Amber van Lieshout is the editor for http://Vrouwenvoetbalnieuws.nl and is a specialist in domestic and international Dutch women’s football. As well as breaking numerous exclusive transfer stories, she has been involved in the Guardian Top 100 Players panel and also helped contribute to the National Football Guide ELF Football 2023.
Good to talk to you, Amber! Let’s begin by discussing your relationship with sport as a young woman.
I've always loved sports and fell in love with it in 2015. Sports can make me feel so many emotions: sadness, happiness, and even pride. There's nothing better than a good match to cheer me up on a sad day or an amazing summer with a lot of sunshine and good sporting events!
And what's your earliest memory of sport?
The thing I remember most is the Women's Football World Cup in 2015. It was in the summer and I was off school, so I stayed up late on some days [as the tournament was hosted in Canada]. I was going through different television channels, and then the Women's World Cup came on. I immediately fell in love.
Let’s discuss the prevalence, or lack thereof of female opportunity, both in sport and in journalism historically. Has it improved?
I do think there have been major steps in this in the past few years, however, the difference between male and female is still huge.
It's a shame because I think women deserve better, they deserve the same as men, and they deserve equality. That means the same opportunities, the same training facilities, the same job offers, and so on.
And to close things out, what would you say to young girls who are interested in being involved in sport, either in terms of playing it or in terms of covering it as a journalist or in the media?
I think the most important message is: never give up. Follow your dreams and go for it! The world of sport is amazing, fast-growing and full of opportunities waiting to be grabbed!
You can follow Amber on X and check out her work here.
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