£1 for Women’s Team @ BDTBL 9th Oct

[Davalon]

Would have gone yesterday if I hadn't been in Manchester all day.

When to see them at Chezzy a few weeks back against Durham.

Largely enjoyed the game. Cracking free kick for the first goal and clearly tried to play neat passing football for the most part.

Impressed with the girl out wide, Jess ....her surname escapes me, think we signed her from Leeds. Surprised to see she was the oldest.

Agree with some of the comments about athleticism and general mobility. One or two really seemed to struggle getting about the pitch.

I was hopeful we'd challenge for promotion this season but listening to a few comments about yesterday, it seems unlikely then.

If we did make to the WSL, we'd clearly need to strengthen massively.

 

[Nesh Blade]

As far as I know Liverpool Women’s are full time footballers, whereas ours are part time. Think this probably explains the difference in fitness we saw yesterday. Probably not realistic for ours to be made full time unless they got promoted and even then who knows. Some of the younger lasses play for England age groups and it would be great to have full internationals playing for the Blades.

I seem to remember the Prince going on about how his daughter was going to be involved in the women’s team, but not sure if this ever materialised.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Some nice moments. Someone gave a few spare tickets to a family outside, and the little girl ran in after her big sister really excited.

Disappointed to see the time-wasting (Liverpool keeper booked), players feigning injuries, and gripping opponents’ arms before chucking themselves to the floor and getting a free kick. Probably naive to hope that wouldn’t be happening.

I partly went because of a vague connection to one of the subs. If I thought she was going to get on, and there weren’t any other matches, I’d go again, but only if it was in Sheffield.

Was that just Liverpool, or were United's women at it too?

I went a couple of weeks ago against Watford and there didn't seem to be those theatrics.

 

[Antonb]

I went yesterday and it was ok, 2nd half became abit of a drag. Liverpool had a couple of good players that made a difference. Don’t see how it would want to make you want to go and watch more of the ladies game to be honest. Unless you have no money! So go by all means!

 

[blade too long]

its like watching porn but with ugly people
interest wanes quickly

when I refereed was asked to do several ladies game and one was doncaster belles who were then the liverpool of that time and thought then it was on a par with S and H sunday regional division 3 at best

 

[SouthportBlade]

Whilst there's no obligation to enjoy or actively follow and people can have their opinions, can't help but find some of the comments a bit depressing.

Feel people don't really see the bigger picture or societal context. The push of female sports helps with addressing inherent inequality in society, it helps a create a new generation of fans, it helps inspire younger girls to play sports etc. It will likely never be as big or mainstream as men's football, but that doesn't mean ot can't be bigger or better than it currently is.

Sure there's arguments about whether this is the best way to achieve it, but when you've got people comparing it to porn, or suggesting its not part of 'normal' football it shows that theres a long way to go in changing attitudes.

Just don't see how some have issues, or can be actively against it. You can not enjoy, nor follow but still be supportive of the push / idea.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Whilst there's no obligation to enjoy or actively follow and people can have their opinions, can't help but find some of the comments a bit depressing.

Feel people don't really see the bigger picture or societal context. The push of female sports helps with addressing inherent inequality in society, it helps a create a new generation of fans, it helps inspire younger girls to play sports etc. It will likely never be as big or mainstream as men's football, but that doesn't mean ot can't be bigger or better than it currently is.

Sure there's arguments about whether this is the best way to achieve it, but when you've got people comparing it to porn, or suggesting its not part of 'normal' football it shows that theres a long way to go in changing attitudes.

Just don't see how some have issues, or can be actively against it. You can not enjoy, nor follow but still be supportive of the push / idea.

Good post…. generally agree with all of it…there is a bigger picture.
It‘s a really interesting subject…promoting/ helping under represented groups to close the gap…..all under the banner of achieving greater equality.
This should have a knock on effect of hopefully improving society, more respect, tolerance and opportunity. I’m all for this, so I’m supportive in spirit.

The other side of the coin is disproportionately helping minorities is “positive discrimination”.
I used to be against all forms of discrimination but now appreciate that even with perceived equality history means it’s still not a level playing field.
Hence positive discrimination is required but I’d say it should be for a set period and not forever…otherwise resentment can occur and grow.

A big question is should womens football be self financing or should it come under the umbrella of the whole club and be subsidised by the mens game.
Ive heard calls for women to be given bigger salaries to close the gender pay gap but if the women arent putting money in the pot then it doesn’t seem right.

Although there will be hidden non quantifiable financial benefits regards funding a womens team, like a positive family image encouraging sponsors and maybe using the womens team to encourage families and girl supporters, no doubt some of these will be more likely to attend mens games, growing the fanbase.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Just thinking about it.

I’ve no desire for equality in every situation because some things can never be equal. It’s like saying why are 90% of Olympic 100m finalists always black? There must be racism in that sport so let’s start offering big financial rewards to white sprinters to hopefully redress the balance. Why are there no black snooker players? Does it mean that sport must be racist? Etc etc

My desire is more about equality of “opportunity”. I suspect womens football is always likely to remain a minority spectator sport like it is in the USA but at least it’s being given a chance to create a new TV and paying spectator market.

