Events
WOMEN’S PANEL EVENT
Wednesday 6 March 2024 at 7.30pm – Cherry Red Records Stadium
Doors open: 6.45pm
MEET THE PANEL
The Women’s Panel Event, hosted by Women of Wimbledon Supporters Association (WOWSA), takes place on Wednesday 6 March at 7.30pm as part of International Women’s Day later that week. The event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium is in collaboration with AFC Wimbledon, The Dons Trust, and supported by the Football Supporters Association’s Fans For Diversity campaign. The Women’s Panel Event is open to all supporters – not just WOWSA members and women – with the option to join online if you can’t attend in person.
We are delighted to be welcoming Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP to the Women’s Panel Event, Siobhain will be doing an introduction before the panel discussion begins.
The panel is made up of some fantastic women who work and volunteer in key roles across our club. The evening is hosted by Hannah Kumari, Fans for Diversity Campaign Manager for the Football Supporters’ Association’s (FSA).
The Fans for Diversity campaign is a partnership between the Football Supporters’ Association and Kick It Out. Its aim is simple – to celebrate diversity in football to ensure all fans feel safe and welcome at the game, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, faith, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. Football is for everyone, together.
Here’s more on our panel members:
Michele Little has been Chair of the Dons Trust Board since September 2023, she is also an AFCW PLC Director, as well as Finance Committee Chair and Dons Trust Treasurer. She is also the Dons Trust’s trustee representative on both the AFC Wimbledon Foundation and WiSH boards.
Michele is a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor, with an Economics degree from Cambridge. As part of her Dons Trust Treasurer role Michele oversees the Plough Lane Bond.
Sophia Axelsson is the Women’s General Manager at AFC Wimbledon, and has been in the role since February 2022. She sits on the AFC Wimbledon Women’s Board.
As General Manager for the women’s team, Sophia is responsible for anything that happens outside the football pitch, whether that is growing the crowds, social media engagement, income from sponsorships, and anything else that has to do with running a football club – aside from washing the kit!
Jennifer Scott has held the post as Chair of AFC Wimbledon Foundation since 2021.
Jennifer is Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery, a role she has held since April 2017. She is responsible for the artistic vision, management, and strategic leadership of the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery. She is also Governor of Alleyn’s School, Committee Member of The Treasure House Fair, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and Fellow Commoner of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. Jennifer loves the family friendly nature of the AFC Wimbledon and its wide reaching community.
Lou Carton Kelly is Chair of the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (WISA) and an AFC Wimbledon volunteer. Lou was the first elected Chair of the Dons Trust Board when it launched in 2002 and later held the post of AFC Wimbledon’s Operations Director.
Lou served as Vice Chair of Supporters Direct, the national organisation set up to deliver democratic representation within football clubs. She was the driving force behind the foundation of The Dons Trust as Chair of the steering committee. Lou has been a Dons supporter since 1986.
PANEL HOST
Hannah Kumari is the FSA’s Fans for Diversity Campaign Manager.
Hannah is a writer, director and former actor, working across theatre, opera, tv and film. Her play ENG-ER-LAND has toured over 30 venues around the UK. She has appeared on BBC Newsnight, BBC Squad Goals, Talk Sport and BBC Sportshour.
Jane Lonsdale, Chair of WOWSA, said “It’s great that we have so many women working and volunteering at our club. It’s the first time they have been brought together to discuss with fans their experiences in football, their inspirations, successes and challenges. It’s a free hybrid event so I encourage everyone to register early, grab a drink and join in the discussion.”
We look forward to welcoming you in person or online to this unique event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
WOMEN’S PANEL EVENT
Wednesday 6 March 2024 7.30pm – Cherry Red Records Stadium
Doors open: 6.45pm
As part of AFC Wimbledon’s celebration of International Women’s Day, Women of Wimbledon Supporters Association (WOWSA) Women’s Panel Event takes place on Wednesday 6 March at 7.30pm at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
Booking is now open! So come along, grab a drink and join in the discussion. The event is free and open to all fans with the option to join in person or online.
Have you ever wondered what drives women to work and volunteer in football? Could you be inspired to get involved? Now’s your chance to find out at this free event hosted at the home of AFC Wimbledon.
WOWSA has brought together some familiar faces for an open, honest and insightful discussion about their experiences, how and why they got involved, what their roles are, and to answer your questions. The Women’s Panel Event marks the first-time women who hold, or have held, key roles across the club, have come together so supporters can hear from them.
The hybrid event, at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, is presented by WOWSA in collaboration with the Dons Trust and AFC Wimbledon, and supported by Fans for Diversity at the Football Supporters Association (FSA).
The women’s panel line-up is:
Jennifer Scott (Chair, AFC Wimbledon Foundation)
Sophia Axelsson (Women’s General Manager, AFC Wimbledon)
Michele Little (Chair, Dons Trust Board and AFC Wimbledon PLC Director, Finance Committee Chair & DT Treasurer)
Lou Carton-Kelly (Chair, WISA, former Chair Dons Trust Board, former AFC Wimbledon Operations Director)
The event will be hosted by the FSA’s Fans for Diversity Campaign Manager, Hannah Kumari. Hannah is a writer, director and former actor who works across theatre, opera, tv and film. Her play ENG-ER-LAND has toured over 30 venues around the UK. She has appeared on BBC Newsnight, BBC Squad Goals, Talk Sport and BBC Sportshour.
