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Signed shirts, player meet-and-greets and a Swindon Town victory were experienced by Her Game Too’s latest First Time Fans.
The group were guided through a typical matchday experience at the County Ground, as they enjoyed their first taste of professional football.
The First Time Fans initiative, run in partnership between Her Game Too, EA Sports and host football clubs, aims to provide females with their first experience of attending a football match in a welcoming and comfortable environment.
First Time Fans launched in November last year and the first two fixtures enjoyed by groups were Premier League matches at Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Swindon Town vs Barrow and Port Vale vs Newport County on 18 January were the first events to take place at English Football League games.
EA Sports sponsors the tickets and Her Game Too Ambassadors work with the club to welcome the group.
Her Game Too’s Swindon Ambassador, Holly Aitkenhead, met three selected women and children, who applied to attend the League Two clash through online community groups and word of mouth, to guide them through an afternoon at the County Ground.
Holly said: “To start the day we met at the club shop, then took a walk around the pitch and took some photos with the club mascot Rockin’ Robin.
“After that, we went to the Junior Reds Room and met two first team players where our First Time Fans had more photos and signed shirts, then we all took our seats and enjoyed the first half.
“At the break, we visited the Legends Lounge bar then went back out to watch Swindon take the win.”
Nnamdi Ofoborh put Swindon 1–0 up just eight minutes into the game, but it took until the latter stages of the second half for the hosts to seal the win - Harry Smith doubling the Robins’ lead in the 87th minute to end the game 2–0.
The three points secured moved Swindon further clear of the League Two relegation zone.
Holly added: “It’s great to be able to support someone who might not have come to the match having not heard of this initiative.
“This opportunity gives me the chance to educate people on the club’s rich history and introduce them to the community.
“The First Time Fans initiative empowers women and girls to be able to enjoy live football.”
First Time Fans experiences are set to follow at a variety of Premier League, English Football League and Women’s Super League clubs throughout 2025.
Our designated club ambassadors will contact schools and community groups local to the club to find women and girls who will benefit from attending their first match in a group environment.
