The Sun • 29th January 2022

Rise in prize money promised for Women's FA Cup after fans slam disparity

FOOTBALL CHIEFS pledged to give women’s sides an increase in FA Cup prize money after a fierce backlash from fans and club bosses. The FA’s announcement comes ahead of fan-planned protests over the disparity in prize money offered to men’s and women’s sides battling for the trophy. Emma Hayes, Carla Ward, Hope Powell and Rehanne Skinner are among the WSL bosses who have hit out at the gulf in cash prizes awarded to teams competing in the men’s and women’s contests. This is just over two per c

The Sun • 27th January 2022

Powell says Women’s FA Cup prize money does ‘not match’ with the game's growth

HOPE POWELL has backed fan-led demands for more prize money for clubs competing in the Women’s FA Cup. And the Brighton manager reckons the cash fund for fourth-round winners does 'not match up' with the women’s game’s popularity. Powell, whose Seagulls play Arsenal later, was speaking ahead of Albion’s FA Cup clash with Reading - one of 16 of fourth-round ties taking place this weekend. Women’s sides who win duels at this point are currently awarded £2000, while clubs that lose collect £500.

The Sun • 26th January 2022

Hayes wants WSL fixture review amid congestion and squad depletion concern

EMMA HAYES believes WSL match scheduling should be approached differently to fixture arrangements for the men's game. By Saturday the Blues will have played four matches in ten days following their league and FA Cup duels with West Ham and Aston Villa. Chelsea have seen three matches called off due to Covid-19 and injury issues. And Hayes questioned the timing of her side’s rescheduled clash with West Ham, with both teams having players away on Asia Cup duty.

The Sun • 23rd January 2022

Man City's Stokes hopes fans flock to Euros and hails new deals for team-mates

DEMI STOKES is fired up for a fan-fuelled Women's Euros — but first, she wants to increase the title heat on Arsenal. Tonight’s clash between Manchester City and the Gunners comes just under six months before the tournament in England, with the contest delayed by a year due to Covid. More than 268,000 tickets had been snapped up from 118 countries in a public ballot by last October. This is in addition to 162,000 sold last year.

The Sun • 15th January 2022

Birmingham ace Sarri says team can pose a threat to any WSL side

VEATRIKI SARRI has warned Birmingham’s rivals they are now a ‘dangerous’ threat after claiming the scalp of WSL leaders Arsenal. Sarri and her team-mates visit Marc Skinner’s Manchester United today following a gutsy win over the Gunners, which followed a run of just one point from ten games. The 24-year-old Greek international — who scored in that 2-0 victory — feels Blues are now on a high.

The Sun • 15th December 2021

Barclays extend WSL backing in £30m record deal including Women’s Championship

BARCLAYS have renewed their backing of the WSL in a record £30million partnership thought to be the biggest investment in women’s sport in the country. The three-year deal will also see the financial firm become sponsors of the FA Women’s Championship from the start of next term - the 2022-23 season. It is reported the deal, which will run until the end of the 2024-25 term, will see Barclays double the amount it invested as part of an existing agreement that began in 2019-20.

The Sun • 7th December 2021

'It’s not just about avoiding relegation' says Bedford as Foxes plan fightback

LYDIA BEDFORD is under no illusion of the huge WSL survival battle facing Leicester City. It is a challenge the England Women’s Under-17 boss is relishing with her secondment underway at the club who are bottom of the table. This week Bedford, 34, who is making her first foray into club management, started her job as Foxes first-team manager at Leicester’s Belvoir Drive training ground.

The Sun • 5th December 2021

Saints ace reflects on tackling sexism 50 years on from first Women's FA Cup win

LESLEY LLOYD refused to allow sexist jibes to derail her pursuit of playing football for Southampton Ladies. And the former Saints skipper says it is a ‘dream’ to see how far the Women’s FA Cup has come since she won the first trophy 50 years ago. Lloyd, 74, was 24 when Saints made history in May 1971 by becoming the first team to win the Cup following a 4-1 win over Stewarton Thistle.

The Sun • 3rd December 2021

Hayes says FA Cup prize money for women’s teams isn’t ‘where it should be’

EMMA HAYES reckons Women’s FA Cup prize money is nowhere near what 'it needs to be' as Chelsea gear up to battle Arsenal for the trophy. And the Blues boss wants more attention paid to equal access to football and the struggles of the game’s pioneers. Hayes was speaking before the delayed finale of this year’s contest - which comes just over 50 years on from the first one in 1971 when Southampton Ladies defeated Stewarton Thistle.

