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Joanna Cottee is the latest addition to the Her Game Too Ambassador team.
From playing football aged 10 to arriving at a game at Meadow Lane by canal boat, Joanna has seen it all following the Magpies.
Reflecting on her reasons for joining Her Game Too, Jo says the campaign incorporates and encourages the diverse representation that was lacking in the game when she was growing up.
She said: “I have always loved football, however, from growing up in the 90s and 2000s, there was not much female presence in football grounds and the media. I remember watching Bend it Like Beckham, which I consider to be a groundbreaking film, and it began to normalise women enjoying football by directly tackling stereotypes.”
“I loved that film and still do, as it made me feel that other girls DO like football, whether that’s watching or playing. It’s been 20 years since the film and things have changed - there is more female representation in the media and fans going to matches - but it is still sometimes the case that women and girls are judged and considered not to have a valid opinion.”
“I feel like women get overlooked and have to work hard to be taken seriously in football. When I first came across Her Game Too, I knew that I wanted to be involved. I haven’t played football for many years but, as a fan, I hadn’t seen an organisation that specifically advocated for female fans of men’s football.
“It’s even better that Her Game Too has become much more than that – as an advocate of all women in football, championing women’s football, staff and pundits, as well as in other sports too. Her Game Too is what I needed as a younger child growing up when there wasn’t an obvious presence of females among fans or on TV.”
“There was a period of time when I became disengaged with football when I was a teenager, as I didn’t think I belonged in the football world. It wasn’t usual for girls to be interested in football. It took me a while for me to find that love again, but now I love it more than ever and I won’t give up! I want a younger version of me to benefit from this movement in a way that I wish I had had growing up.”
Notts County have a rich history, which, in recent years, included dropping out of the English Football League - with a dramatic penalty shootout win sealing their place back in the top four tiers.
The Magpies played non-league football for four seasons, with Jo experiencing every emotion possible alongside her father - the man who first got her into the pilgrimage of going to follow the side week in, week out.
“The darkest day in Notts County’s long history, as the world’s oldest professional football club, was when we were relegated to the National League in 2019. It has to be one of the hardest leagues to be promoted from and we were there for four years. We came so close in 2021/22, but a goal by Grimsby in the final seconds meant it wasn’t to be.”
“The National League has so much talent, much of it up and coming, among both the players and managers, so it was tough competition with only one automatic and one playoff spot to be promoted. It was a hard four years.”
But following her club has also included many highlights for Jo.
“The best moment has to be our epic promotion back to the Football League in 2022/23.
“After an extraordinary season, when both Notts and Wrexham were excelling, we missed out on automatic promotion - even with 107 points - and were forced to go through the grueling playoffs. In the semi-final, we were seconds from going out, but we had a final minute goal to send us to extra time, much like how Grimsby scored the season before. Another goal at the end of extra time sent us to the final at Wembley.”
“After trailing twice in the final, we managed to win on penalties. Unbelievably, we were only in front for a couple of minutes in the whole of the playoffs! I honestly can’t think of a greater feeling than the moment when Scott scored the winning penalty at Wembley in the playoff final to send us back into the football league. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it!”
“What made it more special was that my dad and I had enjoyed so many matches together across that season and spent so much quality time together - something he didn’t get the chance to do with his dad. We got our chance to go to Wembley to see our team and we managed to drag along some other family members too!”
The promotion of Notts County Women to fans is a key area Jo wants to support whilst working with the club, with the side being promoted to the National League Division One Midlands in 2022/23.
“I would love for Notts to partner because, as a big club, it could have a big impact with the campaign. It would be great to help grow the female fan base and promote the Notts County Women in a bigger way.”
“I want to help to involve more grassroots girls teams in the club. I want people to know that Notts County is an inclusive, friendly club, where everyone is welcome and will be respected.”
Finally, through her career as a teacher, Jo would love for the Her Game Too message to be taught in schools to help promote a culture-change.
“Any kind of prejudice and discrimination is learnt from a young age, so it would be great for Her Game Too to be part of an education shift. It would be great to get into more schools to talk to children and young people about the mission, with an aim to challenge prejudices before they set in. I believe that this is how culture and attitudes will change for the better.”
