Chelsea and England star Millie Bright has endorsed the introduction of away ends to Women's Super League fixtures, praising the impact such added intensity can bring to a competitive fixture.
Women's football has yet to ubiquitously experience allocated away sections in their grounds. Typically, away fans secure tickets by creating an account for the home club's website, but the nature of women's football has seen travelling supporters regularly mixing with rival fans without issue.
The noise around establishing designated away sections has been loud, particularly from the Manchester United and Chelsea corners, whose away contingents can be sizeable. Arsenal legend Ian Wright has also been a vocal campaigner, notably making an impassioned appeal after the success of Euro2022 for away ends to become regular fitments within the women's game.
And Bright made a plea before Chelsea's Champions League group stage fixture at Kingsmeadow yesterday, in which the reigning WSL champions welcomed Real Madrid as the Blues got a 2-0 win,
"We need it," said Bright, speaking in Chelsea's pre-match press conference. "I think every player will agree that we want that in the women's game. It's intense, but that's what you want games to be like. It can change a game. It can sway momentum for or against."
Chelsea hosted Vllaznia in Champions League group fixture at Kingsmeadow in October, in which the Blues cruised to a jaw-dropping 8-0 victory. But the impressive away support congregated behind one of the goals and helped foster a raucous atmosphere in west London, even delaying the final 10 minutes as flares were strewn onto the pitch.
"I think the fans enjoy it, and it shows what football in Europe is all about, and we want to bring that to the WSL as well," Bright said.
The WSL has received a taste of the fruits such an introduction could bear. This season, over 1,000 Manchester United fans descended upon the Emirates Stadium for the Red Devils' 3-2 victory over then-table leaders Arsenal.
United's away contingent gathered in the corner behind the goal that Millie Turner and Alessia Russo dramatically netted late goals in as United willed on a stunning comeback victory. The result left the travelling cluster in a state of delirium but also gave credence to the notion of away sections stirring momentum.
"It's probably the thing I've screamed for the most, I've wanted the most," added Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, who recently urged the WSL to "have more ambition" amid growing concerns that the league is "outgrowing" the small stadia it is subject to.
"I've always felt we have to separate into certain sections. It creates an atmosphere. For fan safety, it has to be that," Hayes said.
"Watching the Man Utd-Arsenal game and seeing the Man Utd fans there in their numbers; this is what has to happen going forward. Everything that's happening is a notch up from where the game has been, and I think that inevitably this time next year, it won't be a conversation we're having because I imagine those things will be in place."
NEW! Our Year: European Champions 2022 - The Official England Winners Book
With a foreword by England manager Sarina Wiegman, this is the only official book of the historic triumph, reliving every kick of a thrilling tournament and telling the stories of the players who made it all happen.
Order now from reachsportshop.com/https://reachsportshop.com/book/our-year-european-champion-2022/