The Sun • 13th November 2021

Williams reflects on juggling Champions League with plastering

RACHEL WILLIAMS is probably the only WSL ace who has had to choose between doing a plastering job or playing in the Champions League. And the genial Tottenham midfielder laughed as she recalled that moment as a Birmingham player in 2012. The Brum side had qualified for the contest for the first time in their history earning themselves a two-legged clash with Italian club Hellas Verona.

SunSport • 7th November 2021

Mace relishes chance to show ability at Man City and hopes to play with Houghton

RUBY MACE reckons it is ‘crazy’ that she could one day be playing alongside her childhood idol Steph Houghton. And the versatile Manchester City centre-back is eager to prove herself following her high profile move north from Arsenal this summer. The former Gunners starlet, who some have talked of as being the next Houghton, admits the long-serving City captain is a player she hopes to emulate.

SunSport • 31st October 2021

Hayes recalls being close to giving birth during Chelsea's last FA Cup final win

EMMA HAYES feared she would end up giving birth at Wembley during Chelsea’s triumph over Arsenal in the 2018 Women’s FA Cup final. And the Kingsmeadow boss, 45, says the contest — which was a big part of her childhood — will always remain dear.

SunSport • 31st October 2021

Brighton boss hopes for more chances for black coaches in women’s game

HOPE POWELL wants more action to tackle the shortage of black and minority ethnic coaches at the highest levels of women’s football. And the Brighton chief is concerned by the lack of diversity in Lionesses squads.

SunSport • 25th October 2021

Kirby eyes England 50th cap milestone and Lionesses' win against Latvia

FRAN KIRBY is proud of the journey that has put her on the verge of making her fiftieth senior England international appearance. And the Chelsea playmaker says the Lionesses will treat their World Cup qualifier opponents Latvia as they would any other side. This is despite the minnows shipping a whopping 16 goals in their three previous encounters.

SunSport • 24th October 2021

England boss says it will be a ‘hard decision’ picking forwards to face Latvia

SARINA WIEGMAN hinted Beth Mead’s electric form in attack has given her a selection headache before England’s clash with Latvia. The Arsenal ace’s history-making 15-minute hat-trick was amongst the goals that led the team to pole position in their World Cup qualifying group.

The Sun (Goals) • 31st March 2021

Kerr and Kirby on target as Blues beat Wolfsburg to Champions League semis spot

SAM KERR fired a warning shot to Europe’s top dogs after Chelsea knocked Wolfsburg out of the Champions League in style. Kerr’s sumptuous strike - and an ice-cool Pernille Harder pen - were among the goals that saw the Blues exact revenge on the German giants with a 3-0 quarter-final second-leg win. And the result, which Emma Hayes dubbed her “most favourite”, saw Chelsea seal a 5-1 aggregate victory to set-up a tantalising semi-final clash with Bayern Munich or Rosenburg.

The Sun (Goals) • 30th March 2021

Chelsea boss can lead Blues to Euro glory, says Arsenal legend Vic Akers

VIC AKERS says seeing Emma Hayes’ “look of pressure” brought back memories of his rollercoaster Champions League triumph at Arsenal. And the former Gunners Ladies chief believes Hayes’ Chelsea can conquer Europe, just as his side did 14 years ago. Akers, who founded Arsenal Ladies in 1987, is widely regarded as a trailblazer for women’s football. His North London outfit — who notched up five domestic and league cup doubles — are still the only English side to have won the top contest for Europe's elite women's teams.

The Sun • 27th March 2021

Zelem relishes making Old Trafford history in United Women’s clash with Irons

KATIE ZELEM says leading Man United Women’s team out at Old Trafford will go down as one of the most thrilling experiences of her career. And the lifelong Red Devils fan is expecting a "physical" battle with West Ham when the teams take to the field. Zelem, 25, who began her journey as a footballer at United’s Centre of Excellence at six, has fond memories of visiting the Theatre of Dreams during her childhood.

The Sun • 27th March 2021

Tottenham boss Skinner focused on defeating Arsenal in WSL North London derby

REHANNE SKINNER hopes Tottenham Women can make WSL history by toppling Arsenal for the first time at the home of Spurs’ Prem team. And the former Lionesses assistant coach is not letting memories of past glory with the Gunners get in the way of her goal later. Tottenham, who are eighth, are set to take on a resurgent Arsenal in a behind closed doors derby at Spurs 62,000-seater ground.

SunSport • 12th January 2021

Watford ace wants Women's FA Cup axed this term if coin toss settles ties

WATFORD captain Helen Ward reckons the Women’s FA Cup should be CANCELLED this term if coin flips are used to settle ties. And the Wales striker believes drawing lots to determine second and third round outcomes could 'make a mockery of women's football'. Ward, 34, believes third division Watford and other teams below the women's game second tier, who have had their seasons put on ice, could be disadvantaged by the surprise suggestions.