 

[Antonb]

I was just looking at the match as a whole, in terms of entertainment . Not the big issues around equality . I have 2 daughters that I give my full support too in what they do. Or want to do. My daughter came with me and was bored to death. She is 13 and comes with me to the mens game. And she realised it was a huge difference with the whole game in terms of pace , skill and overall entertainment. She wanted to enjoy it and so did I ! I’m not saying it’s not important for girls or for boys for that matter. Of course it is , and should be encouraged. Just don’t build it up too soon too quick , cus girls are going to go and be bored wondering what all the fuss is about!

 

[100% part time blade]

Was that just Liverpool, or were United's women at it too?

I went a couple of weeks ago against Watford and there didn't seem to be those theatrics.

It was just Liverpool, but then they were 2-0 up, so you wouldn’t expect Utd to be time wasting. I think I saw the Liverpool players con the ref into awarding a free kick twice. I didn’t see Utd do it at all. Liverpool seemed more professional and I wonder if they are better financed.
It depresses me that the more sport is promoted and financed generally, the less sporting it becomes.

 

[CrookesBlade]

Agree….there’s clearly quite a lot of interest but the elephant in the room is “how real is that interest”?

It’s all well and good declaring yourself as a fan when it’s free or £1 admission.
I watched most of the 1st half on SUTV youtube and I watch the odd bits of the WSL on main steam tv…so in some respect I’m a fan of women‘s football.
but to be honest I’d watch any football for 10 minutes or so if it was free. I also 5 a side football or beach football when it’s on tv.

A solution might be to include free admission to women‘s matches in with the price of your main season ticket but even then I wouldn’t go unless there was a more pressing reason. A better solution might be to move the womens league into being a Summer time game but logistically that causes problems.

At some point you would expect any club to study the economics (financial benefits) of having a woman's team.
You would think yesterdays match made a loss…..otherwise they’d play all their matches at Bramall Lane.

Appreciate it improves a clubs image and it’s noticeable that our neighbours Sheff Wed show almost zero interest in their women‘s team.
But it’s difficult to put a quantifiable financial benefit on what image improvement has and how it benefits the first team.
Will be interesting to see if concentrated media promotion can grow a sport and how quickly it happens.

I guess there are good reasons for using the Proact stadium as opposed to the Lane but to me it seems daft having a women's team playing under the Sheffield United banner if they play 10 miles down the road in town with its own club. Its going to be a real uphill struggle trying to grow support like that. They were at the Olympic Legacy Park before, not sure what its like there tbf but I guess it wasn't deemed fit for the Women's Championship.

Maybe there would be scope for them using the Lane more regularly coupled with using another venue like the new Sheffield FC ground at Meadowhead.

Its interesting you mention Wednesday. I know someone who was heavily involved with their women's side up until recently and they are essentially operated as a separate club by volunteers. They get a few 'perks' through their affiliation (discounted tickets to mens1st team games etc) but have to be completely self financing and even have to buy their own kit from SWFC.

 

[I should coco]

They get a few 'perks' through their affiliation (discounted tickets to mens1st team games etc) but have to be completely self financing and even have to buy their own kit from SWFC.

Do they get discounts on D Taxis and Wednesday Pale Ale?

 

[CrookesBlade]

Do they get discounts on D Taxis and Wednesday Pale Ale?

They can't give that Wednesday Pale Ale away at Hillsborough Morrisons.

 

[Mumbo]

I agree that natural born females should take centre stage, however mainstream sports channels (sky) are now marketing the women's game aggressively, possibly in preparation for a replacement product should amazon mop up the TV rights for the mens Premier league.

So, with that in mind we can expect better prize money "etc" for the women's game, this I believe will drive the smarter clubs to look for an advantage, and this will be a clear advantage..

Then, on the other hand, if we have a young man who's quite good at football but unhappy in his body, why can't he carry on playing football and have a career out of it if the chance presents itself..

It's a hard subject to pick sides on, so I haven't, we include everybody, it's the way to go to be truthful...

The latest science says that even after 2 years of hormone therapy(at the moment transitioned men can compete after one year)former men retain physical advantages and Uk governing bodies are taking it seriously.To preserve the integrity of women’s sport is paramount.Even when testosterone levels are down to Women’s levels which very often is not the case,advantages still persist.
Bigger heart muscle,lungs stature etc…..the list is long.
A third catagory besides men and woman’s sport is being considered and until every conceivable advantage is eliminated it’s not a level playing field and that is a prerequisite for sport at an elite level.

 

[Nesh Blade]

Some of you may be interested to know that the women's team are back at the Lane on Sunday, 3pm. £3 on the door. More info here: SUFC Women Twitter

Not particularly interested in getting into another conversation about women's football and whether it should be played at the Lane or not- no one moans about the young lads playing there and plenty went and enjoyed themselves last night. You aren't being forced to attend, and please don't bother going if you can't trust yourself not to make sexist comments once you've had a beer. Some of the stuff I heard last time they played at the Lane was the worst I've ever heard at football, so please don't bother going if you're a twat. If you don't know why being sexist is a problem give this a listen: How to tackle misogyny in football – Football Weekly Special