For just over two decades, one woman has been at the centre of grassroots women’s football in the Sheffield and Hallamshire region. She’s shaped its growth, steered its progress, and ultimately ensured its survival. Now, with the exponential growth of women’s football at the very top and years of dedication as a volunteer in the region, Julie Higgins is being recognised with a full-time and permanent role!
Her title across the last 20 years? Well, you may as well take your pick. “I’m League Secretary, or League Officer, or whatever you want to call it,” she chuckles. “I also do fixtures and welfare, and I’m Club Secretary at Sheffield Wednesday Ladies. Basically, I do a bit of everything”.
What she’s actually done is laid the path for women and girls to play real, structured and high-quality football in South Yorkshire from nothing- a reality that barely existed when she first got involved over 20 years ago.
“It’s been a real delight. I’ve watched amazing talents come through whilst I’ve been involved. Millie Bright stands out- look where she is now!”
Transforming the League Ladder
When starting out, Julie had the insurmountable task of making sense of what was a mess of a setup in South Yorkshire across all levels of the women’s game.
“When i first took over, we just had a junior league. We only went up to under-18 teams, no higher, and there was a separate Women’s League.”
Navigating such a messy system was a challenge. Junior players from the U18s had to transition into different structures across the country with little support. However, since Julie’s tenure on the board of the Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA, that’s changed.
“We had some meetings with County FA, and we agreed to bring the women’s section under our banner. So now, we’re the Sheffield and Hallamshire Women and Girls League.”
That transformation five years ago was more than just administrative, it was a game-changer.
“Back then, we had two small divisions. Now, we’ve got four divisions, around 44 sides, and loads of applications to join next year”.
The shift has been seamless between open-age and junior football, creating a stress-free experience for a whole generation of players.
Full-Time Game-Changer
Like so many grassroots football volunteers, Julie’s role began as a labour of love. She was also a parent on the sidelines and a reluctant organiser when no one else stepped up.
“I started off just getting involved with my daughter’s team. Then I got involved with the league. And then somebody left, and there was nobody to do it. So it just evolved into my role.”
Across the last ten years, Julie has juggled her commitments in the beautiful game with her job as a Health and Safety Officer at Sheffield College. But with the women’s game growing at the rate it has, so has the workload.
“Football’s getting so big now that it’s just not manageable.”
At one point not so long ago, she considered walking away altogether.
“The first knee-jerk reaction was to pack up football. You know, it’s just a voluntary thing.”
But Sheffield and Hallamshire weren’t willing to lose her.
So, from June, she’ll be departing Sheffield College after 32 years and taking up a well-deserved role in football—an idea that is completely alien at the grassroots level, even now.
“It’s a big, big change for me. But now I’ll be able to focus on the football almost full-time.”
Facing the Future of Women’s Football
For Julie, the progress made within South Yorkshire in the women’s game by her and other volunteers is just the beginning.
“I want to grow the women’s side of the league, work with Flexi Football, and get some futsal off the ground.”
To make her ideas a reality, she’s also calling for more support from the County FA.
“Not just because we’re a female league, but because leagues in general need more support… I’ll be badgering them for more funding.”
Looking ahead 50 years, what does she hope for in the women’s game?
“I’d like it to be as big as the men’s game. I don’t think it ever will be, but you never know!”
While Julie might not be around to see her legacy and impact on the local women’s football scene, she wants it to last.
“I’d like to think this is where it started, and I’ve helped it to grow.”
