Women’s Super League Confirmed For 2011
Although it was controversially delayed, the Football Association has confirmed that the proposed Women’s Super League will indeed launch the summer of 2011.
The new Super League comes as a relief in the women’s game, with the continuation of player drain to the American professional league. The latest exodus of players is in Chelsea striker Lianne Sanderson and the Everton midfielder Fara Williams, who have been reported to be wanted by Philadelphia, which would put an added strain on England’s squad.
With an eight-club structure and a long-term hope of professional status for its players, the Super League is designed with hopes to hold on to players with potential to become high professionals, and keep them playing on this side of the pond.
The FA’s chief executive, Ian Watmore, reportedly said: ‘If the summer league takes off then we’ll have to see how our best English players can become professional in this country. At the moment the cream are heading off to the States and we’d rather they were playing here, so we are keen to reverse the trend.’
However, some think the new league will do little to reversing the trend of players moving to the States. Boston striker Kelly Smith, one of six England players who play overseas, said: ‘I think that other players will leave the English game to play professionally in America. If a player has a chance to turn pro, they should grab it with both hands. It’s the thing you love doing and you can make a job of it in America, whereas you can’t in England.’
