The girls

[Espania blade]

A big well done to the girls.

Manchester United have been awarded a licence to join next season's Women's Championship, ending their 13-year absence from the senior women's game.
West Ham United will move straight up to the top flight - the new 11-team, full-time Women's Super League.
"Charlton, Leicester City, Lewes and Sheffield United will join Man Utd in being added to the second tier.
But current top-flight side Sunderland and second-tier Watford and Oxford are to drop out of England's top two tiers.
The news comes after a restructure of the women's leagues - which are run by the Football Association - and saw existing clubs have to re-apply for their places, before a second, open application phase"

Utb

 

[Danny_Blade]

Delighted with that, I knew Man U were gonna get the approval but I was hoping it wasn't going to be at the expense of the bid for our Ladies team. So turns out both have been accepted anyway!

Give it a couple of years time and our Ladies would batter the Pigs (albeit it's not that hard to do anyway) Which has just made me think surely they must have their own female team as they're massive enough aren't they

 

[LoughboroBlade]

A very blady blady post. And rightly so.

GLTTLs.

 

[Basing Blade]

We played their girls twice last season. Stopped them bouncing.

 

[blademark]

Great news I'm chuffed for the girls.
Another noteworthy inclusion are Lewes Women FC, best name in the world !

 

[PandaCola]

Non Bladey post. Sheffield FC already play in that league and had a great end to the season. To grow women's football in the area- wouldn't it have been better to just have one club that the whole city got behind. With a Club team, a Blades team and no doubt a pig one to follow- won't it end up with resources spread too thin and boring arguments about who takes most away to Millwall Lionesses

 

[KoppedOff]

Great news. Theres a lot of work and effort gone in there, nice to see it rewarded.

I also see West Hams preferential treatment extends further than the Premier League...

 

[cahill]

Non Bladey post. Sheffield FC already play in that league and had a great end to the season. To grow women's football in the area- wouldn't it have been better to just have one club that the whole city got behind. With a Club team, a Blades team and no doubt a pig one to follow- won't it end up with resources spread too thin and boring arguments about who takes most away to Millwall Lionesses

With you on that one

 

[Foxy]

Delighted for them, I know they were confident in the bid and even if turned down were committed to building on what they've done this year.

Went to their end of season awards, was a good night and it was clear that there is a will to have them as an integral part of the club and look to grow.

 

[northsomersetblade]

We played their girls twice last season. Stopped them bouncing.

Too bad, it's nice to see sporty girls bouncing

 

[SteveBlade]

Too bad, it's nice to see sporty girls bouncing

How inappropriate, it's 2018 and we're still getting comments like this? Fucking disgraceful.

The only real question is are our players the attractive lesbians that you see on TV or the real life ones?

2018 ffs.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

They were quite confident of the outcome given the commitment from the football club to embrace not only the women's teams, but the whole infrastructure of lads and girls teams right through the age groups. They are starting to attract some of the brightest talents in the area as well, looks promising for them. If it raises the profile of the club it's only good, though they better prepare to lose the play-off final next year. It's the Blades way!

 

[Pedro's Winger]

So the big Sheffield derby next season will be Sheffield FC v United Ladies.
Good luck to the lasses but it is now 2018 and way beyond time to drop 'Ladies' from the team name.

 

[Uncle mick]

Could we stick to proper football on this site please

 

[Blade83]

So the big Sheffield derby next season will be Sheffield FC v United Ladies.
Good luck to the lasses but it is now 2018 and way beyond time to drop 'Ladies' from the team name.

Genuine question - what’s wrong with the term ladies? Seems pretty inoffensive.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

Genuine question - what’s wrong with the term ladies? Seems pretty inoffensive.

Makes 'em sound like they're from the Victorian era.
It's a term that's gone from most women's sport these days.

 

[Houso]

Agreed on the ladies terminology. It just seems a touch... unnecessary.

I'd be keen to see the women's season overlap the men's and not run concurrently. And if it's truly showing growth, chuck our women's side a bit if a wage/transfer budget to push for top flight and silverware.

 

[blademark]

Speaking as confirmed geriatric, I rather like the term 'Ladies'. To me it offers a degree of respect, very often undeserved it has to be said.

 

[S64 Blade]

Great news. Never been to a women’s game, but I hope its popularity can increase.

