Not Small Men

Dr Sadia Sheikh founded DIYA FC in Pakistan, in 2002. It started life as a football centre for young girls & women, and has developed into a highly successful academy that not only coaches football, and runs a team in the National Women Football Championship, but changes girls' lives. This inspirational interview was recorded in late 2024.

Moya Dodd believes that women's football "should be given its own head".She is a Lawyer and Sports Consultant, Co-Chair at Common Goal, member of the Women's Leagues Forum. She has also been a FIFA ExCo and AFC ExCo member. As a player, she was vice Captain of the Matildas.Her views on women's football and its governance are a must-hear for anyone who cares about the integrity and future of the women's game.

Baroness Sue Campbell became the FA Director of Women's Football in 2016. She created and oversaw implementation of the roadmap for developing the women's game, that set it firmly on the path to professionalisation and success.

This very candid interview was recorded in late Summer 2024 and was the final full-length interview she gave before stepping down from her role in December 2024.

If the future of women's football is left to 'market forces', then it risks becoming just a version of the men's game. Because the 'market' is dominated by men's football and the money to which it has access. In this final episode, we look at the optimal conditions needed to create a strong, authentic women's game that benefits every club and every player, not just the elite.

Guests (in order of appearance):

SUE CAMPBELL               FORMER FA DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

ALEXANDER VON SCHIRMEISTER      MD, Xero UK & Emerging Markets

JULIAN HADWIGER     WHU-OTTO BEISHEIM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

LEE SANDERS                  HEAD OF FOOTBALL, DURHAM WOMEN FC

ELLIE LEEK                         FORMER PLAYER

JENNIFER HASKEL       DELOITTE SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP

MOYA DODD                    LAWYER, SPORTS CONSULTANT

KIERON O’CONNOR    THE SWISS RAMBLE 

NATALIE BURRELL         WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FAN

ROLAND GISCARD D’ESTAING    WOMAN UP AGENCY

PAUL DRESIBACH          WOMEN’S FOOTBALL STRATEGIST

HELEN WARD                  GENERAL MANAGER, WATFORD WOMEN

JENNIFER HASKEL       DELOITTE SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP

BETTINA BAER                 LEAD CONSULTANT, TWO CIRCLES

YVONNE HARRISON   CEO, WOMEN IN FOOTBALL

DR SADIA SHEIKH          FOUNDER, DIYA WOMEN FC

ANJALI SHAH                   PIFA, INDIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL ALLIANCE

The biggest factor affecting the development of women's football is... men's football. It casts an enormous shadow that creates a big challenge to the women's game. Partly because of the temptation (wrongly) to emulate it, but partly also because it currently controls the capital that funds the growth of the women's game. So, what is the role of men's football and men, right now, and also historically?

Guests (in order of appearance):

HELEN WARD                  GENERAL MANAGER, WATFORD WOMEN

JENNIFER HASKEL       DELOITTE SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP

NATALIE BURRELL        WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FAN

BETTINA BAER                 LEAD CONSULTANT, TWO CIRCLES

PAUL DRESIBACH         WOMEN’S FOOTBALL STRATEGIST

MOYA DODD                    LAWYER, SPORTS CONSULTANT

KELLY LINDSEY               COO, DIRECTOR FOOTBALL, LEWES FC

FANNY ALMERSSON   STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

ANJALI SHAH                   PIFA, INDIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL ALLIANCE

ROLAND GISCARD D’ESTAING    WOMAN UP AGENCY

LEE SANDERS                  HEAD OF FOOTBALL, DURHAM WOMEN FC

ELLIE LEEK                        FORMER PLAYER

IRENE MERINO              GLOBAL HEAD OF GENDER BALANCE, DECATHLON

YVONNE HARRISON CEO, WOMEN IN FOOTBALL

DR SADIA SHEIKH        FOUNDER, DIYA WOMEN FC

JULIAN HADWIGER    WHU-OTTO BEISHEIM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

MARK BRADLEY             FAN EXPERIENCE COMPANY

KIERON O’CONNOR    THE SWISS RAMBLE 

Women's Football is growing all over the world, but WHY women play, beyond the more developed markets like the USA and Europe, gives a fascinating insight into the power and social importance of the women's game.

