Sheffield United Women

[Hallam Blade]

The games are 2pm on a Sun. I can see myself popping down a few times this season, good excuse to go for a Sun pint or 2 with some grub.

 

[Reus]

Interesting article just posted on bbc news

How much do women footballers get paid?

BBC analysis shows a wide gap between leading male and female players' wages, but could that be about to change?

www.bbc.co.uk

Suggests average wage for Man City womens team is £75k per annum. Really how much would it cost for a team like Sheffield United women to go full time !

 

[Nick Jansky]

They have signed 17 year old Neve Renwick who scored over 100 goals for Barnsley U18s last year & was awarded the national grassroots womens’ footballer of the year. She came to the Blades despite a lot of other offers. I’ve been watching Neve since she was 8, she’s going to be something special.

 

[Kanye]

They need their own stadium to build their own fan base instead of hanging onto the coat tails of their male counterparts

Couldn't disagree more. Not only was football not the first sport to be played at the Lane, United weren't even the first football team to play there: have we (the senior men's team) been hanging off coat tails all this time?

Bramall Lane is home to Sheff Utd, which includes the women's team and the youth teams. If there's an appetite to see games (much like when the U18s reached the youth cup final), then they should be hosted at Bramall Lane.

 

[Ecco1889]

They have signed 17 year old Neve Renwick who scored over 100 goals for Barnsley U18s last year & was awarded the national grassroots womens’ footballer of the year. She came to the Blades despite a lot of other offers. I’ve been watching Neve since she was 8, she’s going to be something special.

Me too pal,she played for my mates boys team as a youngster and was highest scorer in the league

 

[Stevo71]

Why? Seems a strange barrier to put in place. Would you say the same for the U21 and U18 mens teams? The womens team playing at BL is not detrimental to the mens team. Most of those that go to watch the womens team will also support the mens team. Womens football won’t be for everyone, but surely the more competitive the leagues the greater the professionalism, the standard and the enjoyment.

So what happens when there's talk of equal pay or bringing their wages in line with the mens game because i've heard whispers of women bringing it up?

 

[Stevo71]

I don't see why playing at BDTBL is a problem. Generates direct income from one base and benefits local business. Maybe that's why this seasons women's home games are all at BDTBL.

Well the stadium at the Olympic Park was originally built for the girls & the Eagles to groundshare but now McCabe is no longer associated with the Blades that fell through, a ground with a small capacity but could easily be expanded if needed. Out of interest how many turn up at the Lane to watch em?

 

[SwissBlade]

Well the stadium at the Olympic Park was originally built for the girls & the Eagles to groundshare but now McCabe is no longer associated with the Blades that fell through, a ground with a small capacity but could easily be expanded if needed. Out of interest how many turn up at the Lane to watch em?

So we have a ground which we could open one stand if there aren’t many there and get commercial revenues…

As long as the pitch can handle it then why not. It’s not like we have to move our games to cater for the Womens games

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

I’m really not sure I see what the issue is with them playing at BL, not as though the mens team will have to move games for them. They’re a Sheffield United team so why shouldn’t they, the u23’s and 18’s already play some games there. They won’t poison the grass you know

 

[Reus]

So what happens when there's talk of equal pay or bringing their wages in line with the mens game because i've heard whispers of women bringing it up?

May be that will come one day, but it would take the womens game to become as well supported as the mens game for that to happen and I am sure that they know that. However, at the womens championship level, surely having a full time living income and the assurance of a multi-year contract is not too much to ask. An annual wage would be the same as the WEEKLY wage as some of the men.

 

[nickwr37]

Point taken Stevo71, but traction is gathering for women's football compared to then, never mind yesterday's result. First match I would expect c don't know however, quite a few posters here have said they'll go, plus many have young families etc and ticket prices good in the current climate. I'll stick my neck out and go for 1800 first home game and accept any flak should I be way off the mark. I may still be in UK, Sheffield at this point and if so will head down to watch.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Tomorrow v Durham women. 5:30pm, the Lane.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

How feasible would it be (or not be) for the women's team to kick off at 6pm on a Saturday at the Lane, straight after the men, for example? 25,000 home fans there already, just allow ticket holders to stay in if they want to.

Is it feasible? For the odd game?

 

[Berkshire Blade]

. However, at the womens championship level, surely having a full time living income and the assurance of a multi-year contract is not too much to ask. An annual wage would be the same as the WEEKLY wage as some of the men.

Why? If it can't pay its way it shouldn't be funded by the men's side or the fa etc. I understand they hope for it to grow into something self sustainable but for most clubs the men's side isn't so why add a whole other side into it? Let's say the women's side average 1000 fans a game over a season ( that's higher than currently) that's really only enough to fund a semi pro club.

 

[robbiez666]

How feasible would it be (or not be) for the women's team to kick off at 6pm on a Saturday at the Lane, straight after the men, for example? 25,000 home fans there already, just allow ticket holders to stay in if they want to.

Is it feasible? For the odd game?

More feasible for them to play before rather than after, I would think? Just in terms of herding numbers.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

More feasible for them to play before rather than after, I would think? Just in terms of herding numbers.

