SUFC Women - worth a watch?

[JohnDenver]

Few bits and bobs in this piece: https://shekicks.net/she-kicks-investigates-how-are-player-contracts-in-womens-football-changing/

Generally reporting on the women’s championship is pretty shit, so hard to know what kind of contracts our players are on. Chelsea signed one of our brightest prospects Lucy Watson, who had been called up for England age groups, last summer and then put her out on loan. From the article above, suggestion seems to be that money doesn’t change hands unless the player is in contract. Even for players under contract, the sums are absolutely tiny

Last game of last season we ended up sat in front of the Crystal Palace subs who were all chatting about how they were going to be unemployed once the match ended because of the way their contracts worked.

Cheers - much appreciated.

 

[Nesh Blade]

Cheers - much appreciated.

The Guardian have started covering women’s champ a bit more, and our new manager is full time now so hopefully with a few more quid in the summer from going up we might be able to develop things a little. One team going up from the league always challenging though

 

[JohnDenver]

The Guardian have started covering women’s champ a bit more, and our new manager is full time now so hopefully with a few more quid in the summer from going up we might be able to develop things a little. One team going up from the league always challenging though

Aye, if the men’s team get it done and any new ownership are willing, I’d hope and expect to see the women challenge next year. If we’re stuck at a level where our talented players walk into other clubs it would frustrate me, as I see so much growth potential.

 

[adiosmiamigo]

I see that SUFC Women have leathered Coventry 8-0 at the Lane in front of just over 1,000 fans.

Just wondered if anyone has been to watch them and whether you think they could get promoted to the WSL this season?

Personally, I’ve really struggled with the saturation of women’s football on TV and in the mainstream media. I still think the standard is largely mediocre and yet increasingly the women’s game gets more coverage than the men’s EFL, which I find infuriating.

For me, the worst thing possible was England women winning the Euros as womens football would be rammed down our throats even more. I’m just being honest…

However I’m prepared to change my view and I am starting to take note of the SUFC Women’s team. Honest ex-pro Neil Redfearn is at the helm and I was very impressed by the captain Courtney Sweetman-Kirk who has bagged some great goals recently. She looks a talented player and was doing some punditry on Sky Sports News last week.

SUTV are doing a good job of promoting the women’s team without it feeling too overbearing. They had one of the SUFC women player’s in the studio for one of our recent league games. Forgive me, I forget her name but she spoke extremely well and had excellent knowledge.

I’m not sure how I feel about the women playing at BDTBL potentially clogging the pitch up. But I accept my view might be shortsighted and clearly women’s football is set to flourish further.

Im starting to take more of an interest and there seems to be a feel good factor right throughout the club at the moment. Just wondered if anyone like me is prepared to reconsider their preconceived opinions?

The women's game has come on in leaps and bounds in the last couple of years,I find it sometimes more enjoyable than the men's,less rolling around after being shot.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Who's the light blue team on second game? The keeper's had a mare, lost count of score

 

[adiosmiamigo]

Who's the light blue team on second game? The keeper's had a mare, lost count of score

Is it Coventry?

 

[adiosmiamigo]

Is it Coventry?

Think the lasses beat Coventry 9-0.

 

[Nesh Blade]

Is it Coventry?

Yep, they got absolutely hammered every week unfortunately

 

[Barnette]

No tits?

Women are on this site too....so perhaps comments like that are not appropriate

 

[Champagneblade]

No tits?

Just you

 

[adiosmiamigo]

Cheers - much appreciated.

Apparently Sheffield United womens team are part-time,i understand.

 

[adiosmiamigo]

I got a season ticket for the training sessions
View attachment 159874

I have to admit,i really enjoy womens football,not to see them swapping shirts but the sheer enthusiasm for the game.It's noticeable that the top premiership teams in mens football have the better ladies players in their womens teams,was it ever thus.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

SUTV guest Ellie Wilson been released. Commentates alot on us aswell..

 

[Champagneblade]

SUTV guest Ellie Wilson been released. Commentates alot on us aswell..

I think she'd decided to move onto something else rather than being binned off. I think she posted something a while before the retained list.

I quite enjoyed her summarising to be fair, on sutv.

 

[Nesh Blade]

I think she'd decided to move onto something else rather than being binned off. I think she posted something a while before the retained list.

I quite enjoyed her summarising to be fair, on sutv.

I read it as binned off

 

[Nesh Blade]

This is massive and long overdue. Well done to all those at the club who have been pushing for this. Going FT and having the experience of Morgan who look Leicester to the WSL could be huge

Blades enhance commitment to Women's football

Sheffield United is delighted to announce additional significant commitments to women's football ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

www.sufc.co.uk

 

[Berkshire Blade]

When the side of the club with 30k fans is so cash strapped why are spending more on the side that gets about 1000 fans?

 

[BelgianBlade]

When the side of the club with 30k fans is so cash strapped why are spending more on the side that gets about 1000 fans?

The sums involved are vastly, vastly different: the average salary of a Women's Super League player is about £25,000 per year, while an average male Premier League player costs you £60,000 per week.

When you consider wages are probably even lower in the Women's Championship, which we're in, you can probably hire about 150 women's first team players and staff for the same amount as you spend on one twelve-month Jimmy Fleck contract extension.

