An upcoming yearbook celebrating women’s football in the UK is set to be published this month. The first-ever Women’s Football Fan Yearbook, published by independent outlet Herne Books and illustrated by AFTA Studios, is a must-have guide to the top women’s teams across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Created with input from supporters across all four nations and packed with over 200 illustrations, the book gives fans an in-depth look at their favourite clubs. It covers club histories, memorable moments, player highlights, statistics, and more.
It also includes a review of last season, fan perspectives, and special features such as match anthems, all-time best XIs, and insights into the future of developing teams.
The yearbook features all 24 clubs from the Women’s Super League (WSL) 1 and 2, the 10 teams of the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL), the 8 clubs of Wales’ Adran Premier, and the 8 teams of the Northern Ireland Women’s Premiership.
It also includes a full list of fixtures for the upcoming season and a Team Tracker to help supporters record key details and follow their team’s progress.
AFTA Studios (formerly known as Art From The Action), the illustration outlet behind the yearbook, was founded in 2023 by Becca Harvey and Jade Stanger as an offshoot of its sister company, Art From The Arsenal (AFTA).
The studio brings women’s football to life through its distinctive multimedia art, celebrating the talent and achievements of players.
Popular on social media, they have worked with top clients, including DAZN, the WSL, the FA, and the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA). Since 2024, they have been officially licensed by Arsenal FC to create merchandise for the women’s team.
Beyond this, they developed a wide range of fan-focused content that captures the spirit of women’s football and the passion of its supporters.
So, what can fans expect from this groundbreaking new book?
Published by Herne Books, The Women’s Football Fan Yearbook brings together art, design, and storytelling to celebrate the achievements of women in football and the communities built around the game.
Herne Books is known for championing passionate people and their interests, whether it is fandom, history, or cultural legends. They understand that passion matters, even when it is not always widely recognised.
Their catalogue spans a wide range of subjects, from niche interests to broader genres, but this yearbook is something new: a celebration of what it means to be a fan of the women’s game.
Whether you’re chanting on the terraces or uncovering the history behind the sport, this book honours the players, the fans, and the art that connects them.
Currently, The Women’s Football Fan Yearbook is the only sports title in Herne Books’ online shop, though more may follow. For now, it stands as a first-of-its-kind publication: a vibrant tribute to women’s football and its growing place in culture.
As part of the research process for the book, Herne Books ran a questionnaire on social media, inviting supporters to share their experiences as fans of their clubs, as well as any guidance or advice they had for others. Contributions focusing on fan culture, club history, and matchday experiences were especially encouraged. Successful submissions were acknowledged with a name check in the published book, with contributors receiving a free copy.
David Moloney, curator of comic book website Great News for All Readers and the editor of the book, explained:
“I’ve spent much of the last six months researching and writing this. There’s so much drama and history in club-level women’s football in the UK, yet so little has been widely reported. This book is an attempt to bring it all together so fans can learn more about their team, and each other.
“It’s full of facts, anecdotes, stats, and matchday advice for supporters of all the top clubs in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. I’ve tried to capture a bit of the unique culture of every team, with help from fans across the country.
“It’s part football annual, part Rothman’s Yearbook, part Roy of the Rovers, with a full season fixture list and a Team Tracker chart. It’s a great gift, especially for new fans following the Lionesses’ triumph at the Euros!”
Moloney discussed the inspiration behind the book and why Herne Books chose to publish the first-ever Women’s Football Fan Yearbook in collaboration with AFTA Studios.:
“Supporter input was central to shaping the book. Each club has a distinct identity that bonds fans, players, and staff, which made me want to explore their history – why they play at certain grounds, what their flags and songs mean.
“But apart from a few clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea, this information is patchy and hard to find. We wanted something fun, friendly, and informative for new fans while also honouring long-term supporters’ knowledge of their teams’ journeys.”
Moloney praised Becca and Jade from AFTA Studios for bringing the book to life with character, dynamism, humour, passion, and a distinct visual identity:
“It was really important that the pictures in this book weren’t just copies of photographs. For some of the more historic moments, we didn’t even have visual references, so AFTA applied fantastic imagination and skill to create representations of players and events.
“They’ve captured the ‘feels’ of significant moments brilliantly. This allowed space for people to describe what their team means to them, highlight significant moments and players from the past, and share lots of useful advice about supporting the club on a matchday, how best to travel, where to sit or stand, and where home fans like to meet before the game.”
He also spoke about the future of women’s football in publishing and the value the book offers to readers, whether seasoned supporters, new fans, or those discovering the sport for the first time
“Interest in women’s football is clearly growing, driven by the success of the Lionesses, appearances by other home nations at recent World Cups and Euros, greater investment by clubs, the incredible talent of UK players, and increased engagement through social media.”
“Fans want more connection with the players, teams, and their fan communities. And with more fans, there are more people who love to read. There’s a whole world of stories to be told, and publishers have an important role to play.”
Moloney hopes the book will inspire readers to become lifelong fans, not just supporters for a single season/ Speaking on this, she said:
“More than anything, we hope it will encourage people to go to a game. If a young fan receives this book for Christmas, they’ll discover colour, excitement, hopes, and dreams, along with plenty of fan commentary about the joy of supporting their team.
“There are lots of incentives to persuade their parents to take them to watch their local club. If we can contribute to that, it would be absolutely brilliant.”
The yearbook will be released in time for Christmas and the start of the season. It’s designed to inspire fans, young and old, to attend games, experience the excitement of supporting their team, and share in the joy of fandom.
Could this become an annual tradition? Moloney has the answers:
“We hope so. We’ll see how this edition is received, but we already have ideas for future volumes to keep things fresh and exciting, so watch this space.
“Women’s football has never been more exciting,” said Herne Books.
“And the best is yet to come!”
https://www.hernebooks.com/product-page/the-women-football-fan-s-yearbook-2026
