"Launched in April 2000, England's first professional women's side has won a string of trophies, but is paying the price for the rising costs of running Fulham's main team in the English premier league." They will now be a semi-professional team... http://www.sportserver.com/soccer/international/general/story/711272p-5234411c.html
Well that sucks. I hope Zoe reads this so she can correct any mistakes I am about to make.... I know several years ago there was a plan to create a professional women's league over there..bascially a women's version of the EPL. I think the launch date was suppose to be 2004. I wonder if other clubs are looking at Fulham LFC and are now apprehensive about going full time pro.
While this will bee a blow to the hopes of England having a professional league, I have to agree that with Fayed's thoughts on the FA especially when you compare it with the work of the FAs in Germany, Sweden, Norway and the United States. Of course, England will have the Euros in 2005 but still the game is not reaching the point where a profession league is possible. Here's more of a similar article from the BBC. It adds a little more than what the Sportserver article does: "At that time the FA had announced that a professional women's league would be in operation by the start of the 2003-04 season. But that will not now happen and the Fulham chairman cites this as a major reason for deciding to take the professional status away from the women's team at the end of the current campaign. He said: "It was my vision for Fulham Ladies to be at the forefront of realising the true potential of women's football in this country with the support of the FA. "However, no steps have been taken by this governing body to enable the game to progress on a domestic level and opportunities for media exposure to raise its profile have been neglected. "The mediocre advances in women's football during this period have made it impossible for me to continue at a professional level." Al Fayed added that the financial pressures of keeping Fulham FC in the Premiership had also contributed to his decision. "Fulham shall continue to support women's football with a semi-professional team that we hope will endeavour to compete with the best clubs in the country," he said. FA rebuttal Unhappy at Al Fayed's allegations, the FA responded through Acting Chief Executive David Davies. "The FA is hugely committed to the women's game," said Davies. "And is proud of its achievements to date by increasing participation and helping to make it the number one sport for women. "The FA is also delighted about its successful bid to host the 2005 UEFA European Championships, which undoubtedly will help raise the profile of the sport in England." Since Al Fayed's decision, women's team manager Gaute Haugenes has announced his intention to quit his post at the end of the season"
A lot of this has to do with the growing financial crisis hitting England and other European countries. Sachin
Very true and Fulham itself is starting to get into trouble financially as well. However, this could not have come at a worse time for women's soccer in England.
agreed, england was just starting to build a big NT fanbase and a WEPL would be a major start point for euro womens soccer. however all hope isnt lost i say, since womens soccer is still big in germany and a major clut following of france is going up across france, but id say that womens football in england definatly has taken a big hit, hopefully it wont hurt their efforts to build a good NT too much.
Fulham downsized, Title IX in trouble, the national team loses by two goals, the WUSA is struggling - these are hard times for female athletes and their fans. Keep the faith!
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