Pioneers Persevere

FORMATS: Photography | Film | Soundtrack

A new body of work focussing on pioneering women who have an association with the game wearing the limited edition shirt from AROUND THE MATCH. Offering fresh insight into the female voices that make the game on and off the pitch, exploring those special moments that affect people long after the final whistle is blown.

Riv Burns provides a platform for women and other underrepresented groups as Director of ‘From the Other’, the team behind ‘Sounds From the Other City’ – a 19 year strong grassroots Salford music festival – and Co-chair of Greater Manchester Music Commission. As an avid fan of the game, she is advocating for football’s model of support within the music industry.

Jacqui McAssey’s work highlights the women who contribute to football culture, from Anfield to Australia, using a variety of methods including photography and fanzines. Commissioned to create a series of artefacts for the Lionesses squad announcement film ahead of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, this football ‘femorabilia’ marked a significant moment with a growing number of female fans steering the conversation, creativity and visual language surrounding the women’s game.

Hannah Kumari’s production ‘ENG-ER-LAND’ is set in 1997 – the year that the FA announced their plan to develop the women’s game to ‘elite level’. Inspired by her experiences of going to matches as a mixed-race teenager, the play blends storytelling, dance and music with 90s nostalgia to tackle racism, identity, lad culture and working-class masculinity.

CREATIVE | Chris Butler & Daniel Cheetham

PRODUCTION | Chris Butler

PHOTOGRAPHY | Daniel Cheetham

DESIGN | Daren Newman

FILM | Chris Butler & Daniel Cheetham

EDIT | Mike Nixon & Simon Pantling

SOUND | Simon Connor

SOUNDTRACK | Chris Butler & Noel Williams