Damien Moore MP has pledged his support for the #WhatIf campaign and Women in Football sponsored Betfair.


The #WhatIf campaign is an innovative campaign, driven largely by social channels designed to encourage parliamentarians, businesses, members of the public and celebrities to take action to improve the landscape for every woman in football. It challenges them to identify one way that they can contribute to an improvement for women and girls within the football industry.


At the parliamentary reception on Wednesday 6th February, Damien Moore MP joined the hundreds of people who have taken part by pledging he ‘will invite a women’s football team to Parliament’.


Damien Moore MP said:
“I’m delighted to support the #WhatIf campaign. Women should be recognised for their contribution that they have made to football over the coming years.


“Last year, Southport FC partnered with Women at the Game in order to support more women going to live football events which I believe is the first step in seeing more women become involved with football.


“Seeing that my community is supporting the inclusion of women in sports it has made me further my support for this campaign. Southport only has one female football team, Southport Athletic Ladies, and I hope with my backing of this campaign that there will be an increase in the interest surrounding the team and their progress in the league.”
Jane Purdon, CEO of Women in Football said:


“It’s truly heartening to learn that Damien Moore has made a personal pledge to champion women working in and around the football industry, and the women’s game. I would encourage anyone who has been inspired by this campaign to get involved and make their own pledge, however big or small, by using the hashtag #WhatIf on Twitter. “


Naomi Totten, Spokesperson for Betfair, said:


“We are delighted to be a headline sponsor of the #WhatIf campaign, it’s been incredible to see so many people, including Damien Moore MP, pledging their own support and committing to driving the development of women’s football and conditions for women within the industry forward.


“In addition to sponsoring the campaign, Betfair also pledged to ring-fence 50% of our Cash4Clubs grassroots sports grants to women’s teams and are pleased to say that we have already fulfilled this pledge.


“In 2017 Betfair also committed to increasing the number of women in the UK with a professional football coaching licence in an attempt to address gender inequality in the English coaching pyramid. As it stands, at the very top, there are just 5 women on a UEFA pro license in the UK compared with nearly 300 men. There is still lots to be done and we hope that the What If pledges will continue to push the agenda forward.”


For further information please contact Damien Moore at Damien.moore.mp@parliament.uk or 4 Post Office Avenue, Southport, PR9 0US.