In other words, yes, we're spending more, but we're likely to still be spending absolute peanuts compared to the men's team.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

The sums involved are vastly, vastly different: the average salary of a Women's Super League player is about £25,000 per year, while an average male Premier League player costs you £60,000 per week.

When you consider wages are probably even lower in the Women's Championship, which we're in, you can probably hire about 150 women's first team players and staff for the same amount as you spend on one twelve-month Jimmy Fleck contract extension.

In other words, yes, we're spending more, but we're likely to still be spending absolute peanuts compared to the men's team.

It might be little in terms of a men's premier League wage but that could be spent on scouting or training equipment etc. Which is also far more likely, especially in scouting terms, to turn a profit.

 

[Nesh Blade]

When the side of the club with 30k fans is so cash strapped why are spending more on the side that gets about 1000 fans?

Bringing in those numbers for now, but more investment should mean better football, which should lead to more people going to games. The demographics of those attending is not the same as a regular mens match- these are people taking an interest in United who may then go on to buy tickets for mens games.

 

[BelgianBlade]

It might be little in terms of a men's premier League wage but that could be spent on scouting or training equipment etc. Which is also far more likely, especially in scouting terms, to turn a profit.

True, but remember, there's a Women's World Cup due to start in a few week's time with all the buzz that entails (in interested circles anyway), and if I was a club that had the only women's team even half worth watching in a major, football-obsessed urban area and you told me I could have a piece of that for what's likely to be far less than 1% of my total wage bill, I'd jump at the chance

 

[Berkshire Blade]

True, but remember, there's a Women's World Cup due to start in a few week's time with all the buzz that entails (in interested circles anyway), and if I was a club that had the only women's team even half worth watching in a major, football-obsessed urban area and you told me I could have a piece of that for what's likely to be far less than 1% of my total wage bill, I'd jump at the chance

Even if the crowd doubles to 2k or even gets to 30k in 25 years the club is skint and premier league tv money should be it's only focus as that's what's keeping the lights on.

 

[robbiez666]

Playing at the Lane again, so that's the itch getting messed up. It will probably benefit us this season though.

 

[BelgianBlade]

As an amusing aside, this is a literal quote from the W*dnesday Ladies website:

“We have 9 junior teams and are the only club in South Yorkshire with a team currently competing at every available age group within the SHGCL league structure from U9's through to U18's giving girls a direct pathway to senior women's football with our First, Reserve and Development teams. This now makes us South Yorkshires biggest all female football club.”

In other words: “But we took a U9 team to Conisborough away.”

Massive.

 

[Nesh Blade]

Playing at the Lane again, so that's the itch getting messed up. It will probably benefit us this season though.

This again. Where is this energy when the mens age groups play at the Lane?

 

[robbiez666]

This again. Where is this energy when the mens age groups play at the Lane?

I have no issue with sharing a pitch but playing 2-3 games on a pitch during the same week did it no good last season.

I see no reason for a team which attracts such low attendances to play most of their games at the Lane. Sure, pick a few to play there every year, but what's the benefit for the club as a whole? There would be a much better atmosphere in a smaller stadium.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

This again. Where is this energy when the mens age groups play at the Lane?

The under 21s and under 18s are attempting to make it to the side all blades support so getting used to the stadium makes a bit of sense. The womens side has far less interest for most blades.

Most the best women's sides have their own stadiums they share with the youth sides and can fill up far better. It's a shame McCabe built that olympic ground separately from the club as something that size and under our umbrella would be perfect.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

I'll stand corrected, but I assume there is currently no ground the Women's team can play on that meets standards & requirements other than Bramall Lane.

We know the problems the U21s have had with finding a home. York, Alfreton & Scunthorpe last season. That has been sorted a bit by the announcement we'll use Chesterfield this season.

Under an assumption that Chesterfield can't host BOTH the U21s and Women. Under the assumption that there are (correctly) minimum facilities & capacity standards for the Women's game. Where do fans feel the Women should be playing? Reality at the moment is Bramall Lane or no Women's team.

 

[robbiez666]

I'll stand corrected, but I assume there is currently no ground the Women's team can play on that meets standards & requirements other than Bramall Lane.

We know the problems the U21s have had with finding a home. York, Alfreton & Scunthorpe last season. That has been sorted a bit by the announcement we'll use Chesterfield this season.

Under an assumption that Chesterfield can't host BOTH the U21s and Women. Under the assumption that there are (correctly) minimum facilities & capacity standards for the Women's game. Where do fans feel the Women should be playing? Reality at the moment is Bramall Lane or no Women's team.

Is there any reason why we don't use Hallam or FC for youth fixtures?

 

[Bladesthorpe]

I'll stand corrected, but I assume there is currently no ground the Women's team can play on that meets standards & requirements other than Bramall Lane.

We know the problems the U21s have had with finding a home. York, Alfreton & Scunthorpe last season. That has been sorted a bit by the announcement we'll use Chesterfield this season.

Under an assumption that Chesterfield can't host BOTH the U21s and Women. Under the assumption that there are (correctly) minimum facilities & capacity standards for the Women's game. Where do fans feel the Women should be playing? Reality at the moment is Bramall Lane or no Women's team.

Concord park, anywhere but the lane.