Women’s Super League

THE GOVERNMENT has branded all women’s football below the 23 teams in the WSL and Championship ‘non elite’.
This means that clubs in the third division and below cannot train or play if they are based in tier four areas of the country.

Watford are among the women’s teams classed as ‘non elite’ by the Government Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

The new regulations meant all but one of the 18 Women’s FA Cup ties scheduled for last weekend were axed amid the coronavirus crisis.
Teams in the Women’s National Leagues are set to be without regular training and game time until most areas of England see restrictions loosened.
Clubs could face a lengthy wait as Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc across the country.
However, this will also be the case for hundreds of men’s ‘non-elite’ teams in the lower levels of the non-league system.

In the women’s game some huge Premier League names have been affected by the new rules.
Burnley, Newcastle, and Southampton are among the clubs whose men’s teams can currently play while their women’s teams cannot.
Watford are top of the third division’s southern league and therefore ranked as the joint 24th-best side in the country, are also unable to play or train.

But Vladimir Ivic’s side sit 26th in their pyramid and are able to continue their plight for promotion from the Championship.

Of course it must be noted that there are huge differences between the men’s and women’s set up.
Most players in the women’s Championship and below juggle their day jobs with football.
So, they are potentially mixing with significantly more people, making it tougher to keep teams safe.
SunSport ran through the main issues the Premier League is facing on whether the season can continue as coronavirus cases surge again.

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WILLIE KIRK reckons Sandy MacIver could become one of the best keepers in women’s football following her Everton performances this term. 
The Toffees ace, who helped her side reach the 2020 Women’s FA Cup final, has kept 6 clean sheets in 15 appearances across all competitions this season. 

Willie Kirk believes Sandy MacIver to be one of the world’s best goalkeepersCredit: Alamy Live News

The Winsford-born stopper, whose cup final saves earned her a Player of the Match award, is regarded as one of Everton’s standout performers so far this term. 
And team boss Kirk believes MacIver, 22, has the talent to rival the likes of Lyon’s Sarah Bouhaddi, Chelsea’s Ann-Katrin Berger and Ellie Roebuck at Manchester City. 
Kirk told Everton’s website: “Sandy has got all the attributes of a modern-day goalkeeper that you’d want. 
“I think she can be the best goalkeeper in the world. I’m not saying she’s there yet, but she can be.

“It’s been great to see her development. We’ve trusted her and given her the platform to perform.
“She’s grabbed that (opportunity) with both hands.
“If she works hard, stays humble and makes the right career choices, I think she can be the best in the world.”

Sandy MacIver has kept 6 clean sheets out of 15 games this termCredit: Focus Images

MacIver’s shot-stopping skills will most certainly be put to the test when Everton, who are fifth, take on WSL leaders Manchester United.

The last time the two sides faced each other was in the group stage of the Conti Cup in December with Everton securing a 1-0 win on their home turf. 
And that encounter was the only defeat Casey Stoney’s Red Devils endured in the first four months of this season.

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FORMER Brighton star Fern Whelan has given fans a highly anticipated pregnancy update after posting an adorable snap on Twitter.
The ex-Seagulls defender, 32, is expecting a baby this year with Brighton striker and long term partner Aileen Whelan, 29.

The duo announced their pregnancy in October after Fern hung up her boots in September, having been dogged with long-term injuries.
Alongside a picture of her bump, Fern wrote on Twitter: “Patiently waiting for our new year with you!”
The couple arrived at the South Coast side in 2017, having played alongside each other at Everton and Notts County.
They helped the club gain promotion to the top tier in her first season.

And ensured Brighton retained their WSL status with ease last term, finishing ninth.
But Albion centre-back, Fern, was forced to called time on her career following advice from medics after battling knee and ankle injuries.
At the time, she said: “It is with a heavy heart that I can finally announce my retirement from the beautiful game. 
“This decision has not been easy, and has not been taken lightly, but I feel that now is the right time to end the ongoing love-hate relationship that myself and football have. 

“I am thankful for the amazing experiences the sport has given me, the players I have been lucky enough to play with and against, and the friends I have made along the way. 
“Mo Marley and Hope Powell gave me highlights I will never forget, playing for England and winning my first FA Cup.
“But it’s no secret that my football journey is filled with anger, loss and what ifs due to having such a nasty injury that unfortunately kept me from the game for two years.”
Aileen juggles full time football with work as a child play therapist, having studied a masters in child psychology.

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TOBIN HEATH has praised Manchester United’s character with the team heading into January as WSL leaders for the first time in the club’s history. 
And the USA ace highlighted her thunderstrike against Man City as an important goal to score during one of United’s “poorest halves” this term. 

Tobin Heath and Man United are currently in pole position in the WSLCredit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.

The Red Devils, who take on Everton in their first game of the new year, have yet to lose a match in the league this term. 
But they came close to being defeated on home turf when Gareth Taylor’s players went 2-0 up in the first half of their first derby encounter this season. 
But a Kirsty Hanson goal and Heath’s top corner shot saved the day with Casey Stoney’s side sharing the spoils with Man City. 
Heath told Man United’s website: “We got a lot of things wrong in the first half. It was one of our poorest halves in terms of performance. 

“But the character of the team in being able to turn around a 2-0 deficit at half-time and being able to actually almost win the game is important.
“To be able to give the team the boost that was needed in the appropriate time is my responsibility. 
“It is a responsibility that I love and I think it is important for this group to never let up.
“You have to create a moment for the team and create momentum because that’s important. 

