⚽ Ellie Roebuck's Move Official. Reading's Future Uncertain.
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY
In this week's round-up...
Reading Women's future under threat
Latest headlines from around the world: WSL revenue doubles, Tobin Heath on long recovery, WAFCON delayed
Fave Finds: Trailblazing 1980s lesbian football team tells their story
Kit Drop: Japan x Y-3 x Adidas collection lands
Transfer news: Ellie Roebuck, Ewa Pajor, and Hayley Rasso on the move
Jobs: New opportunities in football
We’ve introduced a Jargon Buster to the newsletter. If you spot [JB] next to a word, head to the bottom of the email for a simple explanation.
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🔍 IN FOCUS
Reading FC Women and Girls Teams Under Threat
Reading Football Club's women's team and girls' academy face an uncertain future due to financial difficulties. Despite their history of developing top talents like Mary Earps and Fran Kirby, the team may be forced to withdraw from the Championship. Reports indicate that the club has not ordered kits for the upcoming season, raising further concerns.
Financial Struggles, Immediate Deadlines and Broader Issues
Awaiting a takeover: The club has warned there is no guarantee of operating a women's team or academy in the 2024-25 season.
Uncertain Future: By late May, Reading notified first-team players they wouldn't renew contract options due to a spending freeze, leaving many in uncertainty.
Minimal Contracts: Only two senior players are currently contracted for the next season.
Critical Deadline: Reading must confirm their participation in FA leagues by July 1, potentially too late for players to find new clubs.
FA Assistance: The FA continues to support Reading in exploring solutions to maintain both the senior team and the academy.
Impact on younger players
Futures at Risk: Players who have dedicated years to training, often travelling long distances, now face the prospect of having no team.
Limited Alternatives: With other academies having completed trials, Reading's youth players may struggle to find new teams if the academy folds.
A mother of a younger player, who wished to remain anonymous said, “I believe there is a huge discrepancy between how professional women's football is portrayed by the FA and what it's really like. The FA narrative is that it's a great time to be an elite young female football player in the UK, and that they can offer a clear and supportive pathway to become a Lioness. However, the harsh reality on the ground is very different.”
How can you help?
Parents and supporters have launched a petition to save the team, aiming to generate public support and awareness.
🚨ICYMI
Top Headlines
⚽ NewCo[JB] has secured Chelsea’s Commercial Director, Zarah Al Kudcy, as part of their leadership team. Al Kudcy is thought to have been recruited as chief revenue officer, and has overseen a four-fold increase in sponsorship deals at Chelsea this past year.
💷 Women's Super League revenue surged 50% to £48m in 2022-23, driven by England's Euro 2022 win. Average attendance rose from 1,923 to 5,616, with matchday revenues hitting £7m. Projected revenue for 2023-24 is £52m and £68m for 2024-25.
🧳 Jonatan Giráldez has arrived at Washington Spirit five months after his announcement as the new head coach. He will gradually transition into the head coach role and take over fully from interim head coach Adrián González who will move to an assistant coach role. Andrés González (fitness coach) and Toni Gordo (club analyst) have joined the Spirit back-room team from Barcelona.
🩼 Tobin Heath opened up about her long road to recovery from two knee surgeries in the latest episode of the Re-Cap show. She’s not played since 2022, and revealed she’d had to undergo a cartilage transplant in her knee after a first operation was unsuccessful.
💸 Seattle Reign FC has been sold for $58 million by OL Groupe. New owners, including Seattle Sounders, aim for stability and growth at Lumen Field. The deal marks a significant increase from the team's $3.5 million valuation in 2019.
🌍 WAFCON[JB] 2024 has been delayed until 2025 due to scheduling issues and a tight international calendar. Qualification for the tournament finished last December, so teams have an 18-month wait between qualification and the tournament finals. The latest delays have led to questions being asked about CAF’s[JB] commitment to the women’s game.
