IT HAS been wonderful to chart the continued rise of women’s sport this week.
 
A detailed survey released proved that women’s sport is going from strength to strength — and how.
 
Where to start? Emma Radacanu’s stunning success has already seen girls — and boys — take to tennis courts up and down the country in a bid to emulate their new hero.
 
The hugely talented and personable teenager deservedly grabbed the headlines with her stirring US Open tennis success last month — while the Women’s Hundred and the Women’s Super League (WSL) showcase top-level players in cricket and football.
 
A woman will take charge of an England men’s game for the first time.

That’s on top of all the heartening triumphs by women athletes in the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, with Team GB taking a record number of female athletes to the latter games in Japan.
 
Who can forget the inspirational Sarah Storey winning her 17th Paralympic gold to become Team GB’s most successful Paralympian of all time?

While women golfers proved their quality with Team Europe’s dramatic victory in the Solheim Cup last month.

It’s also wonderful to note Kateryna Monzul will be joined by an all-women on-pitch officiating team when the Three Lions visit Andorra on Saturday. Which is also another small step towards the goal of gender equality.

So, no wonder a Sky Sports’ survey this week suggested interest in women’s sport has risen exponentially. Twenty-one per cent of UK adults say they follow more women’s sport now than 18 months ago, with 24 per cent of men say they are following it more than pre-pandemic levels.

And yet. No-one should rest on their laurels. Certainly not men.
 
Yes, they are hugely encouraging figures, but where are the rest of the men? While a start, I believe those numbers should be far higher specifically relating to men’s viewing figures of women’s sport — whichever women’s sport you choose to watch.
 
How can those number rise further?
 
In terms of the WSL, it is a great product on the field.
 
Having marvelled at Arsenal Women beating Chelsea Women 3-2 at Ashburton Grove with my daughter, niece and girlfriend, as well as watching Jonas Eidevall’s side rout Spurs Women 5-1 in the FA Cup with the latter pair, the on-field product is excellent, with men’s understanding of superb women’s footballers growing all the time.

Arsenal — which has always been at the vanguard of women’s football since the 1980s — have plenty of world-class stars that deserve recognition from everyone, including men.

One quick look at Eidevall’s squad underlines that. Vivianne Miedema is the world’s best striker. Nikita Parris is such a young talent it’s easy to forget she’s been around for a while now, while Katie McCabe and Beth Mead are top-quality footballers — all bolstered by Australia’s Caitlin Foord and the recent arrival of US megastar Tobin Heath.

That’s without looking at Emma Hayes’s Chelsea, who can boast Fran Kirby and Sam Kerr, to name but two from a stellar squad.

Women’s football is also benefiting from increased coverage as well as showcasing the quality of production. Three televised live games every weekend across Sky and BBC is so vital in terms of visibility and engagement. People know where to find it — which is essential.

The trajectory of interest and awareness indicators is growing all the time. More than a million people regularly watch the WSL while attendances continue to rise.  
 
While the Women’s Hundred has helped grow numbers in cricket. Having attended many games over the summer as a punter and a reporter, the appetite is there. The attendances were hugely encouraging, with hopefully more to come next year.
 
Factors such as this, will continue to push growth and commercial sustainability.
 
What is also important in helping to develop and grow the game is male allyship, as Kelly Simmonds, FA women’s professional game director, underlined this week.
 
So, if you’re a bloke, why not tell your mates about how brilliant women’s sport is.
 
In fact, it should be your duty to spread the word that women’s sport is deserving of massive respect from males who a) might not be interested in it, b) might not be aware of it, or, even c) disparaging about it. Although thankfully the latter is one metric that everyone will be delighted is falling.
 
PS, watching the Women’s Champions League this week was a mixed bag for the creme de la creme in this country. Arsenal Women lost 4-1 to Barcelona Femeni, as the home side were simply too good for Eidevall’s side.

Incidentally, it was great to note that John Williamson, arguably the world’s biggest Arsenal fan, and a pal of mine who follows the men’s team everywhere, actually flew out to the game in the Catalan capital to show solidarity in supporting the women.
 
Having started the season so well beating Chelsea and routing Man City, the result was a reality check for the north Londoners in terms of the Champions League. Yet, there was no shame in admitting Barca were just too good for them, with their stunning strength in depth.
 
Four months losing 4-0 to Barca in the final in Gothenburg, Chelsea drew 3-3 with Wolfsburg in their opening group stage game.

The German side lost a couple of key players who went to Barca in Ingrid Engen and Fridolina Rolfö — but, who didn’t actually play against Arsenal, such was the Catalan’s strength in depth against the Gunners.

From a Gunners point of view, it was good to see former Gooner Jill Roord score against Hayes’s Blues.
 
It was also great to see England’s record appearance holder Farah Williams become the first inductee into the FA WSL Hall of Fame.

The move was fully deserved after a glorious career which saw the former Arsenal, Everton and Reading midfielder winning two titles with Liverpool.
 
It was also good to note Rachel Yankey become the second inductee. The former Gunner lifted every trophy there was to win in the game, including two titles with Arsenal, while earning 129 caps.

While another north London legend Kelly Smith, and the brilliant Hayes, also earned recognition. Well done to all.