Leah Williamson’s Oxford address touched on many topics, from the trajectory of her career since her Euro 2022 success and subsequent injury, to the current state of women’s football.
This week, the University’s Union dropped a three part video culmination of her visit on May 16th, ranging from her interview with Oxford Union Librarian, Isabelle Horrocks-Taylor, a direct address to the camera and those at home, and a Q and A session with those present at the time.
Here are five things we learned from Leah Williamson’s Oxford address.
1.Relief vs Joy - the whirlwind that was England’s Euro 2022 win
Back in the summer of 2022, the world was struck with Euros fever, and perhaps, for the first time, womens’ football took centre stage.
England, captained by Williamson were on track to become the country’s first team to taste success at a major tournament since the men’s side won the World Cup in 1966, and they had attention to bat too.
With those new eyes came the added weight of pressure though, and with the potential implications of improving the football landscape for the next generation of female footballers on their backs as well as everything else heading into that game, the Arsenal woman and her teammates could feel every ounce of that expectation.
As a result, upon the conclusion of the match against Germany, the overwhelming emotion that overcame her was one of “relief”, as opposed to joy.
2.She would have worn the ‘One Love’ Armband
Were the shoe on the other foot, Williamson revealed that she would have worn the ‘One Love’ armband had she been in that position at the 2022 (men’s) World Cup, no matter the consequences.
At the time, with the tournament taking place in Qatar, FIFA threatened to dish out yellow cards to the athletes who donned that particular armband, jolting the men’s players at the time to avoid doing so.
In Leah Williamson’s Oxford address though, she outlined what she would hae done differently.
“I would have served the ban,” she says.
“I wouldn't have played the game. There’s no way I wouldn't have worn that armband onto the pitch at that moment,” she continued.
She also explained how that decision during that time was “to protect people that oppose that view”, but that she had a differing opinion.
“I disagree. Because then you are alienating people, and women, and anyone involved in the LGBTQ+ community,” she says.
3.Katie Reid could be the real deal
Leah Williamson’s Oxford address mentioned Arsenal player Katie Reid, her recent debut, and how the footballing world has changed for the better in the time elapsed between her, and Reid’s early years in the sport.
Joking that she has “the job of keeping Katie at bay” for the moment, Williamson went on to outline how she believes Reid will one day challenge her for her shirt, and players like her should really have a “headstart” on player’s from her generation given the improved resources on offer in that time.
That she says, was the goal, she only wishes she could be younger to have experienced that change for herself!
4.Sexism in football reflects that of it in society
Touching on Luis Rubiales’ unsolicited kiss with Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup final last summer, Williamson spoke of the continued barriers women continue to face within football and beyond.
She discussed how the issues of sexism and misogyny in football “reflect those issues in society”, and therefore, until “the world changes, there will always be problems.”
This, she says, is why the fight for equality isn’t over just yet, and that players and women like her will continue to strive for a better world.
“To me it makes perfect sense to allow everyone to exist in the same room with differing opinions. However if were trying to silence people or to remove them from the equation, then we’re running scared,” she says.
5.There needs to be more diversity in football, beyond gender
While the strive for gender equality continues to come into focus, so too does another fact when you examine the current England squad - the lack of diversity.
Beginning to face criticism for their predominantly white squad, Williamson spoke of how this is one of the areas that can be categorised as the next frontier that needs to be tackled in the women’s game to allow for people of more races to flourish.
So much so, it’s a “top priority” Williamson says.
To think otherwise would be to persist in a world where England as a team are “missing out on so much talent”, among other things.
