March 23, 2026

The connection between football culture and violence against women and girls was brought into sharp focus at a special event at Fulham Pier earlier this month. Domestic abuse charity Advance, which has a women’s centre in Hammersmith, partnered with Fulham Football Club for the screening of Squeaky Bum, a short film exploring how match-day behaviours and attitudes can intersect with abuse behind closed doors. The evening formed part of the continued celebrations around International Women’s Day and served as a fundraiser to support Advance’s work with women across West London.

The event drew a wide range of guests from the worlds of sport, film and the domestic abuse sector, all of whom were invited to reflect on the film’s themes and the role football can play in driving cultural change. Sports broadcaster and long-time campaigner Charlie Webster was among the key speakers, sharing her personal experience as a survivor and her decade-long efforts to bring conversations about domestic abuse into footballing spaces. She spoke about the resistance she initially faced when she began campaigning in 2013, and the powerful shift that followed when clubs and fans embraced the need for open dialogue. Her reflections underscored the influence football holds and the difference it can make when it chooses to use its platform.

Representatives from Fulham FC emphasised that responsibility. Eleanor Rowland, the club’s Head of Safeguarding and Inclusion, said that football has the ability to unite communities but also the duty to confront issues that affect them. She described Squeaky Bum as a film that challenges audiences to acknowledge the often-hidden link between football culture and domestic abuse, and she expressed pride that Fulham is taking a leading role in raising awareness and supporting survivors. Teresa Parker, a member of the club’s External EDI Advisory Board, echoed that sentiment, noting that while football does not cause domestic abuse, it can play a vital part in identifying warning signs and using its reach to promote safety and respect.

Advance used the event to highlight the urgent need for accessible support services for women experiencing abuse. Money raised on the night will go towards making the charity’s West London Women’s Centre fully accessible, including the installation of ramps, handrails and an accessible toilet. These changes will ensure that women with physical disabilities—who made up nearly a quarter of those supported by Advance between October 2024 and September 2025—can safely access one-to-one support, group sessions and creative workshops. The charity’s Head of Domestic Abuse Services, Amrita Brar, said the partnership with Fulham FC is rooted in the organisation’s origins in Hammersmith and Fulham 28 years ago, and that the event offered a valuable opportunity to strengthen local collaboration following the government’s recent Violence Against Women and Girls strategy.

Deborah Stillman, Advance’s Head of Young Women and Girls Services, added that football’s visibility makes it a powerful vehicle for awareness-raising, helping communities recognise red flags and challenge harmful behaviours. The evening’s discussions reinforced the idea that sport can be a force for cultural change when it chooses to confront difficult issues.

Deborah Stillman, Head of Young Women and Girls Services at Advance

Alongside the film and panel discussions, guests were invited to view Walking in Her Shoes, a photography exhibition created by women supported by Advance. The exhibition remains open to the public at Fulham Pier until 31 March, offering further insight into the lived experiences of survivors.

The event was described by attendees as both moving and galvanising, bringing together people who believe in the power of sport, storytelling and community action to help reduce violence against women and girls. With the government pledging to halve VAWG within a decade, the partnership between Advance and Fulham FC stands as an example of how local organisations can work together to push that ambition closer to reality.

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