There is a bit of a melee in English football over the decision of a non-league club, Thornaby FC, to axe their women’s teams. The decision shuts over 100 players out of the game, from under-7 level to adult. A representative of ‘The Lionesses’ a group of English players who briefly filled TV schedules with some sporting drama, called the decision “disgusting”.
I’ve seen kids clubs close and it’s devastating for the players; friends’ groups break up and some never play the game again, yet it happens around this time every year, when people decide that commitments can no longer be met.
Unlike some of our assistant referees, Thornaby do not survive on the largesse of the taxpayer. They pay their bills or the go the way of the dodo and the Rangers. It is doubtless that a painful decision had to be made.
Womens’ football can contribute greatly to the health of the nation – if it continues to grow as a participatory sport. It should be encouraged in schools (a legitimate taxpayer opportunity here) and nurtured through to senior level. But for years to come, it will come up against some commercial realities. The womens’ game is financially underwater everywhere and at tiny clubs like Thornaby that’s going to hurt.
The game has to grow within its means. Remain amateur wherever necessary, supported by direct sponsorship and not be subject to the whims of an organisation that survives on money generated from the men’s game.
I feel for the kids who lost their game this month, losing your chance to play football is devastating. If ‘The Lionesses’ want to help, I’m sure they can (but won’t). The women’s game, especially in England and Spain, has grown audiences and budgets in impressive measure, but not equally. If budgets are not trimmed, Thornaby will merely be the hole in the dyke.
151 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- »
Anyone know if First Team will have priority use of new full size, indoor pitch at Barrowfield, when weather renders Lennoxtown unusable or unreachable?
https://x.com/CelticEnded2iar/status/1800416168949518533
🤣🤣🤣🤦🤦🤦
Maybe I’m just not woke enough , but I found the headline faintly amusing .
FANADPATRIOT
Welcome to the Celtic family Saoirse Catherine .
May your days be blessed.
Agree with the article.
Strongly agree with the post by Gedinte. Very valid comparison.
Women’s golf is an excellent sport and enjoys a fair degree of commercial success.
The ladies football just doesn’t have the same appeal to me.
Possibly worth reflecting on what each of us have done to support the ladies game. For me, it’s absolutely nothing, I’m sorry to say.
Is there a genuine demand there to be met or is it more of a trend to be enabled?
I used to think an Itchyfanny was a Japnese motorbike until I discovered Smirnoff, there again I thought cunniligus was an irish airline for the same reason
KINGLuBO
Phil 2.55
Glad you are OK. When are you coming through to Glasgow? We don’t have many Bo’ness bampots here. 😂😂
Kinglubo 3.49
You, Coneybhoy, Big Jimmy and BelmontBrian would get along fine. 😂😂🤣🤣
The elephant in the room as far as I am concerned is that the standard of the women’s game is so poor that hardly anyone here wants to pay to watch it.
I suspect there is a reason why Celtic don’t keep telling us how many season tickets they have sold for the women’s team.
I’m absolutely certain there is no waiting list gor the season tickets.
If you were to contrast that with golf or tennis, I would happily watch the women’s games and would probably pay to go for a day at the women’s Scottish open.
Fanadpatriot
Congratulations!
Bigrailroad.
Thanks , sure we would, all numpties or chumps !!
KINGLuBO
🤣🤣
Just think that this was being rolled out in USA, UK, EU, etc…
https://x.com/SenseReceptor/status/1799551323848773818
And at the same time…CQNers were saying “at least Krankie has had a better C19 than Boris!!!” 😶🌫️
PS, Boris`s personal wealth increased 17 times over because Celtic fans chose Genocide enthusiast Krankie…over Jeremy Corbyn and his last chance for you to achieve a Peaceful United Ireland. 👀
Best Clowns In The World CSC
🍀
…oot.
Clinton Nsiala?
“At 15 and a half years old, he was capable of holding a conversation with adults.”
Well, that’s it then! We may as well hand over the league title now. How can we compete with that?
Can’t be another full moon surely. 🤔
FANADPATRIOT on 11TH JUNE 2024 3:20 PM
Great news, congrats.
Gednite
Are you both huns?
