This week on She Shoots, She Tours! - The Deep Dive, Cath Hurley explores how stadium design shapes women’s football — for players, fans, and the future of the game. This isn’t just about capacity or aesthetics; it’s about belonging, accessibility, and creating spaces where everyone feels valued.

Cath digs into the history of stadiums in women’s football, showing how decades of underfunding forced teams into venues designed for men — from cramped changing rooms to steep stairs, confusing layouts, and inadequate facilities. Using examples from Everton, Chelsea, Leicester, and Brighton, she examines how retrofitted spaces can both help and hinder growth, and why purpose-built stadiums, like Brighton’s planned ground, represent more than infrastructure — they signal respect, ambition, and a commitment to fans and players.

The episode also highlights the WSL’s new best practice guide for stadium environments, emphasizing accessibility, family-friendly spaces, player facilities, and safety as foundations for sustainable growth. Through candid discussion, Cath asks tough questions about scale, atmosphere, and how stadiums can either amplify or erode fan engagement.

For anyone curious about what makes a matchday feel like home, why atmosphere matters as much as attendance, and how design communicates value, this deep dive is essential listening.