163: Karen Dobres on a game-changing approach to women’s football

This week we donned a smelly neon bib, distributed some tiny cones and shouted things like ‘THAT’S NEVER A PEN’ all in order to win the attention of Karen Dobres, one of the sporting world’s most genuine game changers.Advocating for equal budgets, facilities and recognition in women’s sport with all the tenacity of a crunching, shin-pad obliterating tackle, Karen is the co-founder of Equality FC and the Sistership Network. Her new book, soon to hit the shops, is called Pitch Invasion and tells the tale of her experiences as a feminist on the board of Lewes FC, the world’s first (hurray) and only (boo) equal football club. And, with all the creative energy of a box-to-box midfield dynamo, she’s also helped establish the #CallHimOut initiative, has served as a judge on the UN Women UK Awards, managed a counselling service at Polygram Records and, just because she could, helped arrange the installation of a statue celebrating bisexual female pirates.It’s an episode where we chatter ‘in and around’ all things relating to her hopes for women’s sport, the impact of equality on crowds and culture and the value of being an outsider. This episode is proudly dedicated to Marios Christos SfantosFollow Karen on LinkedIn. ///// Timestamps06:10 - From Journalism Aspirations to Modelling08:45 - Transitioning to Counselling and Music Industry12:40 - Discovering Women's Football15:31 - Feminizing the Football Environment at Lewis FC18:14 - Impact of Equality on Crowds and Culture24:48 - Challenges Faced by Women in Football27:25 - Creating a Supportive Community through Football30:37 - Football as a Vehicle for Social Change32:06 - The Value of Being an Outsider in Football34:15 - Pitch Invasion: Karen's BookKaren's Book Recommendations are:A Room of One's Own by Virginia WoolfWhy Men Win at Work by Jill Whitty Collins /////