What’s happening in women’s football?

As progressions in the women’s game have become increasingly evident – in stadium sellouts and increased players at a grassroots level – simultaneously, the temperamental nature of progression has become more prevalent than ever.

One of the major announcements that caused controversy was made by Manchester United, the club whose women’s side won last season’s FA Cup. In June, it was reported that the women’s team had been moved out of their training facilities into portable facilities so that the men’s team could use theirs whilst their indoor facilities at the Carrington training complex are under renovation as a consequence of £50m investment. These women’s facilities that the men will be using were built last summer when a £10m investment was made to construct this state- of-the-art women’s and academy building. Now this space, originally intended for the women, is a building where the men too will have priority.

The Guardian reported that Manchester United’s decision has “added to a growing sense that the women’s team are not perceived as a priority within the club”

This decision by Manchester United is permanent for the upcoming 24/25 season. The women will still have access to the pitches they normally use and the portable facilities will include all necessary rooms and spaces. This was deemed the best option to ensure high quality for the team after re-location was written off due to fears of poorer standards of pitches, nutrition and fitness facilities.

The decision to move out the women’s team has come under fire though. Some of the women’s players and staff were unhappy with the move, especially after experiencing the new facilities last season. The Guardian reported that the decision has “added to a growing sense that the women’s team are not perceived as a priority within the club”.

Manchester United claim changes being made in the next year will deliver long-term benefits for all their teams. United’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has admitted that he had not yet gone into detail on the plans for the women’s team as the focus had been on the men’s side and resolving their issues. He came under criticism in the same interview as he referred to the men as ‘the first team’. This sentiment is widely criticised by those in and supporting the women’s game as it reinforces the idea that the women’s game is still inferior to the men’s, undermining the professionalism of the sport and its progress.

In a larger scandal, Reading has withdrawn their women’s team from the Championship

In a larger scandal, Reading has withdrawn their women’s team from the Championship. Reading FC women were relegated from the WSL in the 22/23 season after becoming comfortable competitors in the league following their promotion in 2015. Their 2022 move to the Championship was accompanied by the club reverting to a part-time status, this ignited the departure of players and their long-serving manager Kelly Chambers.

Last season saw the side finish 10th out of 12 teams in the Championship. It has now been announced they will play in the fifth tier next season. This is due to financial difficulties in the club leading to cuts in many areas. External investment was considered as a way of allowing the team to compete in the championship, however, it was ruled out due to “complexities around separate ownership”.

Supporters’ Trust at Reading (STAR) commented on the decision, claiming it “affects our community, gender equality and our club’s heritage”, further saying it “undermines our club’s integrity and the progress of women’s football”. There are still fears of full closure of Reading women’s and girls’ teams if financial instability continues.

Keeping in theme with financial problems in the women’s game, Blackburn Rovers FC have announced that next season they will be paying their women’s team minimum wage on 16-hour-a-week contracts

The club has a history in women’s football, fostering talents like England internationals Mary Earps and Fran Kirby. Now, parents of the club’s young academy players, as well as the women’s supporters’ group, are campaigning for the safety of the teams. A mother of an academy player told the BBC the club has warned players and parents that there is “no guarantee” that Reading will operate a women’s team or academy in 2024/2025. She further told the BBC that “The girls, who have dreamt of being part of the future of women’s football, are now in immediate danger of being left in the wilderness, weeks before the next season starts”.

Reading now has merely two senior female players contracted; they have said farewell to 16 players from the first team since the announcement. Academy players are worried they could be left without a team as many other academies have held trials already, the Football Association requires girls to sign academy contracts in February, stopping them from contracting other clubs. Furthermore, staff are being described as in ‘limbo’.

Keeping in theme with financial problems in the women’s game, Blackburn Rovers FC have announced that next season they will be paying their women’s team minimum wage on 16-hour-a-week contracts when all their players are semi-professional and are competing in the Championship. FC Bayern Munich and England international midfielder, Georgia Stanway, called the decision “very sad”. Stanway was a product of the Blackburn Rovers’ youth system before joining Manchester City to play in the WSL, other notable names from the academy are Ella Toone and Keira Walsh. Stanway commented on X (formerly known as Twitter) that she was “very sad to see the club choosing not to back their women’s team. Football and people in the Northwest need Blackburn to continue to properly support the game!”.

June saw the release on social media by Thornaby FC, a club in Stockton-on-Tees, that a vote by the Thornaby FC committee had decided that the entire female section of the club would be removed

These two stories are increasing evidence of the women’s game being the first area sacrificed by clubs, especially when it comes to financial restrictions; they also highlight the instability of pathways towards professionalism for young players.

A light is being shone on this issue in lower-division teams too. June saw the release on social media by Thornaby FC, a club in Stockton-on-Tees, that a vote by the Thornaby FC committee had decided that the entire female section of the club would be removed. This came as a shock to the players and families.

The club had set up its women’s team in 2021, they had established a first team and teams for girls between ages seven and 15. This news was commented on by many high-profile women’s players; Beth Mead, Arsenal and England forward, commented on X, “Disgusting to see this decision, the women’s game is on the up but we still have committees making these horrible decisions. It’s not good enough, these young girls deserve better. I’d love to send the team a signed England shirt to keep them inspired”. She followed this by saying: “If I can help with anything do reach out, us women need to stick together”.

While the above pieces of news reflect the negative changes occurring in the world of women’s football, elsewhere there has been positive news

While the above pieces of news reflect the negative changes occurring in the world of women’s football, elsewhere there has been positive news and there is no denying the progress of the sport in recent years.

One highlight from this month is that Nottingham Forest women announced their women’s team are turning full-time professional in the 2024/2025 season with 18 professional players signed so far. They will also have part-time players in transition and increased investment into their academy. On top of this, their 11 home league fixtures will be played at the City Ground where the men’s team plays. The club currently plays in the FA Women’s National League North which is level three of the women’s football league pyramid.

Major developments within the women’s game in England must also be taken into account: the 2019 World Cup, the Lionesses Euro win in 2022, and the 2023 World Cup where the Lionesses made it to the final. The Women’s Super League was only established in 2010 and since then it has grown rapidly; the 2015/2016 season saw just 8 teams competing in the WSL while the 2019/2020 season saw an increase to the current standings of 12 teams competing for the title. These facts are evidence that women’s football is growing, however, recent headlines emphasise that there is still so much more to be done.