; populist; and practical. This
offers a unique opportunity for academics, practitioners, researchers
and supporters of women's football to combine their attendance at the
tournament with the Conference. The full Conference Package will include
tickets for the semi-final match at Deepdale, home of Preston North End
FC, on Wednesday 15th June.


Aim and Objectives

The aim of the Conference is to provide a forum to engage those
involved at all levels of women's football. The key objectives are:
*To bring together academics, coaches, players, practitioners, media
representatives, supporters of women's football
*To develop and expand existing knowledge of women's football in
and across the continent of Europe
*To raise awareness and instil an engagement in women's football in
line with the Euro 2005 Legacy Programme
*To celebrate the hosting of the 2005 Championship in the North West
of England
*To explore the diversity of women's football development and
current issues across the continent


Populist Stream

There will be two populist sessions that open and close the Conference.
At this stage provisional Keynote Speakers for these sessions include:
Karen Espelund (Chair of UEFA Women's Football Committee); Kelly
Simmons (Head of Football Development, Football Association); Sue
Thearle (BBC Sport, compere); Sir Trevor Brooking (Director of Football
Development, Football Association); Per Ravn Omdal (Vice-President,
UEFA); Marieanne Spacey (Fulham Ladies Manag
er and former England
International); Dr. Jayne Caudwell (Conference Editorial Board,
University of Brighton).


Academic Stream

The Academic Stream seeks to generate critical, informed and purposeful
knowledge regarding women's football and will include invited Keynote
Speakers supplemented by individual academic sessions.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers include:
*Jean Williams (De Montfort University, Leicester)
*Sue Lopez (MBE, Head of Women's Football at Southampton FC and
Director of Centre of Excellence and author of a women 's football book,
Women' on the Ball!)
*Gail Newsham (Author of In a League of Their Own! The Dick, Kerr
Ladies Football Team)

The Editorial Board was delighted with the response to the call for
papers and sessions will concentrate on the following themes: corporate;
development; equity; experiences; history; international; media;
performance; and player demographics and profiles. Papers will feature
research in a range of countries including England, Germany, Belgium,
Sweden, Spain, Czech Republic, Australia, Argentina, Tanzania, United
States, Israel and Iran.

The Academic Stream will conclude with a Closing Forum and a panel
comprised of the Editorial Board and Keynote Speakers will reflect on
key issues that emerged during the Conference. This will include a
Conference Review by Professor Sheila Scraton of the Editorial Board.

For further information and to see a copy of the conference programme
please contact Emma Woodward on +44 (0) 1772 892654 or by e-mail
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Web page - www.emmarich.co.nr
Gender, sport and society forum - www.gssf.co.nr
Dr Emma Rich
Lecturer in Gender Identity, Health and Physical Education
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences
Loughborough University
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 3TU

Tel - +44(1)1509 222765
Fax - +44(1)1509 226301