For the first time in history, an all-female grounds team prepared the pitch at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal’s Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.

With over 60,000 in attendance for Sunday’s North London Derby, this landmark moment marked a significant milestone for women’s sport and the role of women in making sport possible. 

The 13-strong grounds team from various industries took centre stage to shine a spotlight on the vital contribution of women to sport, with the aim of encouraging more to consider roles in grounds management.

This comes as part of a partnership between Arsenal, the WSL, Women in Football (WIF) and the Grounds Management Association (GMA) - the leading organisation representing grounds personnel in the UK.

Two members of the group, Arsenal ground staff Bobbie Murphy and Tara Sandford, kicked off proceedings by working the club’s Premier League fixture against Newcastle on Saturday 22nd February. 

Despite an uplift of women playing sport across all levels, only 2% of the grounds management sector, which is responsible for maintaining the nation’s pitches, is female.

Sandford, leader of this trailblazing team, said: “Being a part of the first all-women grounds team to prepare a Barclays Women’s Super League match has been hugely exciting for me on both a personal and professional level.

“The consistent level of support we have seen for our women’s team this season shows how much the game continues to grow, and it’s important that we harness this to encourage more girls to pursue a career in football. I hope our all-female grounds team showcases the different opportunities that exist within the game and inspires more women to get into the game.”

The full team consisted of:

• Alexia Doughty (Apprentice Groundsperson at Stratford Sports Club)
• Beth Gibbs (Groundsperson at Wellington School and member of the GMA’s Young Board)
• Bobbie Murphy (Apprentice Groundsperson at Arsenal Football Club)
• Carlie Lambert (Apprentice Groundsperson for Worcestershire County Cricket Club)
• Emily Geach (Volunteer Groundsperson at Boconnoc Cricket Club and Tormarton Cricket Club)
• Georgie Grimes (Groundsperson for The FA at St George’s Park)
• Jasmine Nicholls (Groundsperson for Yorkshire County Cricket Club)
• Liddy Ford (Groundsperson for The FA at St George’s Park and member of the GMA’s Young Board)
• Meg Lay (Groundsperson for Lord’s, Marylebone Cricket Club and member of the GMA’s Young Board)
• Phoebe Taylorson (Apprentice Groundperson at Middlesbrough Football Club)
• Rachel Hunter-Worrall (Groundperson at Queen Ethelburga’s School in York)
• Zibby Parker (Part time Groundsperson at Ipswich Town FC and Essex County Cricket Club)