GIRLFANS launches landmark England edition celebrating seven years of women’s fan culture

GIRLFANS has carved out a unique place in football culture. Launched in 2013 by photographer and academic Jacqui McAssey, the project began as a direct response to the near-invisibility of women in fan media. Today, the platform has evolved into a co-led creative partnership with photographer and creative director Zoë Hitchen – one that’s rooted in slow media, inclusive practice and a genuine love for the communities that shape the beautiful game.

Their latest release, GIRLFANS: England, is seven years in the making. It’s the first national edition of the popular fanzine, featuring photography, writing and original artwork that captures a pivotal moment in England’s football culture, particularly in the wake of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 and the continued rise of the women’s game.

The edition features work from an impressive network of female creatives, including photographers Serena Brown, Thea Howarth, Ella Marshall and Madeleine Penfold, as well as writers Kerry Davis, Molly Loster and Jen Watts. Together, they document fandom in all its glory. Packed pubs. Home fixtures and away days. Queue chatter, chants, travel diaries and rituals that will be all too familiar to those who reserve Saturdays to cheer on their favourite team.

But what emerges is a moving portrait of the women and girls who show up week in, week out. The edition charts how England fandom has evolved, spotlighting joy, heartbreak, belonging and the quiet determination of supporters who love the game on their own terms.

And true to GIRLFANS’ ethos, the entire project has been self-published, independently distributed, curated and produced by Jacqui and Zoë. In which case, it feels both archival and emotional, a celebration of the fans who’ve always been part of football’s story, even when the spotlight wasn’t on them.

The timing couldn’t be more fitting. Women’s football has grown at remarkable speed, yet so much of its recent visibility has been shaped by commercial narratives. GIRLFANS: England offers something slower, more intimate and human. It invites us to pause, notice who’s really in the stands, and honour those who paved the way long before today’s packed stadiums and primetime coverage.

Early response has been strong. The first 100 hand-numbered editions, complete with exclusive artworks and badge sets, sold out in pre-sale. A second edition is now available in two formats: Zine only at £10 a pop, or zine plus four GIRLFANS England-themed badges priced at £15. Both options are available for delivery across the UK, Europe and internationally.

Jacqui and Zoë’s work not only proves just how powerful fan-led storytelling can be, but it also shows that they’ve created something heartfelt and vibrant – a true document of women’s football culture. One that finally hands the mic to those who’ve been there all along.