Baroness Sue Campbell confident FA plans will create shift in terms of diversity

Baroness Sue Campbell is confident plans unveiled by the Football Association will help create a “significant shift” in terms of diversity at the top end of the English women’s game.

The level of ethnic minority representation in the Women’s Super League and England Women team has been a considerable talking point in recent years.

Something cited as a factor in the situation has been issues regarding the talent pathway structure and accessibility for youngsters from inner-city areas.

Earlier this month, the FA announced plans to grow the existing talent programme for the women’s game, providing a wider and more diverse talent pool, with the number of players set to more than double by the end of 2023-24.

There is to be a wider national network of what will be called Emerging Talent Centres for girls aged eight to 16, with funding provided by the Premier League.

That announcement followed the launch last summer of the ‘Discover My Talent’ project.

Campbell, the FA’s director of women’s football, told the PA news agency: “I think I described the old talent pathway like a very narrow tube, and what we’re now trying to do is widen the base and push the top up.

“At the bottom end, we have two programmes. Discover My Talent is a direct intervention programme. We’re working with EFL Trusts in inner-city and urban areas where we’re getting young people nominated for us to look at. We’re getting lots of referrals, it’s working really well.

“That hopefully will begin to give those youngsters that perhaps in the past haven’t joined a club or don’t know how to, a chance to get on.

“Then the Emerging Talent Centres, there’s 70 of them initially, they’re the next step. And one of the great difficulties is travel for kids, particularly