Murcia's growth and opportunities for women's football
The future of women's football in Murcia
Women's football in Spain has seen some remarkable growth in the past decade. The national team's victory at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup inspired many more to get involved, but some are still left wondering how to get involved. In Murcia, there are growing opportunities for women to join amateur teams, either in the hopes of going professional or simply to have fun.
One of the best ways to measure the growth of a sport is to see its betting market grow. Paysafe betting sites are showing clear signs of increasing the number of markets for women’s football, as well as the attendance numbers rising.
RFEF's strategic plan for women's football
The RFEF's Strategic Plan 2020-2024 has set out some big goals for the development of women's football in Spain. The plan has a key objectives, from increasing the number of registered female players to optimising the competitions. The RFEF has collaborated closely with regional federations to achieve these goals, Murcia being on, which is ensuring a unified approach to nationwide development.
One of the plan's notable initiatives is the "Impulso 23" programme, which provides financial support to clubs in the Segunda División B and Tercera División, as well as the "Cantera con valores" project, which promotes youth development. These initiatives have played a big part in nurturing young talent.
The RFEF's commitment to women's football has also extended to the international stage, with the federation actively seeking to host major tournaments. But, where can we find these opportunities in Murcia?
Grassroots initiatives and local clubs
Mazarrón Women's Football Club is a great example of a grassroots initiative promoting women's football in the Murcia region. The club, which is registered with the Football Federation of the Region of Murcia (FFRM), takes on an inclusive approach.
Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome. There are currently over 120 players ranging from age 5 to senior level, showing that Mazarrón Women's FC not only provides opportunities, but a place to develop at over a long time.
One of the club's most notable features is its accessibility, as it is one of the few clubs in the region that does not require any monetary contribution from its players. This policy ensures that women and girls from all backgrounds can participate in the sport, no matter their circumstances and background. Mazarrón Women's FC also organises regular social events to create that sense of community.
The Murcia Football Federation has been working with the RFEF to support women's football in the region. It’s implemented some of the initiatives outlined in the RFEF's Strategic Plan 2020-2024, and we are seeing an increase to the number of registered female players.
Alhama CF: Professional women's football in Murcia
While Murcia unfortunately lacks representation in the Spanish top-flight women's league, Liga F, the region has seen promising developments in professional women's football. Alhama CF, which was founded in 2004, has shown promising signs as a prominent women's club in Murcia when they secured promotion to Liga F for the 2022-23 season.
The rise of Alhama CF has been accompanied by increasing visibility and media coverage of women's football in the region. As the club competed in Liga F, even if only for a season before relegation, helped put Murcia on the map and will have inspired many young local girls to get involved.
Challenges and audience growth
Despite the progress made in women's football in Murcia, challenges do remain. Limited resources and the need for greater grassroots participation are still a concern. While progress has been steady and attendance has been rising, there is still a lack of funding. Visibility is also hard to come by in the mainstream media outside of the major tournaments, which is impactful due to Spain’s national success.
In the 2023/24 season, Liga F had an average attendance of around 1,500 per game, which was 8% higher than the season in which Alhama CF participated. While this is positive, it’s a slower growth rate than other European leagues like the FA Women’s Super League, which saw 40% growth.
One problem is that Liga F is being driven by a small number of clubs making up a lot of the attendance, which skews the mean. The record attendance was Barcelona vs Madrid, which saw a 38,707 gate. This shows a lack of equal distribution around the country, although this is a similar criticism of the men's league too. Ideally, this issue should be tackled early on before it matures and fully establishes.
Women's football in Murcia has made some impressive progressive in recent years, thanks to the contributions of two key clubs and the support of federations. The RFEF's Strategic Plan 2020-2024 has provided a roadmap for growth, but there is still a lot of work to do.
As Murcia continues to nurture talent, it's being inspired mostly by the success of the national team.
Image: Anastasia Shuraeva / Pexels
