FA launches first female health hub to transform access to advice and support in grassroots football

The University of Portsmouth’s Research Group in Breast Health (RGBH) has worked alongside the Football Association (FA) for the launch of its first-ever Female Health Hub, an online platform designed to transform the support available to women and girls across the grassroots game. 

Launching today, the hub will provide trusted information and practical advice on key female health topics in football. 

The hub, accessible via the website, is part of The FA’s ongoing commitment to improving the female athlete experience, as outlined in its women’s and girls’ game strategy Reaching Higher. It is the first resource of its kind in English football, combining expert-backed guidance, practical tools and player insights in one dedicated place.  

Aligned with the Made for this Game campaign, which aims to break down barriers that hold women and girls back in football, the Female Health Hub shows female players that their bodies belong in the game, with the non-judgemental advice and reassurance they need to thrive and feel confident on and off the pitch. 

Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, Professor in Biomechanics from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences and Research Group in Breast Health, provided her expertise across the project sharing powerful facts and honest truths about breast health. 

Professor Wakefield-Scurr, also known as the ‘Bra Professor’, said: “It’s fantastic to see FA creating an online resource dedicated to supporting women and girls in the football industry. From ensuring athletes have access to the appropriate guidance that helps them feel comfortable and confident, to finding a sports bra that offers the right level of support, it’s vital that everyone feels empowered and has access to the necessary advice.” 

The launch follows new research conducted by The FA that highlights the urgent need for better education and support around female health in football.  

Among adult players surveyed, 88 per cent said their menstrual cycle impacts their ability to train or play, yet 86 per cent reported they had never received education about the menstrual cycle in relation to football performance and training. 

The research also found that 64 per cent of women experience issues related to sports bras or breast health while playing football, despite sports bras being considered one of the most important pieces of playing kit. Players also expressed strong interest in learning more about injury prevention (87 per cent), nutrition (84 per cent) and mental health (77 per cent) in relation to female health. 

The Female Health Hub addresses these needs by bringing together expert guidance, myth-busting content and practical tools tailored to female football players.  

The platform has four core ambitions: 

• Empower women and girls to better understand their bodies and how female health impacts performance and participation 

• Educate players on key health topics and when to seek further advice or support 

• Provide practical strategies to help navigate common female health challenges 

• Help break down taboos and normalise conversations around female health in football 

Players who use the hub will also be able to hear directly from the Lionesses, who share their own relatable experiences of navigating female health matters while playing at the highest level of the game. 

The first phase focuses on three of the most requested topics - menstrual health, breast health and injury resilience - with further content to follow, including nutrition and pelvic health guidance. 

Sue Day, Director of Women’s Football at The FA, said: “Our ambition is to create a game where women and girls can thrive. To achieve that, it’s essential that players feel supported in environments that understand and respond to their female health needs.  

“We’ve heard directly from grassroots players that they want better information and support around female health, but that they often don’t know where to find it. The launch of the Female Health Hub marks an important step in changing the landscape. We want every player to feel confident in her own skin and supported without judgment, so she can feel empowered by her body, rather than held back by it."