Guests (in order of appearance):

MOYA DODD                  LAWYER, SPORTS CONSULTANT

ELLIE LEEK                        FORMER PLAYER

IVI CASAGRANDE        CASAGRANDE COACHING

KELLY LINDSEY              COO, DIRECTOR FOOTBALL, LEWES FC

JENNIFER HASKEL       DELOITTE SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP

KIERON O’CONNOR    THE SWISS RAMBLE 

JULIAN HADWIGER      WHU-OTTO BEISHEIM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

IRENE MERINO                GLOBAL HEAD OF GENDER BALANCE, DECATHLON

ROLAND GISCARD D’ESTAING    WOMAN UP AGENCY

FANNY ALMERSSON   STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

PAUL DRESIBACH          WOMEN’S FOOTBALL STRATEGIST

DR SADIA SHEIKH          FOUNDER, DIYA WOMEN FC

ANJALI SHAH                   PIFA, INDIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL ALLIANCE

The business of women's football is very much still in a start-up phase. But already, elite clubs, with their immediate access to capital, are dominating Leagues. What earned revenue streams are available to clubs and what are the prospects for attracting external investment?

Guests (in order of appearance):

SUE CAMPBELL FORMER FA DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

LEE SANDERS HEAD OF FOOTBALL, DURHAM FC

HELEN WARD GM, WATFORD WOMEN

KELLY LINDSEY COO, DIRECTOR FOOTBALL, LEWES FC

ALEX VON SCHIRMEISTER MD, Xero UK

JENNIFER HASKEL DELOITTE SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP

KIERON O’CONNOR THE SWISS RAMBLE

JULIAN HADWIGER WHU-OTTO BEISHEIM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

IRENE MERINO DECATHLON

FANNY ALMERSSON STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

BETTINA BAER LEAD CONSULTANT, TWO CIRCLES

PAUL DRESIBACH WOMEN’S FOOTBALL STRATEGIST

ROLAND GISCARD D’ESTAING WOMAN UP AGENCY

'Without fans, football is nothing'. But try playing without the players...

Hear from 12 guests on the reality of being a player, from the physical to the financial. It's getting good at the top, but, for everyone else...

Guests (in order of appearance):

SUE CAMPBELL FORMER FA DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

IVI CASAGRANDE CASAGRANDE COACHING

ROLAND GISCARD D’ESTAING WOMAN UP AGENCY

JENNIFER HASKEL DELOITTE SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP

ALEX VON SCHIRMEISTER MD, Xero UK

IRENE MERINO DECATHLON

ELLIE LEEK FORMER PLAYER

DR STACY SIMS HEALTH & PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

HELEN WARD GM, WATFORD WOMEN

ANJALI SHAH PIFA, IWFA

KELLY LINDSEY COO, DIRECTOR FOOTBALL, LEWES FC

DR SADIA SHEIKH FOUNDER, DIYA WOMEN FC

There's something... different about many fans of women's football. Analysis and opinion from 17 different voices within the game.

What do YOU think? Comment here or on LinkedIn (by following Charlie Dobres).

This week's guests (in order of appearance):

ELLIE LEEK FORMER PLAYER

MARK BRADLEY FAN EXPERIENCE COMPANY

LEE SANDERS HEAD OF FOOTBALL, DURHAM FC

JUAN BRADLEY WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FAN

BETTINA BAER LEAD CONSULTANT, TWO CIRCLES

NATALIE BURRELL WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FAN

PAUL DRESIBACH WOMEN’S FOOTBALL STRATEGIST

FANNY ALMERSSON STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

JENNIFER HASKEL DELOITTE SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP

HELEN WARD GENERAL MANAGER, WATFORD WOMEN

JULIAN HADWIGER WHU-OTTO BEISHEIM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

MOYA DODD LAWYER, SPORTS CONSULTANT

KIERON O’CONNOR THE SWISS RAMBLE

IRENE MERINO DECATHLON

ROLAND GISCARD D’ESTAING WOMAN UP AGENCY

ANJALI SHAH PIFA, IWFA

SUE CAMPBELL FORMER FA DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

Not Small Men is a six-part audio docuseries on women's football, where it's at and where it's going.

The series looks mostly at the situation in England, but also considers the development of the game around the world.

Episodes are released every Wednesday, starting on 5th March.