Awoody.
418 confusions
Did Grifter gallway bend over 3 times for takin his oath.
How rich did he get from all those tenners you sent while broadcasting from his lavvy.
In between sharina stage with fellow grifter farage
Good to see wee nicola is still sittin on yir face
Kelvinbhoy – you get back to your camino training:-) hope its goin well
Fanad Patriot well done all,hope all are healthy,more young to pass on your history
Hail Hail
I agree with those who can’t get excited about womens football . If you dilute the excitement that comes from the speed and physicality of the mens game , you are left with a pale imitation . Maybe a slightly smaller pitch or slightly smaller goals that the female keepers could cover better ? It definitely needs some modifications from the mens game .
Dressing room area being modernised, safety netting for the R2gers game and wait for it – directors seating area being upgraded.
@CQN
Am I the only one who understands the literary source of Paul’s headline and gets the comparison he is making?
Ya buncha philistines.
😁
Good evening all from the Victoria Bar. Still can’t see the handsome hun coming over the horizon. Time for an eye test perhaps?🤔
Tam
Don’t get all intellectual. You’re fae Motherwell ffs.🤣
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 11TH JUNE 2024 5:48 PM
Am I the only one who understands the literary source of Paul’s headline and gets the comparison he is making?
Ya buncha philistines.
😁
————-
There’s a philistine doon the road fae me who understands
My daughter played 9 years at youth level with Hibs and has just signed professional contract with St.Johnstone, she is absolutely thrilled and so am I, the article above is very poor indeed
hehehehe
You are an absolute shower. That’s youse telt.
Paul 67,
Humour is in CQN’s DNA. Its your blog and I have no issues with your headline. Then again , it depends on who is saying it, The woke warriors would pounce on some posters for saying similar.
As you say , the rise in womans football has been phenomenal over the last 5 years or so, especially in England and Spain where record crowds have been recorded. ( Indeed Barcelona’s biggest crowds over that period have been for the womans game. )
You could have mentioned for context that in 2022 /23 circa 2,600 English grassroutes clubs folded with another 8000 at risk.
Financial stability is an issue.
The rich are getting richer in UK football.
The biggest benefit is getting girls and women participating in sport.
In Scotland Glasgow City have been the trailblazers, we have been relatively late to the table.
But we are here now and we are not going away.
COYGIG.
Genk in for Oh
Evening all.
—————————————————-
FANADPATRIOT on 11TH JUNE 2024 3:20 PM
Brilliant news, hope everyone are safe and healthy.
Brian
Decent article. But goodness me Paul, that headline. You are better than that
BRRB
It would be rude not to. :)
—————————————————————————-
KINGLUBO on 11TH JUNE 2024 3:49 PM
I used to think an Itchyfanny was a Japnese motorbike until I discovered Smirnoff, there again I thought cunniligus was an irish airline for the same reason
KINGLuBO
———————————–
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 11TH JUNE 2024 3:56 PM
Kinglubo 3.49
You, Coneybhoy, Big Jimmy and BelmontBrian would get along fine. 😂😂🤣
——————————————————————————————-
Itchyfanny, always reminds me of a Cliff Richard song, I cannot hear it the same now, :)
Cliff Richard – We Don’t Talk Anymore
https://youtu.be/m8FCZ5x8Gpg?si=waiZE29GV2v3wkJM
:) :)
_______________________________________________________________________
Iday and Scales start v Portugal, Johnston a sub
Brazen Head. £3 a pint and great service. I may stay a wee while. How I suffer for my art.
BelmontBrian
Behave yersel. 🤣🤣
AWOODY on 11TH JUNE 2024 3:34 PM
Anyone know if First Team will have priority use of new full size, indoor pitch at Barrowfield, when weather renders Lennoxtown unusable or unreachable?
—–
Don’t know.
Hope so.
The Hole in the Dike.
The classic tale of the brave little Dutch boy who kept his finger in a leak in the dike all night long, preventing the damage from spreading, and so saved his town from a devastating flood.
Now can we stop the nonsense and give PAUL67 a break?
Mind the gaps 😔
https://youtu.be/N4b-rJPGdOY?feature=shared