I’d imagine if Wendy start a women’s side, Chansiri will be looking to bend the rules and bring over some star players from Bangkok.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

I'd be keen to see the women's season overlap the men's and not run concurrently. And if it's truly showing growth, chuck our women's side a bit if a wage/transfer budget to push for top flight and silverware.

Chuck them cash? Not a chance. Exactly why I am not a fan of this. Even the biggest support bases in the women's game are non league levels right now. So when would they ever make a legit return on investment?

Good luck to them but I won't be even following their Twitter account let alone watching.

 

[wizadry]

So the big Sheffield derby next season will be Sheffield FC v United Ladies.
Good luck to the lasses but it is now 2018 and way beyond time to drop 'Ladies' from the team name.

If you don’t call them United Ladies then what would you call them? You can’t just call them Sheffield United so you have to distinguish either way otherwise I might end up at one of their games next season.

 

[Houso]

Chuck them cash? Not a chance. Exactly why I am not a fan of this. Even the biggest support bases in the women's game are non league levels right now. So when would they ever make a legit return on investment?

Good luck to them but I won't be even following their Twitter account let alone watching.

I did say if we can prove it's got growing popularity, then we can give it budget.

Oh, and Chris Husseys wage would probably get us promoted. The aim now I I believe is to go semi pro. It's hardly going to mean depriving the first team of valuable funds.

 

[alcoblade]

Agreed on the ladies terminology. It just seems a touch... unnecessary.

I'd be keen to see the women's season overlap the men's and not run concurrently. And if it's truly showing growth, chuck our women's side a bit if a wage/transfer budget to push for top flight and silverware.

Fuck that. They should generate their own income.

Those interested should turn up, pay and watch.

 

[alcoblade]

The aim now I I believe is to go semi pro. It's hardly going to mean depriving the first team of valuable funds.

Then it shouldn’t take much for those interested to pay for it.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

If you don’t call them United Ladies then what would you call them? You can’t just call them Sheffield United so you have to distinguish either way otherwise I might end up at one of their games next season.

Sheffield United Women but to be honest why not just Sheffield United (with a WFC for a bit of official ID after the club name)?
They're playing women's football in the WSL, in a different stadium, it's not like anyone's likely to be confused.

 

[Bashar Al Asaba]

Delighted for them. Anything that comes under the banner of Sheffield United has my full support.

And let's face it, you'd have to be one sad fucking cuntwaffle to begrudge them anything.

 

[wizadry]

Sheffield United Women but to be honest why not just Sheffield United (with a WFC for a bit of official ID after the club name)?
They're playing women's football in the WSL, in a different stadium, it's not like anyone's likely to be confused.

I was taking the piss regards the confusing element of my post as you would clearly have to be a dipstick to not know which game you’d be going to.

I was just wondering why ‘Ladies’ is not acceptable but ‘women’ would be ok?

 

[Carlton Blade]

Anything that promotes equality and helps create a club that is able to reach all parts of the surrounding communities should be encouraged.

And being cynical it's a great look in terms of brand awareness and attracting enough varied sponsors to help fund the whole club

 

[Carlton Blade]

I was taking the piss regards the confusing element of my post as you would clearly have to be a dipstick to not know which game you’d be going to.

I was just wondering why ‘Ladies’ is not acceptable but ‘women’ would be ok?

I'm guessing Women/Female is the accepted gender terminology. Ladies carries connotations of class/privilege?

 

[Sheffsteel]

Fuck that. They should generate their own income.

Those interested should turn up, pay and watch.

That’s the big problem though.
I’m sure the ladies games runs at a loss and hardly generates any income.

Average gates range from 700 to 2,500 in the top division but think they charge £5 admission.

Last week the BBC reported that the Woman’s FA Cup final broke the all time UK attendance club record at 45, 423.
Sounds impressive, but it was 2 local teams Arsenal v Chelsea
And tickets were priced at £5 for adults and free for kids.

However there is an argument that women’s football should be supported and subsidised by the men’s game.
When I was a kid in the early 80’s most girls at school hated football, it’s was very much a male dominated crowd.
These days when I go to the Lane it amazes me how many young kids and especially girls go to our games.

The reason why our attendances are increasing might be done to more and more women and girls attending matches.
For me more the merrier to make up the Blades family.