Fans flocked to watch England’s returning World Cup stars play for their clubs at the weekend as The FA WSL experienced record crowds.
Attendances for round seven – the first club fixtures since Mark Sampson’s side won bronze in Canada – were up by 47% on the previous round.
The four top-flight fixtures were attended by an average of 1,568 fans.
Fara Williams, right, scored on her return for Liverpool
Compared with the same fixtures last year, the uplift was even more startling, jumping 237%, and with two clubs – Arsenal and Manchester City – recording best-ever attendances for home matches.
Fans rushing to watch Fara Williams turn out for Liverpool, and Manchester City field Steph Houghton, Karen Bardsley, Lucy Bronze, Jill Scott and Toni Duggan, helped swell the average crowd for this season to 1,000.
And FA Chairman Greg Dyke believes the game will continue to grow.
“I think it is brilliant for women’s football," he said.
"It was great England finished third but what we have got to do now at The FA is grab that opportunity and that whole new interest in women’s football and run with it.
“Let's try and get more people involved with the grassroots. Let's get more
people playing”
“Let’s try and get more people involved with the grassroots. Let’s try and get more people playing. Let’s get more spectators watching women’s football.
“Let’s try and sell more tickets for the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final which is coming up on 1 August,"
Dyke added: "There is a campaign on at the moment called ‘We Can Play’ to get more girls playing football.
"Let’s just grab the opportunity. Don’t let it go.”
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