As I type this Manchester United have just trounced Arsenal 8-2 but I've just returned from something even more significant - the last match of the season in the first FA Women's Super League (WSL). I attended the mid-table clash between Lincoln Ladies and Bristol Academy.
Bristol Academy
The result was a 3-1 win for Lincoln with two goals from new signing Jodie Taylor either side of the half, a third from Lucy Staniforth and an OG for Bristol from Imps' captain Casey Stoney. For some ace photographs from the match go to Mark Hodsman's blog on : http://networkedblogs.com/mfNPJ
Jodie Taylor scored twice for Lincoln Ladies
It means the table now looks like this:
Team PL. Pts
Arsenal 14 32
Birmingham 14 29
Everton 13 22
Lincoln 14 21
Bristol A 14 16
Chelsea 13 15
Doncaster B 14 9
Liverpool 14 7
So on a humiliating day for the men's Arsenal team, the women's team once more take home the silverware. Some will say little has changed. Before the WSL Arsenal Ladies frequently beat all comers in both league and cup matches. However, the FAs redistribution of quality players at the beginning of the season meant that Arsenal weren't automatic winners this time. Birmingham City were top for quite a while and gave them a good run for their money. Indeed Lincoln Ladies beat Arsenal recently and have shown remarkable tenacity in the post-World Cup half of the season. That's not to take anything away from Arsenal's achievement. They are a force to be reckoned with. Long live the Gunners!
Arsenal Ladies win the first WSL
I'm not sure what the overall consensus will be on whether the super league experiment - if I can call it that - has worked. I'm sure websites like She Kicks and Women's Soccer United will have all the facts and figures but from what I've read and seen having the women's season in the warmer months must have helped and the injection of cash from the FA has definitely generated more media attention. Crowds have improved but nothing like enough. There were 381 at the game today compared to over 700 at the opening match and it was free in. Pre-match publicity asked for 'donations' at the end but adult prices are usually only £6.00 anyway compared with the £25.00 I pay to watch Huddersfield in League 1. So the game is hardly a money spinner yet. Facilities have a way to go, too, at least at Ashby Avenue. It has only one grotty loo and I witnessed a mum having to change her baby's nappy on the grass outside. Not ideal.
Still, unlike the men's game it isn't all about the money and the fancy hospitality suites. It's about upping the profile of the women's game. It's about showing that women can play and can play well (for evidence of that watch the Women's World Cup Final from July - terrific). It's about encouraging young girls to see football as something they can join and enjoy. I love it when I see, as I did today, 8 year olds with female footballers' names on the back of their shirts. More of that please.
Helena Pielichaty
http://www.helena-pielichaty.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment