Where Goals Are Always Allowed

Ellie Judd, England

Ellie Judd plays for Spice Goals FC, a grassroots football team based in Brighton. The team is open to women, non-binary and trans people and was formed in September 2018 due to a severe lack of women’s beginner level football in the area. The end of 2019 saw Spice Goals help to launch the only women’s five a side league in Brighton. Spice Goals also runs Goals Allowed, a free open practice once a week that welcomes all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?

My name is Ellie Judd. I am 26 and from Brighton, which is where I currently live. I play for Spice Goals. The first memories I have of playing football are from when I was about 6 but this did not last for very long – even at that age I remember boys not wanting the girl on their team. The next time I was playing for a team was in secondary school but after that it was not until 2018 when Spice Goals was formed that I started playing on a weekly basis. 

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

The photos mainly consist of Spice Goals Thursday night training sessions. The rest of them are taken at Goals Allowed; this is an inclusive casual football space for all self-identifying women and non-binary people who want to play football in Brighton. 

I think my favourite thing about this team is the wonderful community that has come from it. It is such an incredibly positive space where I have met so many interesting and kind individuals - some who have played football their whole lives, some who have never kicked a football before. To see the support and encouragement that fills this space feels really special. This is what I wanted to show. It has always been about having fun and creating a space where people feel safe and encouraged to come and play regardless of gender, sexuality, race, disability, religion, and class.   

What is your favourite photo?

We played a friendly against Ringmer FC Ladies. It was the first match we played after lockdown. I cannot remember the score, but we lost by a fair few goals and afterwards we went to a local park and gave each other feedback on things we had done well in the game. I just remember feeling so excited about being able to play a match again. You can see how happy everyone is and it just makes me smile every time I see it.

What are the opportunities for grassroots footballers in Brighton and the UK?

We have been part of some amazing opportunities since we formed in 2018. We have played in some incredible tournaments and met some really inspiring people who work so hard to enhance and support football in local communities. But there is a lot more that could be done to make football equal and accessible for everyone to be comfortable and safe to play. 

What role does football play in your community and region?

Football gives people a chance to come together and share an experience. Whether it is watching or playing, it should be something that everyone can enjoy and connect over. I think it is so important to have something real and tangible to bring people together. Living in a digital world, it can be so easy to lose this, but with football there is raw and real passion and I think there is nothing else like it. 

What does football mean to you?

Football means a lot. It is about belonging to something and being supportive to one another. It is about having an avenue to explore our creativity. I helped design our logo with one of our other players and so much thought and energy goes into trying to reach more women in our community. It is much more than playing a game. It has enhanced my life so much through the friendships I have made and seeing the support and respect growing within this community is really special. 

What impact has Spice Goals made on you and others in your local community?

I think Spice Goals has had a positive impact. Along with Goals Allowed it has given people a chance to learn new skills, have a sense of belonging and make new friends. I personally feel like it has changed my life. I hope this can extend to as many people as possible and this space can continue to grow and celebrate and empower people to keep playing football.

What is the future for women's football in the UK?

I think the future looks really promising, especially if the creative, innovative, and inspiring women we have met on the journey so far are anything to go by. I think visibility is really important as well. It is so amazing that young girls can now see women playing football on the television regularly and go to busy games that feel like a proper event.