Women’s football

LAUREN JAMES has condemned the appalling racist abuse she received on social media.  
And the Manchester United ace is urging online platforms to stop bigoted trolls creating anonymous accounts to target individuals. 

Manchester United’s Lauren James wants to see tougher action against racist abuse on social media platformsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

In a column for the Telegraph, the England starlet opened up on her pride in her skin colour and her experience of racism in the past. 
And the Red Devils playmaker, 19, wants platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to prevent users who post vile messages from hiding behind fake identities. 
The Lionesses player – whose brother, Chelsea full-back Reece, also received online racist abuse – was sent monkey emojis from an Instagram user.
James wrote: “Over the weekend was the first time that I’d experienced racist abuse on social media. 

“But it wasn’t the first time that I’d been made to feel aware of the colour of my skin. 
“Part of me has wondered if we as athletes can take control of this by coming offline, by deleting our social media accounts. 
“But the other part, the stronger part, says no. It would show the trolls that they are winning, and we can’t let that happen. 
“I’m 19 years old and I’m sitting here, writing about racist abuse. 

“All because of the colour of my skin. It is mad. I’m proud of my skin, I love my skin colour. But when I saw the comments on my Instagram feed, it hurt.
“Facebook have announced that they will take tougher sanctions on abusive messages. 

Casey Stoney has backed James for speaking out against online racist abuseCredit: PA:Press Association

“It’s a great start but more needs to be done by social media platforms to put an end to this.”
James, who has been described by Uefa as one of Europe’s most talented young footballers, says she has been touched by the support she has received from within the game. 
This includes staunch backing from United Women’s boss Casey Stoney who called for government and social media companies to take action. 
Officials at United have also come out strongly in support of James whose WSL team are set for a derby clash with Manchester City. 
On its web site, the club wrote: “Everyone at Manchester United is proud of Lauren for speaking out about her awful experiences, and will continue to support and back her in every way possible.” 
James is among a growing list of black footballers who have received foul messages online this term. 
Other players include Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe from United’s men’s side. 
In response to growing concern from players and the FA, Instagram says it is introducing new measures which include removing the accounts of people who send abusive messages. 

Man Utd star Axel Tuanzebe has also been subjected to vile racist comments onlineCredit: Sportimage
And the government says “huge fines” could be imposed on social media firms who fail to protect users from racist abuse. 
Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “For too long the world’s most popular and powerful social media companies have failed to tackle the stream of horrific racist attacks on their platforms.
“I welcome Instagram’s improved policies but racist abuse is still a fact of life for too many people and more has to be done across the board to stamp it out.”
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Gabby Agbonlahor calls for online racist incidents to be met with prison sentences More

ADEKITE FATUGA-DADA has dedicated almost half her life to Watford – but to her it’s meant more than just a shirt. 
The Hornets icon has been at the club since she was a fresh-faced 12-year-old, when the yellow and black kit barely fit her.

Harrow-born Adekite Fatuga-Dada is Watford Women’s longest serving player at just 24

The midfielder was scouted at the Hornets at eight-years-old

As the Golden Girls’ longest serving player, at just 24-years-old, she has always wanted to give something back to the heart of where her story began.
Growing up, Adekite was glued to her uncle’s side, watching him play football in the local park in Harrow, while kicking a ball about by herself on the sidelines. 
Back then she didn’t even know girls football existed – before she was scouted at her school’s Safer Neighbourhoods programme.
Adekite told SunSport: “The community gave a lot to me in terms of the Watford Trust. 

“That’s how I got into this world of women’s football that I didn’t know about when I was younger.
“I went to a few events at Harrow High School and they just saw me having a kickabout.
“Someone came up to me and said ‘you do know, you could go to the Watford Centre of Excellence’, and I didn’t even know that existed at the time.
“I am a product of the community and I just want to give back and anything they ever asked me to do I’m more than happy to do.”

