W-League star appeals for more spectators to raise awareness

SYDNEY FC’s Georgia Yeoman-Dale has urged football fans to put their money where their mouths are by going to W-League games.

From left, Amy Harrison, Clare Wheeler, Georgia Yeoman-Dale and Jada Whyman are ready for football’s big awards night.

SYDNEY FC’s Georgia Yeoman-Dale has urged football fans to put their money where their mouths are by going to W-League games.

With continued discussion around the growth of women’s sport and pay disparities compared to male counterparts, the fullback says it is as much the public’s ­responsibility as football’s governing body, the FFA.

“Personally the biggest issue is the general public’s lack of awareness of our competition,” the 23-year-old said.

The foursome are ready for football’s equivalent of rugby league’s Dally M awards.

“A lot of people don’t even know that we play.

“There’s only a small handful of people in the country that could consider themselves professional footballers as women in terms of living off it as an income.

“And it is definitely not a wage that anyone can solely live off — the majority of W-League players would have part-time jobs ­because it is hard to find a full-time job that would allow you to travel as much as we do.”

Yeoman-Dale is doing a double degree in civil engineering and commerce at Sydney University as well as playing for Sydney FC.

She and her teammates will walk the red carpet at Sydney’s Star Event Centre tomorrow night for the annual Dolan Warren Awards, which recognises achievements of male and female footballers.

It is football’s equivalent of rugby league’s Dally Ms and AFL’s Brownlow Medal, with women recognised in categories including the Julie Dolan Medal, the Golden Glove goalkeeper of the year and young footballer of the year.