I didn’t feel brave enough to tackle abuse before – but that’s what I’m doing now

I’ve been involved in football for more than 13 years either as a player or now as a sports journalist.

Football has been a defining constant in my life and without it I wouldn’t be in the job or have the experiences I have now.

However, it has not always been positive.

I’ve written at length about the abuse I was subjected to on the pitch as a kid playing in Brechin, how comments made about my body had long-term and lifethreatening consequences as I struggled with an eating disorder as a teenager.

Plenty of other girls and women have experienced abuse and have to live with the effect of someone else’s words or actions – while those who inflicted such pain are probably none the wiser.

The response to one of my articles shows how important speaking out can be.

Fans rallied around Stenhousemuir and their captain after she was subjected to abuse on social media about the

way she looks after their Scottish Cup game against Rangers – proof that calling out abuse can unite fans and footballers.

Women’s football has often been a safe space for LGBTQ+ players and a more accepting environment for same sex couples.

But I’ve been around straight players who have referred to their teammates as “dykes” or questioned players being on their “gaydar” as if it’s a fun nickname or game.

Calling out abuse is a responsibility we should all assume to be part of the solution.

And although I wish there was no need for this project or for campaigns like Her Game Too they exist because we’re a long way off where we need to be as a society.

I admit I haven’t always done my bit.

I’ve been on the pitch and not felt brave enough to do anything about the abuse I’d experienced.

A 12-year-old shouldn’t have that weight on their shoulders but I should have at least felt comfortable to go to my coaches or the referee to tell them about the boys hurling insults at me from behind the goals.

I didn’t call out the homophobic remarks for fear of being outed before I was able to do so on my own terms.

I’ve been working at a game and heard abuse shouted from the stands.

One incident that sticks in my head was when a man shouted abuse while he sat only two or three seats from another set of fans – a dad and his young daughter.

“How do you run with your fat a**e in those shorts?”

Nobody said or did anything about it.

What kind of message does it send to that young fan if a man thinks it is acceptable to solely judge a female players ability on her appearance?

I wish I had called him out.

It doesn’t help when people are constantly branding women’s football as unimportant and irrelevant.

Women’s football shouldn’t have to justify why it deserves improved coverage in the media, the numbers speak for themselves.

The Women’s FA Cup final was watched by 1.3 million people on the BBC while 40,942 fans watched from inside Wembley; 28.1 million people watched the BBC’S 2019 Women’s World Cup coverage.

Earlier this season in Scotland, the SWPL1 highlights show had more viewers than the men’s highlights on Sportscene.

Looking at those numbers, it’s quite clear to me that women’s football is neither unimportant nor irrelevant.

The Women’s World Cup Final had a huge audience.

footballers but feel they have had to make their way in the face of prejudice inside and outside the game.