As a 12-year-worn girl playing boys’ football Niamh McKevitt was unique – and targeted. The defender,now with Huddersfield in the Women’s Premier League, recalls her impolite awakening in this extract from her bookUnfortunately, or the most memorable thing about my first game for Millhouses had nothing to do with football. As well as the pace,the other big difference was the amount of what Dad calls “sledging”. Boys’ football is a lot more vocal than the girls’ version. fairly a few girls’ matches I’ve been involved in gain been played in total silence. Boys are much more likely to talk to each other, and not just to members of their own team either. I discovered intellect games are a big part of football.
The sledging normally starts during the pre-match handshake, or which is supposedly a goodwill gesture initiated by the FA to promote sportsmanship – but that’s really all it is: a gesture.
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Source: theguardian.com