Adekite is pushing for promotion with her childhood club
Adekite arrived at Watford in 2008, before enjoying a successful stint in the Gunners’ Under-17s side, where she lifted the Youth FA Cup trophy. 
She then returned home to the Hornets in 2015 and has stayed put ever since. 
“I get told I’m the longest standing Watford player at 24-years-old but I didn’t even know!
“The club’s Centre of Excellence has held my career up in a sense, it allowed me to go to Arsenal and to win things and to come back and play football. 
“We are very structured and professional in the way we run now.
“I just want to be part of it, it’s a club that I love, it’s close to my heart and I’ve grown up here, so for me it’s a no-brainer to stay.”

Adekite lives and breathes Manchester United, having followed in her uncle’s footsteps as a diehard fan. 
As a youngster, she would be huddled around the television, never missing a game, and belting out chants with him. 
She said: “Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a legend in my eyes, he was always one of my favourite players. 
“His chant honestly always used to be my favourite.
“I won’t sing it but it was like, ‘You are my Solskjaer, my only Solskjaer’ – to the tune of You are My Sunshine.
“I’ve been to Old Trafford once in 2008 and that day Cristiano Ronaldo scored a really good goal and I always remember it so well.”

Adekite radiates positivity, is generous with the local community and infectiously kind – but when it comes to football she is searingly honest. 
So it comes as no surprise that the outspoken North London ace is setting her sights on a life in punditry one day.
She added: “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I’ve spoken to a lot of people out there about it.
“I love football and I love to share views and bounce ideas and opinions off other people. 
“There are women there doing it now and you always need that trailblazer like Alex Scott, talking about football in a typically male environment.”
The Hornets are sitting pretty at the top of the women’s third division. 
But they are unable to train or play at the moment, after the government branded all women’s football below the Championship as “non elite” amid the coronavirus crisis. 
Adekite explained: “Obviously we don’t think of ourselves as non-elite, but I do understand the position and that a line has to be drawn somewhere.
“It’s just unfortunate that we were under that line, but there’s more important things than football happening right now which we all understand.
“I feel for the FA as it’s a tough position to be in.”

The midfield maestro reckons Watford will soon be dominating the Championship and even the WSL one day – as they push for promotion this term.
It’s no shock that the Golden Girls have been tearing up the third tier.
They have spent two-years sharing the plush, state of the art facilities at the London Colney base with the men’s side. 
Which is another reason why Adekite has pledged her loyalty to the club for so many years. 
She said: “The path that we’ve taken up recently makes it such an exciting place as a young player to be. 
“We have to give a lot of credit to our coaches, like Armand Kavaja who took over at a not so great time and persevered with it.
“But now I think in terms of our professionalism and structure we’re miles ahead of where we should be.
“I believe we have more than enough footballing ability in our squad to compete in the leagues above us.
“We’ve put things in place where we won’t just be another name, but we will be competing to be back where we belong.”

Troy Deeney says he and Watford will walk off the pitch if booed by Millwall fans More

PERNILLE HARDER’S second-half rocket blasted a dent in Arsenal’s Champions League hopes with Chelsea consigning the Gunners to a 3-0 loss.
A late Fran Kirby goal and a brace from Harder and saw the champs open up a TWELVE point lead over their London rivals, and go three clear at the top of the WSL.

Chelsea have opened up a three-point gap at the top of the Women’s Super LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Harder and Fran Kirby were both on target against Arsenal for the WSL championsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Blues boss Emma Hayes said: “I thought we started the game well with our press, but then we got a little bit overrun.
“I think once we got the goal in the second-half there was only going to be one outcome, to be honest. 
“We can talk about Pernille Harder and her goals because she certainly showed the dressing room her quality as did Fran. 
“But for me the real performance was in the team’s defending.”

Hayes’ aces flew out of the blocks eager to make amends after Brighton ended their record unbeaten run at the weekend. 
And they were all over their visitors in the first quarter with Ji So-yun nutmegging Lia Walti to tee up Kirby who forced a save from Lydia Williams.
Arsenal grew into the encounter at the halfway stage of the first-half.  
And they had the best chance of that period with Vivianne Miedema prompting a superb reflex kick save from Ann-Katrin Berger at the half-hour mark. 