Wouldn't wash with the Mrs.
"Why you out early?"
'Well, the women are playing at 1230 so I thought I'd go down and watch that first'

Or "Why you home late?"
'stayed on and watched the women'

 

[El Volví]

More feasible for them to play before rather than after, I would think? Just in terms of herding numbers.

Playing after the men:
How many leave before the final whistle at the main game, never mind staying behind!
Playing before:
Getting people out if the Pub and into the ground for a 3pm kick off is difficult enough!

 

[NuddysGloves]

How feasible would it be (or not be) for the women's team to kick off at 6pm on a Saturday at the Lane, straight after the men, for example? 25,000 home fans there already, just allow ticket holders to stay in if they want to.

Is it feasible? For the odd game?

It's a good idea to try to combine it to boost attendances, only issue I could see would be the lack of changing rooms?

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

It's a good idea to try to combine it to boost attendances, only issue I could see would be the lack of changing rooms?

Yeah that's a point.

 

[Sheffsteel]

More feasible for them to play before rather than after, I would think? Just in terms of herding numbers.

Tomorrow they are doing an experiment at Sunderland.
The Black Cats play Norwich at 12.30pm. Then at 4pm women's team play their local derby against Durham at the Stadium of Light.
Who ever paid for the mens match can stay behind roughly 1.5 hours to watch the women's match.

Think this is the way forward.
Don't think there'll be enough interest if prices are £5 or £10 a match played at a seperate stadium.
However if the women's game is played before or after the mens game and it's free entry with a mens season ticket. This might work in the short term.

Why? If it can't pay its way it shouldn't be funded by the men's side or the fa etc. I understand they hope for it to grow into something self sustainable but for most clubs the men's side isn't so why add a whole other side into it? Let's say the women's side average 1000 fans a game over a season ( that's higher than currently) that's really only enough to fund a semi pro club.

The women's game doesn't stand a chance if you apply normal commercial values.
It's too far behind the mens game, almost a new sport, so it's a very slow process that could easily reach a ceiling then gradually die away into a minor specialist sport..
This is a case where "positive discrimination" is needed to give them a helping hand/ a push up.

I suppose the question is, for how long should the women's game be subsidised and disproportionately promoted?
The women's game is almost like an experiment, if something is supported and promoted then can a new market be created from almost nothing?
There's also the argument that even if the women's game is permanently loss making, should it still come under the umbrella of the mens game
because maybe politically, the benefits regards "respect", promotion of women team sports, appreciation of women in general provides long lasting benefits to society.

 

[Maidenhead]

This is a case where "positive discrimination" is needed to give them a helping hand/ a push.

Oxymoron alert.

Discrimination is Discrimination and can never be positive.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Tomorrow they are doing an experiment at Sunderland.
The Black Cats play Norwich at 12.30pm. Then at 4pm women's team play their local derby against Durham at the Stadium of Light.
Who ever paid for the mens match can stay behind roughly 1.5 hours to watch the women's match.

Think this is the way forward.
Don't think there'll be enough interest if prices are £5 or £10 a match played at a seperate stadium.
However if the women's game is played before or after the mens game and it's free entry with a mens season ticket. This might work in the short term.



The women's game doesn't stand a chance if you apply normal commercial values.
It's too far behind the mens game, almost a new sport, so it's a very slow process that could easily reach a ceiling then gradually die away into a minor specialist sport..
This is a case where "positive discrimination" is needed to give them a helping hand/ a push up.

I suppose the question is, for how long should the women's game be subsidised and disproportionately promoted?
The women's game is almost like an experiment, if something is supported and promoted then can a new market be created from almost nothing?
There's also the argument that even if the women's game is permanently loss making, should it still come under the umbrella of the mens game
because maybe politically, the benefits regards "respect", promotion of women team sports, appreciation of women in general provides long lasting benefits to society.

Be interesting to see the crowd for the women's game and how they deal with the shower thing.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Oxymoron alert.

Discrimination is Discrimination and can never be positive.

I used to think the same. Always used to hate "positive" discrimination because, as you said, it's still discrimination.

However when you look at the bigger picture you'll see people, sports, anything that comes to the party late, stands very little chance.
In a democracy the majority tend to win and the status quo remains. Life is very much like a pyramid selling scheme.
Those who started at the bottom decades ago are now established and it requires very little effort to maintain a foothold.
Anything (sports) entering the pyramid now, have to start at the bottom and due to almost everyone being above them, it's more difficult to progress.

It's like this regards the money distribution within the football pyramid
Any teams that are relegated from the PL automatically are favourites for instant promotion due to their massive financial advantage.
Any clubs hoping to be promoted to the PL need to rely on good luck, fantastic management and/or great loans. So there's an unfairness and the gap between the PL clubs and other clubs outside the PL is becoming wider each year. One could argue that the PL create the most money so the EFL clubs deserve scraps, which is arguably correct. However the bigger picture suggests PL should receive less money with extra sums given to EFL clubs so the gap isn't as big.
This makes the whole structure stronger, this would be a benefit of positive discrimination in the mens game.

