Women’s Game Faces Crisis of Visibility and Funding

Jonathan Liew in the New Statesman recently wrote about the impending problems facing all women’s sport, not just football, as the focus since the worldwide lockdown has been almost exclusively on men’s elite sport and when that will resume.

He commented: 'already there are signs that in what may prove a  necessary economic battle between preserving the most lucrative men’s sport and investing time and patience in women’s sport, there would be one clear winner.'

A report, from Fifpro, the global footballer's union, meanwhile, highlighted the 'existential threat' facing women's football.

The cancellation of The Hundred, the new cricket competition scheduled for launch this summer, was not universally lamented amongst cricket supporters but some interesting social media posts from some of the women set to take part made it clear that, for them, the new tournament was the difference being able to work as professional cricketers and potentially having to give up the sport altogether.

Closer to the theme of this blog, the FA’s decision to void the season below National League level in the men’s game was replicated below the top two tiers of the women’s game.

That meant the campaign in the FA Women’s National League (WNL) was ended along with any hopes of promotion for those teams at the top end of the Northern and Southern divisions.

As with so many decisions taken in the women’s game over the last few years it seems that the main focus is creating and preserving a professional league that is almost entirely separate from the leagues below it.

The FA WNL is a vibrant competition which is home to many different types of club, those associated with men’s teams and those which have been in existence for many years in their own right.

In terms of finances, many of these clubs will not have some of the fixed costs (wages, ground maintenance etc) that have seen many men’s teams launch fundraising appeals but that in no way lessens the potential impact of the current crisis and potentially makes it easier for them to be jettisoned.

AFC Fylde have already announced a withdrawal of funding for their women’s team (reportedly with the coaching staff at the club being given just 15 minutes notice).

But the FA Women’s Super League and Championship will not be without their own issues with many clubs being part of a wider football division where the priority, at present, seems to be the playing out of the men’s season at almost any cost.

Although promises have been made about funding being maintained, by both the FA and FIFA, the priorities are clear. For example it was almost automatically assumed that the Euro 2021 tournament scheduled for England next summer would be moved as soon as Euro 2020 was put back a year.

England Women’s matches, the Women’s FA Cup Final and top FA WSL games provide an affordable, family-friendly experience and a way into the game for many people.

Without those the women’s game further down the levels faces a struggle for visibility as well as finance over the next few years.