BET OF THE DAY: GET THE BEST FOOTBALL PRICES ON THE MARKET WITH OUR EXPERT ADVICE

Arsenal will be hoping to pick up their first win of the month when they play Aston Villa nextCredit: Getty Images – Getty

At the other end Kirby forced a fine stop from Williams, with the Aussie ace keeping out the Chelsea forward’s angled effort several minutes later. 
But the 0-0 scoreline didn’t last too long in the second-half with Harder once again demonstrating why Chelsea whipped out the cheque book to sign her.
The Denmark ace opened the scoring in the 47th minute beating Williams with a swerved drive. 

In the end, it’s the level of their quality that unlocked us
Joe Montemurro

And the midfield maestro was on target again ten minutes later stunning the Gunners with a thumping strike blazed over Williams into the net. 
Joe Montemurro’s aces had a chance to pull one back with Katie McCabe forcing a fine save from Berger with 11 minutes of normal time remaining. 
But Kirby’s stoppage-time effort wrapped things up for the hosts who visit Bristol next.  
And Arsenal will head to Aston Villa with a record of one win from their last five games. 
Montemurro said: “They (Chelsea) are a very, very good team with a good squad and powerful players. 
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Joe Montemurro’s Gunners are seven points adrift of a Champions League spot with City above them in thirdCredit: PA:Press Association
“In the end it’s the level of their quality that unlocked us.
“Mathematically there is still a lot to play for but realistically sometimes you have got to set other targets. 
“We have a Champions League spot to play for, we’ll keep going.”

Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More

BATTLING Covid on the health service frontline while competing in the Women’s Super League has become part and parcel of Harriet Scott’s life over the past year.
And the tough-tackling Birmingham City heroine who is due to play Aston Villa is proud of her contrasting careers. 

Harriet Scott juggles a career as a top-flight footballer with working in the NHS and studying a degree in medicineCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Scott and her team-mates are due to play Aston VillaCredit: Rex Features

When she is not training or leading the backline of Carla Ward’s tenacious Blues, Scott can often be found assisting doctors and nurses at Royal Stoke University Hospital. 
And it’s a vocation the left-back relishes despite the pressures of tackling the deadly virus in one of the nation’s largest hospitals.
Scott, 27, said: “I’ve worked within the NHS since I qualified as a physiotherapist (in 2014) and the strain that some people are under at this point in time is immense. 
“I have seen unwell patients dealing with issues around their mental health especially now with Covid. People have a lot more stress because it’s a very difficult time. 

“It’s admirable how staff are working and taking every single day as it comes.
“At the moment, it feels like there’s no way out. But I know that there is with the vaccine and the help that will hopefully bring in the next few months. 
“It’s tough seeing what staff and patients are having to go through
“But I’m really glad I’m doing the job I’m doing at the moment.” 

JUGGLING FOOTBALL AND A MEDICINE DEGREE
It is a hectic routine for Scott, 27, who balances her football and healthcare career with the third year of a degree in medicine at Keele University.
The former Reading ace, who has made 36 appearances for Birmingham since joining from the Royals in 2018, has been working at the Royal Stoke since August 2020. 
The defender, who jointly captains Birmingham with Christie Murray, has been helping to ease the burden on staff working in the hospital’s emergency, surgery and mental healthcare wings.
Part of the Republic of Ireland ace’s duties includes checking heart rhythms, taking blood tests and helping medics insert intravenous drips into patients in need of them.
And Scott’s vital role outside of sport is wholeheartedly supported by Birmingham gaffer Ward and her backroom staff.  
Scott added: “I really could not praise the club anymore for kind of being able to do what I’m doing right now. Blues have been instrumental.
“After a game on Sunday, I normally have a tutor session on Monday at nine in the morning where I join other medical students in a hospital ward or on an online class.

Scott, 27, is a certified physiotherapist who worked for Wales national women’s team under former head coach Jayne LudlowCredit: Instagram @harrietascott
“We all bring cases that we have studied and talk through them and figure out diagnosis and treatments and then I may have a seminar on medicines or body parts. 
“In the afternoon, I will spend one till five in the hospital and that repeats throughout the week. 
“And then I have to fit my football training sessions around this. 
“So I’ll do strength and conditioning sessions on my own at Birmingham that Holly – our coach there – or Carla (Ward) will help me out with. 
“And then there are certain sessions throughout the week that I can make with the rest of the team.” 

