Aditya ChaudhuriEnglish women’s national football team captain Leah Williamson has announced a new investment in football entertainment group Toca Football.
Joining as a stakeholder in the firm, Williamson aims to improve and encourage female participation in football. The firm has stated that it will “work closely with Williamson on a collaborative campaign to get more women to play the game”.
Williamson joins England men’s team football captain Harry Kane in this venture, who is also an investor in the company.
Speaking about her investment, Williamson said:
“I look at women’s football as a business opportunity at the moment. We are constantly trying to sell this product, and we’re all involved in it day-to-day. I have my job as playing and training, that whole performance side, but I feel like it is extra dedication to the game if you look at it as a small business.
“Until the day when there is no higher ground to reach, I think we will always have that responsibility to help promote the sport – especially in my privileged position as England captain.
“We are changing the perception, but especially for a young girl to walk into a team and own that she wants to play football – it wasn’t the easiest for me for at my age, and it still won’t be easy for some girls in certain places where there isn’t a girls’ team. When I was growing up I was the only one of my friendship group who enjoyed football, so I was a bit of a standalone.“
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Alex Harman, President, Toca Social, added:
“Leah’s commitment to football and her dedication to empowering young women make her an ideal partner for Toca.“
Toca runs football-themed social entertainment venues known as the “Toca Social” and also has indoor football centres in North America.