“Just being able to give the team that spark, that energy, that belief is critical
“And it will be important throughout the season to be able to have moments like that because momentum in football changes, but our attitude and belief has to stay the same.”

Tobin Heath, Millie Turner and their team-mates travel to Everton for their first game of 2021 Credit: Rex Features

Tobin Heath has netted four goals in seven WSL appearances Credit: Getty Images – Getty

United, who are four points ahead of Arsenal who are second, have a potentially tricky opening start to their new year. 
A tantalising clash with Chelsea, who have gone unbeaten in the league in 2020, will follow their trip to Walton Hall Park. 
And Emma Hayes’s side, who are six points behind the leaders, have two games in hand following the postponement before their final match before Christmas.

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Göteborg FC have stunned women’s football by announcing the closing down of its title-winning side. 
The team, who were beaten by Manchester City in round 32 of this term’s Champions League, have withdrawn from Sweden’s Premier Women’s division for 2021. 

Goteburg officials announced the closure of its women team ahead of the 2021 season of Sweden’s Women’s Premier DivisionCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Sweden’s Pauline Hammerlund is among the international players currently without a clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty

And it is reported their closure will mean that nine members of the country’s national team are currently without a club. 
Players include Emma Kullberg, Pauline Hammerlund and Sweden Women’s stopper Jennifer Falk who were part of the side defeated by Man City.
Göteborg, who were established in 1970, had won the gold medal in the country’s top-flight last term. 
Past players of the side, who are two-time winners of Sweden’s Ladies Cup, include Manchester United’s Christen Press and her USA team-mate Hope Solo. 

On its web site, the club stated that it would not be able to match what it described as  “large investments” poured into women’s sides such as Lyon, Bayern Munich, Man City and Manchester United. 
In a statement on its site the club said: “Internationally, women’s football has developed enormously in Europe in recent years. 
“Large men’s clubs, such as Lyon, PSG, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Manchester United, Barcelona and Juventus, among others, have realised the value of women’s football, make large investments and have given women’s football resources that it is not possible for us to match.
“We have created a great interest in women’s football in Gothenburg and shown that it is possible to establish oneself at the top and even win a Swedish Championship gold, as long as one has a clear goal that creates challenges and motivation. 

“The elite clubs in Gothenburg must now spin on this.
 “If you do that, we are convinced that women’s football in Gothenburg will quickly take new steps forward.
“Because the tradition-laden and reputable clubs, with their organizations and many supporters, create conditions for women’s football in Gothenburg, we believe that our project is complete and therefore Kopparbergs / Göteborg FC will close down its elite team for the Allsvenskan season 2021.”
Club chairman Peter Brosnan said: “For almost 20 years, we have developed and driven women’s football in Gothenburg and Sweden forward. 

Goteborg were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester City over two legsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“Stepping on the same old footsteps is not something we believe in. 
“In order to assert itself internationally, I am convinced that women’s football should be integrated into and be an equal part, to take part in the same resources as men’s football, in an elite club. 
 “It is, of course, a sad decision for us to make in the short term, but seen over the long term, it is definitely the right decision to make now.”

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ANN-KATRIN BERGER admits to being unbothered by missing out on one of the women’s games top goalkeeping awards this year.
And the Chelsea ace, who emerged as one of the WSL’s best stoppers after overcoming thyroid cancer, still sees herself as an underdog in the sport. 

Ann-Katrin Berger says she sees herself as “an underdog” despite her success on the pitchCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription

Berger, who made a switch to Kingsmeadow from Birmingham in January 2019, has seen her club career thrive under Emma Hayes. 
The Germany international, 30, who will take on Reading in the Blues first league outing of 2021, has kept seven clean sheets in 12 games across all competitions for this term. 
And her performances for the WSL champs, who have gone unbeaten in the league this year, earned the former PSG player a Best Fifa Women’s Goalkeeper nomination.
Berger told Fifa’s website: “It wasn’t a disappointment when I didn’t win, because I still see myself as an underdog. 

“When I was nominated, I was the only goalkeeper yet to make their debut for their country. 
“I went on the assumption that I wouldn’t win and still celebrated my nomination as a victory.
“Apart from the pandemic, it was a very successful year for me – both individually and also for my team. 
“Based on that, I’d say that while the pandemic obviously happened, I didn’t want to focus too much on it and preferred to concentrate on the sporting side of things instead. 

“It was my safe place, as it were – that was all there was as far as I was concerned. It gave me more time to work on myself.” 

Ann Katrin-Berger was nominated for a Best Fifa Women’s Goalkeeper award which went to Lyon’s Sarah BouhaddiCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Berger left France’s top-flight in 2016 to become Birmingham City’s No1 between the sticks in the Women’s Super League. 
And she caught the eye of Blues boss Emma Hayes when she made 11 saves including a penalty stop to help Birmingham knockout Chelsea in the 2017 Women’s FA Cup semi-finals. 
In November that year the Germany star was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and would later undergo an operation and radiotherapy treatment. 
But the WSL ace would go on to make her comeback four months later and seal a move to Chelsea in 2019. 
Berger added: “I’ve always been the kind of person who isn’t fazed by challenges – they spur me on. 

Ann-Katrin Berger and Chelsea are targetting WSL and Champions League trophy wins in 2021Credit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.
“I’ve now been nominated as one of the top six goalkeepers in the world and in England, I was named in the team of the year. 
“I want to consolidate that and make sure it wasn’t a one-off. 
“2020 finished off well in sporting terms and I want to carry that over into 2021.”
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