Women’s football

CASEY STONEY says she is proud of Manchester United and Marcus Rashford in the fight to secure free school meals, as it made her think of her own children.
The Red Devils boss, who has three, young kids with her partner Megan Harris, has been left inspired by the generosity of Old Trafford striker Rashford and the Manchester community.

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Casey Stoney proud of the generosity of the Manchester community and Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford and mum Melanie recently visited Farshare’s Manchester base
The Three Lions ace’s petition to End Child Food Poverty is only the fifth in history to pass one million signatures.
And FareShare, the UK’s largest charity fighting hunger, is now supplying seven million meals to the most vulnerable thanks to donations inspired by Rashford’s fight.
Stoney, 38, told SunSport: “I’m really proud of Marcus, the club and the movement he’s been able to do.

“But you know what I was really proud of the amount of people that stood up and said, ‘we’ll do something, we’ll help’.
“Because I’ve got children and to think that they could ever go hungry.
“No child should ever go hungry, it’s not their choice. The child doesn’t have a choice.
“So the amount of people, businesses, companies up and down the country that went, we’ll step up, we’ll do something, it made me really proud to live here.”

United turn their attention to facing table toppers Arsenal in the league today.
And Stoney has urged the FA and broadcasters to get more WSL games on TV to provide the country with a distraction during the gloom-laden lockdown period.
She added: “We’re so privileged we get to walk out our door every morning, get in our cars and go to work and do what we love for a living.

“That’s why I think visibility is so important in women’s sport because we need people to have something to view, to have hope to take and to have a distraction away from the misery.
“If you read social media at the moment it’s just misery after misery and that’s the world we’re living in right now so let’s give people a nice distraction,
“So we can get more games on TV and get more visibility to get more people watching the women’s game because we can’t get the fans in.
“I think it’s really important and I can’t stress enough that we’re really lucky that we get to do what we love for a living,
“And being around people, which is huge now as so many people are in isolation and loneliness is terrible.”

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ALEX MORGAN revealed on Twitter that she could finally make her long-awaited Tottenham debut against Reading today.
The USA World Cup winner has been named in Spurs’ team today, but most likely will not be starting.

Alex Morgan signed for Tottenham Women on a short-term deal in September but still hasn’t played for the club

The North Londoners are preparing to host the Royals at The Hive today.
And Morgan, 31, wrote on Twitter: “Excited for my first match officially in with the squad.
The strike sensation penned a short-term deal until the end of December in a bid for regular game time to win a place in the USA squad ahead of the postponed Tokyo Olympics.
She has not played competitive football in over a year due to pregnancy, and she only gave birth to her daughter, Charlie, six months ago.

Morgan was named on the bench for Spurs’ FA Cup quarter-final tie with rivals Arsenal at the end of September, but she hasn’t been included in the squad since.
The clock is ticking, given that her contract only runs until the end of 2020.
And the Orlando Pride ace dropped a huge hint that she won’t be sticking around in the WSL on a permanent basis after her loan deal expires.
At the end of last month, she told AP Sports, “I have a plan to go back for the holidays, but you just don’t know if I’m planning to continue on here or not.

“It all really depends on Covid, and the NWSL as well and what their plans are for next season so I feel like I’m taking it week by week.
“One thing I know is that I want to go home and introduce Charlie to my family because I’ve kind of snatched her away and took her to England with me.”
Orlando boss Marc Skinner reportedly hopes Morgan will return from her contract in England in time to join the Pride next spring for preseason ahead of the 2021 NWSL season.

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MANCHESTER UNITED boss Casey Stoney has blasted the decision to suspend the Women’s FA Cup as it “goes against equality”.
The men’s competition will continue during lockdown and will kickstart from November 6-9 as planned, with ten non-elite teams in the first round, but the women’s competition has been put on hold.

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Man Utd boss Casey Stoney has voiced concerns over the suspension of the Women’s FA Cup and closure of WSL academies
The women’s first round was originally set to take place on November 15, but the earliest return date possible for the competition will now be December 2.
Stoney said: “How can the men’s FA Cup games go ahead and the women’s can’t? How?
“I just don’t know how you can distinguish between the two and let one go ahead and one not, I just don’t understand it. So we talk about equality, we’re going against it.”

