Content creation is playing a massive role in football. We are part of a generation where TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms are legitimate ways of gathering content, as well as creating content. 

There is a growing rise of female content creators as well. Notably, South Yorkshire’s Kadie Leigh Hanlon, whose following across TikTok and Instagram amasses 50,000. Content which captivates an audience not only in South Yorkshire, but across the country as well. 

“This has been eight years in the making for me, and building a platform is not something which happens overnight. But as a woman from South Yorkshire, it makes me incredibly proud to be where I am today. 

“My content is based around giving a voice to the fans. I try to showcase the lives of football fans in multiple forms of content, either video or in a podcast format. I discovered a gap in content creation for females who follow perspectives as a fan rather than a journalist.” 

The voices of football do not have to be solely male. Opportunities afforded to Kadie have meant that she has covered events across the country. 

“I thank my lucky stars every day that a normal girl from Barnsley is attending these prestigious events, meeting all kinds of different people in the industry and seeing all these amazing places. Being a woman from South Yorkshire covering football across the country makes me very proud. There aren’t many Northern voices in the industry, specifically the content I create to give fans a voice. I’m from a mining area – where the majority of us are working-class people, which I am very proud of and something which I feel sits well with my audience.” 

• READ MORE: The world of South Yorkshire Women’s Football media and Donny Belles’ stadium future – SYWF

Of course, challenges remain in the industry. Female voices in the sport, while they are becoming more gradually respected and accepted, can still face discrimination and gender-based challenges. 

“Hate is something which is part and parcel of what I do. I try to be sarcastic with the comments that I get, either ignore them or respond with something which may attract conversation and attention. I ignore hate the majority of the time, which I think is the best way to go about it, and use it to my advantage!” 

Football and sports content creation is becoming more and more common, and women in the industry are becoming widely accepted for their roles in promoting football. Becoming adverts for visibility and inclusion in the sport is vital to encourage more girls and female content creators looking to get involved in football, and the role women who are already in these roles play in encouraging a new generation is vital. 

“I don’t think women realise how important we are to inspiring future generations of female content creators. We are proving to girls around the world that we can break the stigma around women in sports, and prove it is not true.

“I love what I do and I would love for more women and girls to get involved in this industry. I know how harsh it can be at times, but I want to offer support and guidance to anyone looking to get involved.” 

A digital age has its pros and cons, but an acknowledgment must be made of the hard work and dedication which female content creators like Kadie are doing. Their work to encourage more women to get involved, either in sport or working in the media is crucial, because an understanding is being created, both regionally and nationally, of the value which football media and voices has in shaping narratives and stories.