Latest news with #HelenJohnson
The Guardian
05-08-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Why is ‘Dave from Egham' so wound up by women's football?
Barney Ronay's article, inspired by the radio rant by 'Dave from Egham' about being unable to stand women's voices talking about football and having women's football 'thrown down our throats' during Euro 2025, was refreshing and entertaining (The soundtrack of the women's Euros was happiness … and some men can't cope, 2 August). At a recent family gathering, some of the men started talking about the same thing – how there were so many women presenters and commentators talking about football and not just women's football, no, but, God forbid, men's football, and actually sport in general! What is the world coming to? How dare these women speak knowledgably in articulate sentences and joyful tones? And like 'Mrs Dave', my sister joined in and supported the patriarchal point! The conversation continued along this vein for some time, eventually arriving at the well-worn waffle about 'women can't play football as well as men and shouldn't be paid the same, blah blah blah…'Helen JohnsonNottingham I ask myself why some men are so antagonistic to women's football, why they feel it is being 'thrown down our throats', and why they can become so wound up by women's voices and generally be so misogynistic and so open about their poisonous beliefs. My guess would be that they feel jealous and under threat. Not since the heady days of women's football attracting large crowds (like Dick, Kerr Ladies, who drew a crowd of 53,000 at Goodison Park on Boxing Day 1920) has women's football been so popular. But the men were back from war, and it was time for them to have their game back. So, obligingly, the FA disallowed women from playing on affiliated pitches for half a century. In men's football, England has led the way with the formation of the Premier League, attracting players and fans from around the world – even if, internationally, we always fall at the last hurdle, or before. Then along came the women's troops, gaining attention after much ridicule and playing good football – and not rolling around on the floor and berating the referee. There are plenty of sports on TV, to watch or not. The 'Dave from Egham' types should get on with their own lives and stop being such haters – it's bad for their health. Laura FarninghamVejer de La Frontera, Spain What Barney Ronay describes as the happiness of the Euros is, to my mind, just what sport should be. The sport was competitive, exciting and skilful, but there was still a sense of proportion. It was sport, not life, and the people playing it went back to homes that were something like those of their fans. Sport is a game, chaps. You can still celebrate endeavour and skill, but just stop taking it all so seriously. The Lionesses showed us, again, that sport can be pure StreatfieldRichmond, North Yorkshire I arrived in the British Isles in 1968 and was completely mystified by the warfare between football fans. I'd support whatever team appealed at the time and could never drum up any hatred for the other side. I hadn't realised that I was watching, and enjoying, the women's football because that anger and threat of violence was missing. I would like to thank Barney Ronay for the explanation. Beth BoltonSoutham, Warwickshire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
First look at inside pictures of new arts hub
Work to turn the inside of a vacant post office into a new arts venue is set to begin. Lowestoft's former post office has been empty since 2017 and is owned by East Suffolk Council. The council's planning committee approved plans a year ago to create the new venue in the Grade II listed building as part of a wider regeneration project. Helen Johnson, culture and heritage programme manager at the council, said work on the exterior had already taken place and the council aimed to open the venue in a year's time. The council appointed Ipswich-based Barnes Construction to undertake the internal works. Once completed, the venue will provide space for a revolving residency of international, national and regional artists as well as exhibition spaces, work studios, a screening room and cafe with outdoor seating, the council said. It will be managed by art specialists Messums East and the building will also provide a work studio for Laurence Edwards - an internationally renowned sculptor born and raised in East Suffolk. "Work to the outside of the building has already been recognised for its quality and craftsmanship – and we're now looking forward to the inside taking shape," Johnson said. "Once complete, the new venue will provide cultural opportunities and attract more visitors to the town." Other projects in the town have also been planned, including a new seafront complex being built at Jubilee Parade, improvements at Royal Plain and redevelopment of Battery Green car park. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Plans for vacant post office given the green light Lowestoft £24.9m regeneration project is approved Post office facade earmarked for restoration East Suffolk Council