I think any form of positive discrimination is treading on dodgy ground, so I'm slightly uncomfortable with a permanent agenda to push the women's game.
Agree with some positive discrimination on a short term basis but eventually commercial values should kick in. However as I said I can see benefits of more girls/ women playing team sports. It also helps encourage respect and appreciation towards women, so surely this is a good thing in the long run.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Be interesting to see the crowd for the women's game and how they deal with the shower thing.

On the Sunderland forum they're basically saying if the match was played 30 minutes after the match then it might attract a few thousand.
However as you need to wait around for nearly 2 hours, then many reckon it'll be about 1000 staying behind.

One said, which is probably accurate and demonstrates the fickleness of fans ha ha.
They said if Sunderland beat Norwich they'll be a few 1000 staying to watch the women's game.
However if Sunderland lose to Norwich then virtually everyone will just want to get out of the ground asap.

 

[Maidenhead]

I used to think the same. Always used to hate "positive" discrimination because, as you said, it's still discrimination.

However when you look at the bigger picture you'll see people, sports, anything that comes to the party late, stands very little chance.
In a democracy the majority tend to win and the status quo remains. Life is very much like a pyramid selling scheme.
Those who started at the bottom decades ago are now established and it requires very little effort to maintain a foothold.
Anything (sports) entering the pyramid now, have to start at the bottom and due to almost everyone being above them, it's more difficult to progress.

It's like this regards the money distribution within the football pyramid
Any teams that are relegated from the PL automatically are favourites for instant promotion due to their massive financial advantage.
Any clubs hoping to be promoted to the PL need to rely on good luck, fantastic management and/or great loans. So there's an unfairness and the gap between the PL clubs and other clubs outside the PL is becoming wider each year. One could argue that the PL create the most money so the EFL clubs deserve scraps, which is arguably correct. However the bigger picture suggests PL should receive less money with extra sums given to EFL clubs so the gap isn't as big.
This makes the whole structure stronger, this would be a benefit of positive discrimination in the mens game.

I think any form of positive discrimination is treading on dodgy ground, so I'm slightly uncomfortable with a permanent agenda to push the women's game.
Agree with some positive discrimination on a short term basis but eventually commercial values should kick in. However as I said I can see benefits of more girls/ women playing team sports. It also helps encourage respect and appreciation towards women, so surely this is a good thing in the long run.

I think you make a decent argument, but I can't agree with you.

People should be paid what they're worth, irrespective of race,religion, gender, age, or any other differentiating factor.

For this reason I'm dead against any sort of equal opportunities monitoring, gender wage gap monitoring or gender specific shortlisting.

Whilst I acknowledge the potential benefits of the above it is impossible to achieve equality through legislation, all that does is breed resentment and in my mind it's far more counter productive than it is beneficial to anyone.

In the case of commercial enterprise/sport this will always come down to revenue generation, and those that generate the wealth have earned the right to distribute it as they wish.

When it comes to society my views are different.

I have always said that I would be happy to pay more tax, and I still would be, if we had a government that would spend it on supporting society and not on bombs, supporting their mates or buying trade deals through dodgy foreign aid deals with countries that ensure that the funds that they receive never reach the intended recipients.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Two outrageously class goals by Courtney Sweetman Kirk, saw United beat Durham 2 0 before a crowd of 869 tonight at the Lane.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Why? If it can't pay its way it shouldn't be funded by the men's side or the fa etc. I understand they hope for it to grow into something self sustainable but for most clubs the men's side isn't so why add a whole other side into it? Let's say the women's side average 1000 fans a game over a season ( that's higher than currently) that's really only enough to fund a semi pro club.

Can't you think of any reasons why?

It's great for the women involved, the fans of the team and the women's game in general.

Good for the nation, the more people that take up sport, the healthier we'll be. Saves money spent by the NHS on treating our ridiculously overweight society.

Etc

 

[United Aren't Back.]

 

[shorehamview]

I think you make a decent argument, but I can't agree with you.

People should be paid what they're worth, irrespective of race,religion, gender, age, or any other differentiating factor.

What about the under 23 matches? If they only attract enough spectators to pay the player £50 each after expenses should that be what they’re paid?

I think that the Premier League and Championship clubs that have got under 23s and are paying them a decent wage can also pay their women’s teams a decent wage too.

Otherwise what do they say to unused subs? “You didn’t actually play today, so technically didn’t help the side at all, so as you didn’t do any real work we aren’t paying you any real money.”

I think now is the time for clubs to do all they can to boost the women’s game, and if that means helping them out with facilities, opportunities, and salaries then so be it. A club like Manchester United can easily afford to pay their women players £100,000 a year, which is a tiny percentage of what their men earn.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Can't you think of any reasons why?

It's great for the women involved, the fans of the team and the women's game in general.

Good for the nation, the more people that take up sport, the healthier we'll be. Saves money spent by the NHS on treating our ridiculously overweight society.

Etc

Ah your right football grounds up and down the country today we're full of people in prime physical conditions in the stands

869 fans today apparently. It's a shame that the Olympic legacy park is a McCabe thing as a smaller but local stadium would at least help create some atmosphere rather than a empty ground. Maybe something the club could explore with Sheffield FC wanting to move back?