Birmingham City are looking to pick up their fourth win in the WSL
DERBY DUEL
Scott is set to captain Birmingham this evening in a Second City derby clash with Villa.
The duel between the rivals, which coincides with the talented defender’s birthday, will take place at Damson Park. 
The last match between the teams ended in a 1-0 win for the then injury-ravaged Blues who had just TWO subs on their bench. 
Despite the victory, head coach Ward, 37, was not entirely pleased with her ninth-placed side’s display.
Ward said: “We were very, very poor. It was our worst performance of the season. But I am delighted we came away with a win after playing so poorly. 
“I would like to think we have come on since then, however I do think Villa have come on since then. 
“It will be a tough game. The pressure is on them, not us.”
Scott, who has 21 Republic of Ireland international caps, is looking forward to pitting her wits against Mana Iwabuchi. 
The Japan superstar has been in fine form for Villa, who are tenth, since arriving in January.
The mercurial Villa forward netted the decisive goal that secured the club’s first home win this term.
Scott added: “They’ve (Aston Villa) have strengthened as a team. Iwabuchi is a phenomenal player.
“We’ve kind of seen already the impact that she’s had in the league. We’re not underestimating her at all. 
“But we’re not going to give her too much respect. 
“At the end of the day, it’s a derby, and that’s a completely different game altogether.
There’s a bit more bite to everybody. And we’ll see that going into the game, I’m sure.” 

Scott says Birmingham will not underestimate Mana IwabuchiCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Rio Ferdinand, Jens Lehmann and Robin van Persie star in BT Sports new women’s football series Ultimate Goal More

HOPE POWELL has stressed that Brighton can’t expect an easy ride against West Ham despite their amazing victory over Chelsea.
Powell, 54, said that although her side are the first to beat the champions in two years, every game is different and the Hammers game will be “tough.”

Hope Powell has warned her Brighton stars that victory against West Ham isn’t a foregone conclusionCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Brighton shocked the footballing world by ending the West Londoner’s 33 unbeaten game run in the WSL after previously losing to Bristol.
Powell was asked how she managed to galvanise her players into their stellar performance against the Blues.
She said that she met with the team after the Bristol City loss and said they had some “frank and honest conversations,” and said it was imperative they “went back to basics.”
Powell said: “This is how it’s going to be from now on. Yeah just back to basics. We need a 100 per cent effort.

“I wanted a good performance. I wanted some desire and effort and application, and I got all of those things.
“And with a little bit of luck, we win the game and get three massive points, it was a big win for us.”
But she warned her stars ahead of the midweek clash that a win over the Hammers isn’t a “foregone conclusion” despite their 2-1 Chelsea win.
The former England boss said: “We take confidence from last week,

“But we cannot think for one minute the fact that we beat Chelsea, [beating West Ham] is a foregone conclusion, that’s just not the way football is.
“And you know, we can see that by all recent results whether it’s women’s football or men’s football, it’s no foregone conclusion.”
The Hammers enter the game languishing just above the bottom spot, while Brighton hover slightly above them in eighth.
Acutely aware of their struggle, Powell compared the two team’s upcoming battle to a “dogfight” and said it will be a “hard contest” for the Seagulls.

Brighton became the first team to beat champions Chelsea in TWO YEARS on the weekendCredit: PA:Press Association

She continued: “It will be a hard contest, it will be a dog fight. Both teams want the points, both teams not wanting to lose.
“You know, at the moment, we’re in a better position than they are. So you know, for them they’ve got to get points on the board as we have to as well.”
To make the pre-game preparations even more difficult, both sides are having to train in the heavy snow, which Powell says has been “terrible.”
When asked about the weather, she said: “It’s terrible, freezing cold, we weren’t able to train on grass we had to end up going on rubber crumb, which isn’t ideal preparation.
“But it’s the same for everybody. I’m sure it will be the same for West Ham, London is pretty bad.”
She also said that there were some concerns the game could be called off due to the treacherous weather, but the Seagulls were still preparing.
Powell added: “We’ll just prepare as if though were gonna play.
“We do appreciate that it can be called off at any time. But we are preparing as if though we’re gonna play the game.”

Brighton’s Fliss Gibbons is pleased to be a role model for woman’s football More