IT is unacceptable that many pitches in the Women’s Super League are not fit for purpose.
Before the Christmas break, both Birmingham’s home game against Manchester United and West Ham’s trip to Bristol City were called off because of waterlogged pitches.
Chelsea star Erin Cuthbert was caked in mud during a Women’s Super League match at Prenton ParkCredit: PA:Press Association
This is the exact reason I wasn’t in favour of the decision to move the WSL from a summer league to winter in 2017.
In total, three games have been postponed this season for unfit pitches and you can see why people were against moving the league into the winter months.
It’s cold, you’re competing with men’s football and games get called off because the facilities simply aren’t up to scratch.
And take a wild guess what that leads to? A dip in crowd numbers.
The initial buzz from the World Cup has died out so we have to find a way to actually build the league as a product and for it to be self-sustainable.
At this level the league cannot afford to be postponing games every time there’s a drizzle of rain — you see men playing in the snow.
People don’t realise that the weather plays a big part in women’s football because it’s not at the same level in terms of resources as the men’s game.
Liverpool and Chelsea looked like they were playing slip and slide in their 1-1 draw at Prenton Park before Christmas it was so muddy.
Chelsea’s Women’s Super League game against Liverpool was played in awful conditionsCredit: Rex Features
Blues boss Emma Hayes said: “This pitch shouldn’t be part of our league, we deserve better standards.
“And I think for Liverpool, champions of Europe, they should provide their women’s team with significantly more than they’re doing.” She has since apologised for her comments but you cannot blame the men’s team every time there is an issue in women’s football.
It goes down to more investment and maybe a criteria needs to be introduced into the league so women’s football grounds are of a certain standard.
Only 540 people turned up Liverpool against Chelsea, which is poor.
It’s about getting more bums on seats and therefore more investment into the league.
It just shows this is the most important time of year to encourage people to support their local women’s team.
I’m hoping that during this slump that a glitzy player like Sam Kerr — who is set to make her Chelsea debut at home to Reading today — will brighten up the league.
This is a perfect time of year for one of the best players in the world to come and add to the excitement.
Fans will be filling the stands at Kingsmeadow just to catch a glimpse of the Aussie star to see how she cuts it in English football.
But I hope she’s packed her gloves and hat because she better get used to the good old British weather.
Our league is a next level up from America and Australia, where she’s been used to playing for Chicago Red Stars and Perth Glory in the summer.
It’s technical, physical and she’ll be battling with the elements but I doubt that will stop her scoring.
And that’s what Chelsea need, someone ruthless like Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema who has 14 league goals in total this season.
Three games have been postponed this season for unfit pitchesCredit: PA:Press Association
Incredible moment footballers dive for cover as massive swarm of angry bees invade pitch
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
