Lauren Magee explained that she has noticed a major difference in how kids see the LGFA now.
The Kilmacud Crokes player comes from a family of Gaelic footballers and had an aunt play on their local club team.
When she was growing up, people who didn’t have that connection to the ladies team might have only supported the men’s team, Lauren shared, but that has changed now.
Read more: Niamh O’Sullivan on training for Meath LGFA versus Royal Gaels: ‘It’s very different with clubs’
Read more: Galway camogie’s Aine Keane on what integration with the GAA means for women’s sports
She shared that while multigenerational players in families is very common in the Gaelic sports, that doesn’t guarantee that a person will love the game straightaway.
She told RSVP Live: “I remember when I started playing, I didn’t have any interest. I really only went for the chats with the opposition team. I don’t think my dad ever thought that I would be where I am now.
:Having that link does make it more special and there’s more of a reason to want to go and play. My family were going to Crokes, so I was going to Crokes.
“The important thing is having clubs go into schools and support the kids that don’t have a family link. That’s where the people who don’t have that link end up getting involved.
“It does make it easier, but for all clubs it’s important to reach out to everyone.”
While more people might be likely to get involved because of their family connection to the sport, there is no difference between players and how they ended up with a club, Lauren explained.
“I think once people are in, they’re in,” she said. “With Crokes, you know if someone’s parents or siblings played, but in general, once you buy into the club’s values everyone is connected. It doesn’t make a difference how or why you became involved then.”
Outreach is a huge part of clubs right now, with them going to schools to get people involved in sports - and Lauren has noticed a difference from when she was a child.
“I looked up to my dad and my uncle, but my aunt played for the ladies team in Crokes - and so did family friends. I always had that around me. I was lucky in that regard because I had that connection with the women’s team, whereas, others might have only looked at the men’s team,
“Whereas now, you have all the local schools that are so invested in our team and that’s boys and girls schools. They don’t see us as ladies and men's players, they see us as footballers. It doesn't make a difference and that’s very important. It shows the growth that the game is having.”
Lauren is an ambassador for AIB and spoke about their support of the All-Ireland Ladies Football Club Championships finals.
She said: “It’s really important. The more the game develops, the more exposure we want and having AIB involved brings that exposure. It gives us a platform to showcase games and the recognition that everyone involved deserves. It’s a really big step forward for football.”
![Jax Taylor Claims He Came Up With the Idea for The Valley & Says Lisa Has “No Part of [It]” Despite Producer Credit, Plus If He’ll Fight to Keep Lala and Scheana Off The Show](https://realityblurb.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Vanderpump-Rules-Jax-Taylor-and-Lisa-Vanderpump.jpg)
English (US) ·