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Women in Football would like to thank our wonderful panel for our Diversity Matters event in Nottingham last month - Lisa Rashid had been running the line in the Championship the night before; Sophie Cook came all the way from Brighton to tell us about her amazing journey; Annie Zaidi's story of triumphing over racism and sexism empowered us all, Vivienne Ayela's, who sits on the FA's Anti-Discrimination panel and the PFA's Jason Lee gave us helpful tips on how to join a football board and our very own Hala Ousta. Our final panel member was our co-host Amanda Chambers is the Managing Director from the Nottingham City of Football project.  Nottingham was awarded the status of the City of Football 2015 and 2016 and up to £1.6million of Sport England/ National Lottery funding.

We would also like to thank Notts County FC who provided a creative forum that meant we could really interrogate how the lack of diversity and discrimination in football diminishes our national game.

Importantly there was much practical advice on how to overcome these barriers. Co-host Amanda  informed us that Nottinghamshire County FA were starting the process of forming a Inclusion Advisory Group and she urged anyone who felt they had something to offer to apply. It was vital that this group reflected grassroots football in all its diversity.

Interestingly it appears one of the criticisms of the FA Council reform proposals put forward by outgoing chairman Greg Dyke was that new diverse council members should not be foisted on the existing structure but come organically from the County FA's. So there is the challenge Women in Football. To effect change we need to join boards, disciplinary panels and Inclusion Advisory Groups at County FA level - and Women in Football will later in the year be running some workshops to advise on the best way to get involved for the good of our game.  

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