The FA are said to be in talks with the government over resuming the women’s fixtures over lockdown.
Former England captain Stoney was also left frustrated at the closure of WSL Academies and Girls Regional Talent Clubs over the lockdown period.
Boys’ academy level is allowed to continue based on them being classed as “elite”.
The United Women’s camp have brought two academy players, who are over 18, into the senior team’s bubble to keep their development ticking over amid the shutdown of their training.

Stoney added: “I class my RTC and my academy as elite because they’re at Manchester United.

Man City skipper Steph Houghton lifted the 2020 Women’s FA Cup trophy after their 3-1 extra-time success over WSL rivals Everton
“They’re training to become professional players just like the boys are.
“Unfortunately it’s not seen that way, in terms of governance so that’s one of the things that’s got to change.
“It’s disappointing. It means that our players have another four weeks out of the game. It means that their mental wellbeing is affected.
“It’s frustrating for Charlotte their head coach, who works tirelessly to try and make sure this programme going.
“Everyone is trying to make sure this rate goes down and unfortunately this is a measure the government have taken.

“It’s a real shame because young people need it, especially during this time.
“I’ve got three children. Two play grassroots football, and they can go and sit in a classroom with someone, eight hours a day,
“But can’t go over a park and play football and the outdoors. Hey I’m not a scientist. I’m not making the decisions.”
Stoney’s side sit third in the top-flight and face table toppers Arsenal in a mouth-watering tie on Sunday.

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BRIGHTON were forced to axe their League Cup fixture with Charlton on Wednesday night after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.
The individual concerned reportedly does not have any symptoms but is now self-isolating.

Hope Powell’s side were forced to axe their League Cup fixture after a unnamed staff member tested positive for Covid-19Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Other coaching and backroom staff who the individual came into contact during the previous week are also self-isolating in line with government guidelines.
A statement by the Seagulls read: “Any areas around the club the individual has been in contact with will only be reopened once they have been deep cleaned and fully fogged.
“The players within the women’s squad will continue to be tested in line with The FA’s testing regime with additional safety measures and mitigation in place.
“The squad will resume training in line with The FA and government guidelines.”

The South Coasters are still set to host Aston Villa on Sunday as normal.
Wednesday’s postponement came after wind damage saw Everton and Manchester United’s game also called off earlier.
Red Devils boss Casey Stoney was left “extremely frustrated” after being given less than 24-hours notice by the Toffees.

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ALEX SCOTT sent social media into meltdown after hilariously shutting down Jamie Carragher when he asked her to recall her playing days.
The 140 capped England legend won the women’s top-flight SIX times with Arsenal.

Alex Scott jokingly shut down Jamie Carragher, saying: “you couldn’t name five women’s footballers”Credit: CBS Sports

The former Liverpool defender listed legends from the women’s game to win over Scott Credit: CBS Sports

The CBS Sports studio was in fits of laughter during the exchange Credit: CBS Sports

The duo were covering Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Rennes in the Champions League.
On a video posted to CBS Sports’ Twitter account, Carragher says to Scott: “Remember those days?”
Scott jokingly hit back, saying: “Jamie couldn’t even name top five women’s players so don’t tell me you watched me play!”
Carragher replied: “I’ve got the number one – Mia Hamm.”

In another clip posted later that evening, the former Liverpool defender goes onto compare Chelsea right-back Reece James to Lionesses star Lucy Bronze in a bid to win Scott over.
He said: “When he got down the side and put that cross in it just reminded me of Lucy Bronze at her best when she was playing right-back.
“Christie Rampone as well and Brandi Chastain as well, these women footballers were very similar when he struck that ball in.
“Wendie Renard. My favourite centre-back is actually Kadeisha Buchanan.”

Scott replies: “Canadian centre-back, I’m impressed, we’re mates again now.”
The former Gunners captain has won the Women’s FA Cup SEVEN times with the North London club.
And The Sun revealed in September that she is set to replace Sue Barker as the host of A Question Of Sport.

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