Hero Press wins Dunn's look at women's football past and present

Hero Press has won Woman Up by Carrie Dunn, an account of the past and future of women’s football. World rights were acquired by Christian Müller, commissioning editor at Hero Press, from Melanie Michael-Greer from the Michael Greer Literary Agency.

The book, which includes first-hand accounts from leading female players, will be published in the UK on 26th October, following the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the summer. 

There are 29 million women and girls playing football worldwide, according to FIFA, and the goal is to facilitate 60 million by 2026. In Woman Up, the publisher said that “football journalist Carrie Dunn shines a light on the evolution of women’s football and the gender gaps that still persist – on issues such as injuries, sportswear, period taboos and diversity”. The aim is to ensure that “a new generation of girls getting involved in football all over the world don’t face the same obstacles as their predecessors”.

Dunn is a writer and journalist who has covered the last three Women’s World Cups for the Times and Eurosport, and is a regular voice on BBC radio as well as "The Athletic’s Women’s Football Podcast". She has a PhD in sport sociology, specialising in women’s experience of sport. Her books include Unsuitable for Females: The Rise of the Lionesses and Women’s Football in England (Arena Sport, 2022), The Pride of the Lionesses (Pitch, 2019), and a sequel to The Roar of the Lionesses: Women’s Football in England (Pitch, 2016).

Müller commented: “Carrie’s expertise on and passion for women’s football really shine through in this fascinating and eye-opening book. Woman Up is both an accessible primer on how we got to where we are today and a call to action on the challenges and inequalities that still persist.”

Dunn added: “I am so pleased to have the chance to write this book and tell these stories – highlighting everything we’ve done and the challenges we’re still grappling with. Generations of female footballers have fought so hard to get the game where it is now and I am looking forward to bringing their experiences to a wider audience.”