West Ham United women’s team joined the West Ham United Foundation in attending three appearances to celebrate International Women's Day, highlighting the importance of female role models, sharing experiences from their journeys in football and evoking discussions around breaking down barriers.
Goalkeeper Megan Walsh, defender Daniella Way and midfielder Marika Bergman Lundin attended an employability session at Chadwell Heath as part of the Foundation’s ‘Training Ground’ employability programme.
The programme aims to support people in the local community who have finished their education and are looking to make the next steps in their lives. Support can range from CV workshops to mock interviews and are usually themed around football.
Joined by five aspiring young women, the players took part in a relaxed question-and-answer session where they were asked about empowerment, female role models, challenges they have faced in their career and how football can provide a source of motivation.
Sweden international Bergman Lundin recalled how she always wanted to play football and grew up idolising Marta, someone she would later play against, and now she wants to be a role model for the next generation.
“There’s still a big difference between us and men, in a lot of ways - not only in football,” said the 25-year-old. “It’s important for everyone to speak about it so we can make a difference together.
“I want to be a great role model for kids, for people my age. I’m not like everyone else and I want to show everyone’s entitled to their own personality and to be safe in being them.”
The 12-week ‘Training Ground’ programme works with 16-25 year olds who are not in education or employment, and helps to build their confidence and provide them with qualifications.
Rashid Abba of the West Ham United Foundation said: “After the 12 weeks, we want to give them (the young people) a pathway into education, employment or volunteering. When we talk about employment, it’s not just coaching. They may want to go into other industries and we try to signpost that.
“We’re based in east London and most of the young people [who we work with] are from boroughs where there is a high level of unemployment, a lack of education, poor housing, a low-income status, so we’re trying to encourage them that there are opportunities through the West Ham badge. And hopefully they’ll be the role models for the next generation.”
Three of the girls who took part in the session, Shahla Khaliqiar, Kiara Tuitt and Iqra Parviz, highlighted how important role models have been in their lives - whether that be a coach, teacher, friend or parent - and that they wouldn’t be the people they are today without them.
Shahla said: “Today’s been really important, it’s showing young girls and women, regardless of their background, that football is for everyone. It was really nice to hear the West Ham players’ stories, from how they started to where they are now.”
“Talking to the players face to face reminds you that these are real people and if they can go through what they did and get where they are, you can too. It shows you anything is possible,” stated Kiara.
“Because football is such a male-dominated sport, I felt demotivated to play it,” said Iqra. “Seeing females playing, making careers out of it, motivates you to play, and hopefully the new generation don’t have to go through the barriers that we went through growing up.”
Elsewhere, as part of the Club’s ongoing commitment to promoting women’s football and the importance of sport in young people’s lives, midfielder Soraya Walsh and forward Emma Harries recently made a surprise visit to Hathaway Academy in Grays.
The visit saw the players engage with more than 20 young girls, sharing their experiences in sport and inspiring the next generation to get involved.
The event was a fantastic opportunity for the students at Hathaway Academy to meet female professional footballers, hear their stories and gain valuable insights into the dedication and hard work required to succeed in the game.
The players observed some of the girls’ sporting activities outside, before leading an interactive session, answering questions from the students, discussing the benefits of staying active and highlighting the vital role of sport in developing confidence, teamwork and resilience.
Reflecting on her journey into football, Walsh shared: "Every time I played football, I just had so much fun. It took my mind away from all the stress of outside life and I wanted that enjoyment to be my career in the future."
The players also spoke about the impact sport has had on their well-being, emphasising the friendships and life skills they’ve gained.
"Football not only brings enjoyment but also a social aspect. I've made great friends and learned skills like teamwork, collaboration and communication," Walsh noted.
West Ham United women’s team have been at the forefront of advocating for gender equality in football and this visit reinforced the Club’s mission to break barriers and empower young girls to pursue their passion for sports. The students at Hathaway Academy were encouraged to challenge stereotypes, set ambitious goals and believe in their abilities, both on and off the pitch.
When asked about overcoming challenges in sport, Harries shared her personal experience: "Resilience is a massive thing. Not every decision goes your way, you're not always selected and injuries can be tough. I went through a really bad injury and couldn’t play for 12 months, but my love for the game and resilience got me through."
The discussion also touched on breaking barriers and role models in sport. Harries highlighted the importance of representation, saying: “When I was younger, women’s football didn’t have much exposure. Now, watching the Lionesses inspires me. It’s great to see how far the women’s game has come."
For many of the students, the visit was a source of immense inspiration. One student shared her excitement following the event.
They said: "Meeting Soraya and Emma was amazing. As a footballer myself, it’s really motivating to hear their stories and speak to professionals face-to-face from my favourite team.”
The visit to Hathaway Academy is part of the West Ham United Foundation’s wider initiative to promote inclusivity and participation in sports, particularly among young girls. The Foundation continues to work closely with schools and community groups to provide opportunities for young people to get involved in football and other sports, fostering a love for physical activity that can benefit them throughout their lives.
With International Women’s Day serving as a powerful reminder of the progress made in women’s sport, the event at Hathaway Academy showcased the positive impact of role models in inspiring future generations. The players left a lasting impression on the students, reinforcing the message that with determination, perseverance and support, anything is possible.
Meanwhile, Macey Nicholls made a return to where her West Ham United career started as she visited a Foundation Female Player Pathway session at Parsloes Park.
The midfielder spoke with all different age groups - offering insight into her own journey through the player pathway - and discussed her recent spells at Hashtag United, and what she's learned training with internationals every day, while offering advice to the young players during the coaching sessions.
“It was really great to be able to return to the Player Pathway and meet some of the young players coming through," Nicholls said.
“I have some really fond memories of my time working with the coaches and it was nice to be able to come back and speak with the next generation of players coming through.
"It reminds me of how far I've come on my own journey in such a short space of time, and that I'm now a role model for these young girls who are coming through. I hope that they all enjoyed asking questions and it was a pleasure to work with them."
U12s Women's Youth Team Head Coach Bobby Clark was delighted to welcome Nicholls down to the sessions and described her appearance as ‘invaluable’ for the young players.
He said: “Her expertise, passion and first-hand experience of coming through the system not only inspired but also empowered our players, showing them that with hard work and dedication, they too can reach the highest level of the game.
"It’s important that our young players have role models to look up to, and I know that they all really enjoyed meeting Macey.”
