After training, Tottenham Hotspur’s Molly Bartrip devoted her Tuesday evening to inspiring young female footballers in North London.
The centre-back attended one of Bloomsbury Football’s U11/U12 girls sessions earlier this week. Bartrip spoke to enthusiastic young players about her career, before sitting down with The Halfway Line to talk about the foundation’s inspiring initiative.
Bloomsbury is a grassroots football charity that tackles health and social inequalities by breaking down barriers to accessing the transformative benefits of football. Since their very first session in 2018, the charity has impacted thousands of kids’ lives by making football accessible and affordable for them. Last year, they announced their Girls Strategy, which aims to have a 50/50 split of boys and girls in their programmes by 2028. Bloomsbury projects that by that time, 10,000 young women in London will be playing the sport every week.
The recently launched ‘No Backseats’ campaign is a crucial part of the organisation’s long-term commitment to growing the girls’ game, aiming to empower young women to take to the pitch, with no-one left behind. Using the power of football to change the game for young people in London, Bloomsbury has Bartrip’s backing.
After answering questions from several curious youngsters in a bustling school sports hall, the defender laughed, “They’re enjoying, they’re having fun, and they’re trying to learn. I think that’s the biggest thing that everyone needs to take from it – coaches as well.”
‘The game has changed, and Bloomsbury are doing it the right way’
Girls football teams used to be few and far between. Now, they can be found all over the capital and beyond. So, we asked the defender what stands out about Bloomsbury’s initiative.
The 28-year-old pondered, “Growing up, I played with boys for quite a long time. I feel like that’s where I kind of learned the love for the game and and realised that that’s what I wanted to do. If there was the opportunity, I used to go to soccer schools, but again, a lot of the time it was just boys.
“But I loved it, I felt like it pushed me and tested me, so I enjoyed that side. I wouldn’t say there was anything like Bloomsbury when I was growing up, and that’s what I absolutely love about it. The game has changed, and Bloomsbury are doing it the right way.
“We want the game to keep progressing,” Bartrip continued, “and with that, more girls need to be playing. This gives the opportunity to those that maybe don’t or can’t access local training centres, local training clubs, this gives them an opportunity to really come and create friendships, get life skills, but just enjoy playing football. And I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Training sessions like this one are important for so much more than just learning a new football skill or practising drills ahead of a game. The centre-back added, “The biggest thing you can get from from sport, from football specifically, especially in this country, where everyone shares that a big passion is that you can go to a session and you know that everyone’s there for the same reason. Everyone’s learning about each other, you’re meeting new people, you’re putting yourself out of your comfort zone.”
‘Even though I’ve had my battles, I’ve come out stronger’
Whilst women’s and girls’ football is growing in every sense, this growth comes with challenges and it continues to be a harsh truth that for various reasons, many girls turn away from the sport during their teenage years. Bartrip has bravely spoken out via The Players’ Tribune about her experience with anorexia, and reiterated to The Halfway Line that football has been crucial to her wellbeing. The senior Spurs player pointed out that campaigns such as Bloomsbury’s can provide a much-needed outlet for young people who may be struggling.
The club servicewoman told us, “Growing up I always felt like when I went to an event or I went to training, it was that little bit of release. It was where you kind of felt free, and I think that’s the biggest thing for all these girls to take is that this is a place where everyone is safe.”
The defender urged, “With where growth of the game is going, we need to keep pushing that [mental health support]. That’s not something you settle for. We have to keep making sure that the girls know that there are psychologists out there, for example. There’s people who can talk to talk to – your Mum, talk to your Dad.”
“I’ve dealt with mental health, I’d say, since I was 14, and the biggest thing for me is just to be able to talk to people,” Bartrip went on, “so I think, with the development of the game, with the fact that there’s so many more young girls wanting to be part of it, there’s going to be times that not every single one of them is going to feel like themselves.
“The biggest part of that is to make sure at home, they feel safe, at home, they feel like they’re getting the correct support, too. I was super lucky growing up with my parents that they had my back, and they always made sure that I was okay. Even though I’ve had my battles, I’ve come out stronger. And sometimes you need to go through the rollercoaster to feel better.”
The centre-back spoke passionately about what it means to be part of a project empowering and supporting young footballers. She emphasised, “Seeing the smile on their faces when they’re playing the competitive element of the game is what we love. It’s a privilege to be here, really. I think part of our job now as a professional footballer is to pave the way for the future.”
This season has been a ‘rollercoaster’ for Spurs
Bartrip joined Tottenham Hotspur for the first time when she was just nine years old. Now, she serves as vice captain.
Speaking on what the role entails, the valued member of the team explained, “You have to bring the best version of yourself every day, and that’s all I try and do. I don’t change regardless of the armband. I have an amazing captain in Beth, England, I’ve known her for a very long time, and I have so much respect for what she’s done for the game and what she’s still doing for the game, so I can learn from the best in that way. I’ve played with some very good captains, and I just want to make sure that everyone around me is enjoying their football, and feels safe.”
This season has been a turbulent one for Robert Vilahamn’s side, who currently occupy the ninth spot in the table after reaching the Adobe Women’s FA Cup final and finishing their last league campaign in sixth.
Touching on the current state of play at the club, Bartrip admitted, “Everyone’s right to say that it’s been a roller coaster. There’s been ups and downs. It’s part of the game, though, the league is developing in such quick ways, with more players wanting to come to the league, the best players wanting to come to the league. Naturally with that, it’s harder. We have got to keep the mindset being strong.”
Bartrip’s Tottenham will be back in WSL action on Sunday, April 20th when they face 11th place Aston Villa.
