A

.I had grown up in a football-loving family; my dad had played until injury forced him out. My older sister Stevie trained with Crewe Alexandra Girls for a year or two as a left back just like our hero Jamie Carragher.

I remember the exact moment I told my dad I was interested in doing what my big sister did. I was watching the game with him in the living room as a pre-teen and it just came out, “It makes me sad that I can’t be a footballer.” He asked why not, and I answered, “Because I’m not a boy.”

He immediately responded by telling me that women’s football was “great” and that I could play if I wanted to. “Yeah, I suppose,” I responded, “but no one watches women’s football.” Looking back I can see exactly why I felt like that.

At school, there was an unwritten rule that sports like hockey and netball were “girl” sports and rugby and football were for the boys. I’d never seen a women’s football match on TV; the only female athletes I’d heard of were in the Olympics.

Today, the Lionesses will take on Scotland in the World Cup. But although women’s football has turned out to be one of FIFA’s best investments,the majority of female players in top tiers are earning under what anyone would consider a fair wage.

On Twitter you’ll find that the most popular defence of those figures argues that there’s less money in the female side of the game because viewing statistics are lower than those from the male footballers, but the truth is that investment is needed for female football to become more visible and become an equally respected game.

Today, I’ll be cheering on the Lionesses, and its coming home will mean more this time around, because it’ll mean talented, skilful female footballers being broadcast into millions of homes and maybe, just maybe, a little girl believing that she too can be a lioness one day.

1.What do we know about Jamie Carragher?

A.He is the author’s teacher.

B.He is a friend of the author’s sister’s

C.He’s on the Crewe Alexandra Girls.

D.He is an excellent footballer.

2.Which of the following best describes the author’s father?

A.Strict.                      B.Encouraging.             C.Creative.                   D.Critical.

3.What does the author think of the unwritten rule at school?

A.Disappointing.          B.Flexible.                   C.Fair.                         D.Appealing.

4.What should people mainly do if they want to make female football better known?

A.Hold more matches.

B.Increase investment.

C.Employ more skilful female footballers.

D.Broadcast women’s football match on TV every day.