Exhibition Sheds Light on Female Football Fans' Historic Experiences
A groundbreaking exhibition titled Away From Home: The Untold Stories of Women Football Fans has opened at The Beacon of Light in Sunderland, next to the Stadium of Light. Created by Prof Stacey Pope, a leading women's football sociologist, in collaboration with David Wright from Durham University's museums, galleries, and exhibitions team, this pop-up showcase delves into the lives of women on the terraces of the north-east from the 1950s to the present day.
Challenging Gender Stereotypes in Football Fandom
The exhibition features interviews with 22 Newcastle and Sunderland fans, alongside archival footage that highlights female presence in male-dominated stands. For instance, it includes images of long lines outside St James' Park for tickets to the 1955 FA Cup quarter-final replay against Huddersfield and iPhone photos from when Newcastle won the League Cup in 2025. Prof Pope emphasizes that while men are often assumed to be knowledgeable about football automatically, women frequently face skepticism and must defend their fandom.
"You can be the thickest bloke and you still think you know more about football than a woman," reads a quote from a Newcastle fan named Jo in the exhibition. "Oh, I could wipe the floor with you, man, with my knowledge and how much I've been, how much I've seen." Pope notes that this sentiment reflects a broader issue where women's status as fans is undermined, while men's is enhanced.
Evidence of Female Passion and Historical Presence
The exhibition provides undeniable proof of women's long-standing involvement in football, showcasing hand-sewn silk scarves from an era of handmade merchandise and newly-commissioned artwork and soundscapes that bring matchday rituals to life. This curation is an extension of Pope's two decades of research, involving over 200 interviews with female fans to understand their place in football culture.
Pope explains, "I wanted to bring those stories to life. There's been this feminisation of sports fandom, meaning increased opportunities for women to become football fans over the last three decades, but that hasn't led to gender equality. Whenever you see small steps towards equality, you get backlash." The exhibition aims to highlight how women are required to justify their fandom and confront sexist attitudes.
Addressing Sexism and Inequality in Modern Football
Recent studies underscore the urgency of this topic. Pope surveyed 2,000 male football fans and found that three-quarters held either overt or covert misogynistic attitudes towards women in football. Additionally, Kick It Out reported that sexist incidents at matches doubled from the previous campaign by the end of February this season. Pope describes this as "the tip of the iceberg," criticizing the assumption that sexism is just part of football culture.
The exhibition also explores how football has been viewed as "the last bastion of masculinity" in society. Pope points out that men's and women's fan careers often follow different trajectories due to gendered caring and household responsibilities, with women expected to give up matchdays after marriage or childbirth. Stadiums have historically been designed for male convenience, and issues like assault or abuse on matchdays further complicate the female fan experience.
Personal Stories and Universal Themes
Interviewees share poignant stories, such as losing boyfriends or facing disdain from husbands for their love of football. Others describe the hours of daydreaming and discussion that would be considered normal for male fans. The exhibition uses mixed media to animate themes of familial loss and renewal, travel, time, and memory. In one soundscape, complaints of hunger, mud, and coldness fade into euphoria once the game begins, capturing the emotional intensity of football.
Pope hopes the exhibition will resonate widely: "It doesn't matter what club you support or your gender; when you talk about the importance of football in people's lives, they understand. But peel back, and you see the negative sides of gender inequalities and assumptions around women as inauthentic fans." Away From Home runs until the end of the season at The Beacon of Light and is available online, offering a vital platform for amplifying women's voices in football.
