England Lioness and Women’s Euros 2022 winner Beth England has teamed up with the Institution of Engineering and Technology, to announce the winners of a nationwide competition to design the world's first home and away kits for future lunar footballers.
This announcement follows a visionary campaign by the IET that predicted the possibility of a competitive lunar football match as early as 2035.
In July of this year, the IET invited children aged four to 13 to create the official 'Moon United' kit. The competition sought to redefine perceptions of engineering and inspire a passion for STEM-related careers through the fusion of football and space.
Selected from over 500 entries, the winning designs were created by Erim Ali, 13, and Ishaani Nair, seven.
Erim and Ishaani’s dream designs were brought to life and personally presented to them by Beth England and British engineer and Aerodynamicist Sophie Harker.
Winner of the eight- to 13-year-old category, Middlesex-born Erim aspires to be an engineer when she grows up, asserting her belief that football is for everybody, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity. Her role models include Astronaut Mae Jemison and education activist Malala Yousafzai.
Erim's unisex kit, inspired by environmental considerations, featured geometric, molecule-inspired shapes in a dragonfly colour palette. Judges commended her inventive sweat absorption and correction patch, converting sweat into usable water.
Speaking of her win, Erim enthused: “As a Spurs fan, it’s an honour to receive my winning shirt design from Beth England. The competition really inspired me to think big, be creative and show how science can change how we work, live and play in the future. Maybe one day I will get to wear the shirt for a kickabout on the Moon, as 2035 is not that far away.”
Meanwhile, Ishaani, winner of the four- to seven-year-old category, created a vibrant space-themed shirt. It featured Earth and Sun motifs to symbolise the positivity of football and shooting stars representing the game’s speed and spirit. Judges appreciated the smart idea of turning Saturn into a football with rings as the central focus.
Ishaani commented: “I am so happy to be a winner and can’t wait to wear my shirt. One day, I hope I’ll get to play football on the Moon with my sister. I’d love that.”
Beth England commended the girls for their outstanding designs and emphasised the integral role of STEM in football: "The girls did an amazing job, and I'm over the moon to be part of this STEM campaign. Science and engineering are crucial in football, influencing everything from boots and training to stadium construction."
The competition was judged by a panel of IET expert judges, which included Eneni Bambara-Abban, Beth Clarke, Ama Frimpong, Sophie Harker, and Brian David Johnson.
Launched in July, the Moon United campaign marked a significant milestone as the IET brought together a panel of engineering and technology experts to explore the potential of lunar football.
Considering the Moon's unique conditions, characterised by one-sixth of Earth's gravity and an absence of wind or air resistance, the experts outlined crucial adaptations for the game. These adjustments, detailed in the Lunar Football Rule Book, encompass the ball travelling approximately six times farther than on Earth, the necessity for a football nearly twice the size, a larger goal, and the transformation of the game into a strictly no-contact sport.
The Moon United campaign and competition aimed to inspire the next generation of engineers and get more children excited about getting involved in STEM.
Aerospace Engineer and Analogue Astronaut Sophie Harker said: “Engineering affects everyone’s everyday lives, and showing how it plays a part in making our favourite hobbies or interests possible, is crucial in changing perception and inspiring consideration of STEM-based studies and careers.
“There’s so much potential for engineering to help make things we only dream of, like playing football on the Moon, a reality, and with imaginative, inventive children like Erim and Ishaani, I’m hopeful that the next generation will be the ones to make it happen.”