FARA WILLIAMS reckons Lucy Bronze’s return to the Women’s Super League proves the English top-flight is the best in the world.
But the Lionesses icon, 36, says the pay gap between the top and bottom women’s clubs MUST be addressed before searching for equality with the men’s game.
Lucy Bronze signed for Man City after winning three consecutive Champions League trophies with LyonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Reading ace Fara Williams believes the WSL is the best division in the world following the arrival of star signingsCredit: Rex Features
Bronze signed for her former club Manchester City on a free transfer from European top dogs Lyon, on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old won her third consecutive Champions League trophy with the French outfit last month.
The result extended Lyon’s hold over the continent’s biggest women’s competition – as they nabbed the title for the seventh time in nine final appearances since 2010.
But despite the French champ’s ever growing trophy cabinet – Bronze was tempted back to the Academy Stadium.
She enjoyed her first stint with City in 2014 and helped the club win the WSL and Continental League Cup in 2016, as well as FA Cup a year later.
Reading star, Williams, told SunSport: “The fact that Lucy Bronze wanted to come back highlights that our league has gone to a different level again.
“I think she left to get better and to win trophies. And now she’s come back. I think that demonstrates where the league is at now.
“There is a bigger attraction for those top players to want to play in our league.
“I think we were very amateur when we started out and labelled professional really early on because people were trying to transition the game.
“In terms of actually being professional and understanding it, I think the league was a bit behind, but now it has grown and developed.
“You can see how professional all the teams and players now are and that attracts the big players.”
Bronze is Gareth Taylor’s fifth summer signing, following the arrival of USA World Cup winners, Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle, Chloe Kelly from Everton, and Lyon’s Alex Greenwood.
Chelsea bagged Denmark’s deadliest striker, Pernille Harder, for around £250,000 – a record-breaking fee in the women’s game.
While Wales legend Jess Fishlock swapped stateside for the Madejski as part of a loan deal with Reading from OL Reign.
But despite these new, glitzy, signings, Williams believes there are still players at smaller clubs struggling to make ends meet.
“Before we start talking about bridging the gap between the men and the women, I think we have to bridge the gap between the top and the bottom women’s teams.
Fara Williams
England’s most-capped player said: “There’s a massive gap in the women’s game between salaries that are given at the top to middle and bottom clubs.
“Before we start talking about bridging the gap between the men and the women, we have to bridge the gap between the top and the bottom women’s teams, so that females aren’t struggling.
“I think the problem is that there’s talk about being professional, but we’ve got players on salaries that can’t afford maybe to pay for their own car, mortgage or rent.
“Or, for example, eat the correct food away from training.
“So there are lots of things still to be done with with the teams that have a lesser budget.
“And if we can bridge that gap, I think we’re starting to see a real difference.”
The Reading star featured in her side’s 6-1 loss against Arsenal last time out, having recovered since undergoing thigh surgery in February.
The Royals are hoping to bounce back from their drubbing at Meadow Park, as prepare to host Aston Villa at Madejski on Sunday.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