The Fans for Diversity campaign is a partnership between the Football Supporters’ Association and Kick It Out. Its aim is simple – to celebrate diversity in football to ensure all fans feel safe and welcome at the game, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, faith, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. Football is for everyone, together.
Hannah said “I’m looking forward to hosting the Women’s Panel Event at AFC Wimbledon. While there are a number of women working in football, it’s not often that we hear their voices. This panel event will be a great opportunity to find out more from some of the key women at AFC Wimbledon, and hopefully inspire others to get involved”
We look forward to welcoming you in person or online to this unique event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY – WOMEN’S PANEL EVENT
Wednesday 6 March 2024, 7.30pm – Cherry Red Records Stadium
What drives women to work and volunteer in football? What have their experiences been? Could a role in football be for you?
On Wednesday 6th March WOWSA will be holding a Women’s Panel Event in the run up to International Women’s Day (8 March). This hybrid event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, in collaboration with the Dons Trust and AFC Wimbledon, will be an opportunity to hear from some of the women who hold, or have held, key roles in various areas of our club.
The Women’s Panel Event marks the first time key women with roles across the club have been brought together for an open discussion about their experiences, how and why they got involved, and what their roles are. There will also be the opportunity to put your questions to the panel.
The panel comprises:
Jenny Scott (Chair, AFC Wimbledon Foundation)
Sophia Axelsson (Women’s General Manager, AFC Wimbledon)
Michele Little (Chair, Dons Trust Board and AFC Wimbledon PLC Director, Finance Committee Chair & DT Treasurer)
Lou Carton Kelly (Chair, WISA, former Chair Dons Trust Board, former AFC Wimbledon Operations Director)
The aim of the Women’s Panel Event is to encourage and inspire more women to get involved across all areas of our club. The event is free and open to all fans.
Further details to follow.
WOWSA Social Event: Dulwich Picture Gallery – Berthe Morisot Shaping Impressionism Exhibition
September 2023:
A small group of WOWSA members visited the Dulwich Picture Gallery on 10 September 2023 to see the Berthe Morisot Shaping Impressionism Exhibition. The Director of the gallery Jenny Scott – who is also the Chair of the AFC Wimbledon Foundation – kindly hosted our group of WOWSA members and provided us with a fantastic guided tour of the exhibition.
Berthe Morisot was a celebrated female French impressionist who was part of the founding impressionist group alongside Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro and Edgar Degas. These painters worked together, influenced, inspired and exhibited together in the late 19th century. Their style captured the effects of light and movement on the scenes they observed.
The Dulwich Picture Gallery, working in partnership with Musee Marmottan Money, Paris, has borrowed artworks from 18 international museums and private collectors. They have done a brilliant job of bringing together the most amount of Morisot’s work ever seen and the first Morisot show in the UK for over 70 years. The exhibition outlined her work and the inspiration, along with her personal letters and artefacts to demonstrate her inspiration and style.
Morisot created her paintings and drawings by using traditional art as her inspiration and elevating it in her own impressionist style. As a woman in that period of time, we were fascinated to learn that she would work outside between 6.30am and 9.00am (when women were allowed to work outside alongside their peers) and would finish her artwork at home in her studio.
Her work includes paintings of her husband (who she described as impatient sitter) whilst they were on their honeymoon, and portraits of her sister, niece and daughter.
It was a fascinating trip and a great way to meet other WOWSA members. The visit wasn’t complete without a trip to the gallery’s café.
Thank you to Jenny Scott for providing the opportunity and the tickets for WOWSA members who came along.
We’ll be organising more social events in future so please keep an eye on the WOWSA website and social media platorms – Facebook and X.
Women’s World Cup Screening
England vs Haiti
22 July 2023:
We are delighted to be working in collaboration with AFC Wimbledon and AFC Wimbledon Women on the screening of the England vs Haiti Women’s World Cup game at 10am (kick-off 10.30am) on 22 July in the Silver Lounge at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, Plough Lane. WOWSA members will get a free glass of fizz! The AFC Wimbledon women’s team will also be joining us. Tickets are available £5 for adults and £3 for children (includes a complimentary breakfast roll) or £14 / £4 if you book the screening and the QPR friendly match taking place on the same day.
Launch 18 March 2023:
WOWSA officially launched on 18 March 2023.
Women at the Game 2023:
Linking with the AFC Wimbledon Foundation, this year’s Women at the Game event took place on 18 March 2023. This year’s event was a Mothers Day Special and Mums (or mother-figures) and daughters were invited to come along to experience a live football match for the first time. WOWSA hopes that all those who took part enjoyed their first live football experience.
Previous Event: International Women’s Day 2022
In 2022 the club celebrated International Women’s Day with a series of interviews with women from around the club. Follow the links below to hear about their experiences of AFC Wimbledon.
