Former Tottenham Hotspur Women's player Chloe Morgan and former referee Rebecca Welch joined young people from professional football club charities and representatives from across the world of football at a special Premier League Changemakers event this week, as part of the Premier League Charitable Fund's commitment to supporting women and girls.
Held at the National Football Museum in partnership with Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the event had both Morgan and Welch add changemaking shirts to the museum's iconic Football Heritage Collection ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March.
Morgan's 2017 Tottenham Hotspur shirt, signed by 12-to-15-year-olds from 27 professional football club charities and emblazoned with the word 'Changemakers' as a commitment to promoting gender equity, will sit side-by-side with the shirt Welch wore when she made history as the first woman to referee a Premier League game.
"It's a real honour to have my shirt added to the Football Heritage Collection," Welch said. "Premier League Changemakers is so important because it shows and encourages young girls to feel that there's a place for them in our game, through new opportunities and in a variety of roles on and off the pitch."
Launched in 2021, Premier League Changemakers is delivered through the national Premier League Kicks and Premier League Inspires programmes and provides opportunities for girls and young women aged 11-18 to access leadership training alongside sport and physical activity.
Designed to explore future opportunities to celebrate success and promote equity, equality and allyship in the game, the unveiling event allowed Premier League Changemakers participants to pose questions to both Morgan and Welch on the importance of recognising and celebrating women's achievements in the world of football.
"Premier League Changemakers is absolutely incredible. We see these inspirational girls representing football club charities from all across the country come together to make a difference. It's really empowering," said Morgan.
"These girls are the future. This event is telling them, your voices matter, your experiences matter. To have these future leaders add their names to my shirt and create a piece of history that will go on display in the National Football Museum is unbelievable."
Ruth Shaw OBE, Chief Executive of the Premier League Charitable Fund said: "With Premier League community programmes supporting thousands of girls and young women every year, we know how important it is to promote equality, and champion positive role models, on and off the pitch.
"The unveiling of these two important shirts, worn by two inspirational women, represents a commitment to continuing to celebrate and empower women in the game.
"By bringing together young people and representatives from across the world of football in this special International Women's Day event, we can explore the history and future of women's football in this country and ensure we continue to support the development of personal skills and positive attitudes that are crucial for leadership and future careers."
Other highlights on display include Steph Houghton's match worn shirt from her 150th Women’s Super League (WSL) appearance in 2021, Ellen White’s boots from her final WSL game in 2022, Sheila Parker’s England cap from her first official captaincy in 1972 and a souvenir programme from Dick, Kerr Ladies vs City of Manchester Ladies in 1955.
"It was brilliant to welcome so many young people to the museum, to engage and empower them through our collection and the creative power of football," said Dr. Gabrielle Heffernan, Director of Content at the National Football Museum.
"Inclusion and equity across the game is incredibly important to us as we strive to achieve equal representation of women across our content and programming."