🇩🇪 The Frauen Bundesliga will expand from 12 to 14 teams from 2025/26. The 2024/25 season will act as a qualifying year, so only one team will be relegated from the Bundesliga and the top three rather than the top two will be promoted from the second division.
⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH
Missing the WSL?
We know, we’re deep in withdrawal too. Here are all Alessia Russo’s Goals and Assists from her first season at Arsenal in three minutes. That’ll keep you going.
👀 FAVE FINDS
What Caught Our Eye this Week
👟 Second life for sports kit: If you’re anything like us, you have a load of old sports clothes languishing in the back of a drawer. Well, now you can sell your preloved sportswear and equipment with Kitround. The platform promotes sustainability and supports grassroots sports with a percentage of sales proceeds directed back into their chosen partners.
🏳️🌈 Meet Adelaide's first out and proud lesbian soccer team in this short film. The Adelaide Armpits created a safe, inclusive space for lesbians to be out and play football after the ban on homosexuality was lifted in Australia in the 80’s. Read a longer version of the story here.
📺 The trailer for a new NWSL reality series, ‘The Offseason FC’ has dropped. The show follows 11 players' lives and training in Miami between the 2023-24 season and comes from the production team behind ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’. Alexis Ohanian and Midge Purce (Gotham and USWNT) are executive producers.
✍️ INSIDE TRACK
Transfer Round-up
Ellie Roebuck moves to Barcelona
↳ Ellie Roebuck is officially off to Barcelona. The news comes three weeks after she revealed she’d be leaving Manchester City this summer. “I am very excited. I'd been waiting for this chance for a long time. I'm very happy to be here. You could say that now everything fits and this was the perfect time to come. I like to play with the ball at my feet and this is the perfect team to do that with. I enjoy possession and playing out from the back, so I hope to contribute my style."
↳ Ewa Pajor has also been officially announced by Barcelona. The 27-year-old Bundesliga top-scorer has signed a three-year contract and is seen as a replacement for Mariona Caldentey, who will leave this summer once her contract expires.
↳ Aston Villa’s Jordan Nobbs and Danielle Turner have had their contracts extended until 2025. Simone Magill will depart when her contract expires this summer.
↳ Vivian Asseyi and Kirsty Smith have extended their contracts at West Ham Utd. Late last month Dagný Brynjarsdóttir did the same.
↳ Toni Duggan’s contract won’t be renewed at Everton this summer. The striker started her career as a 16-year-old at Everton before making her return in 2021.
↳ Dutch striker Lineth Beerensteyn has finalised her move to VfL Wolfsburg from Juventus on a free transfer. Her contract runs until 2026 and she’ll take the No.9 jersey.
↳ Hayley Raso is available on a free transfer. She leaves Real Madrid when her contract expires.
↳ Real Madrid’s Ivana Andrés will leave the club after four years as club captain.
MANAGER MOVES
Joe Montemurro will replace Sonia Bompastor at Lyon, signing a two-year contract to see him through to 2026. The former Arsenal and Juventus manager said, "I am extremely honoured to be part of such an exceptional organisation as Olympique Lyonnais, the world leader in women's football. When I think of Lyon, I think of high-level professionalism and excellence. Playing against this team has always represented the pinnacle of football for me. It has always brought me joy and inspiration.”
Pere Romeu has been appointed the head coach at FC Barcelona, signing a two-year contract. Romeu served as previous manager Jonatan Giráldez’s assistant coach for the past three seasons.
ELSEWHERE… THE RUMOURS ARE FLYING
👟 KIT DROP
In one of the most anticipated international kit drops of the year, Adidas, Y-3, and the Japan Football Federation have unveiled their first collaborative collection. Blending fashion and sport, the collection merges Yohji Yamamoto's design with Adidas innovation. New home and away kits and Culturewear are available to buy now.
🛋️ DITCH THE SOFA
Upcoming Events
Football v Homophobia is bringing Football Pride to London. Guests include Georgia Robert and Lailah Muscat from TV's 'I Kissed A Girl'. Football Pride will take place on 28 June, 9.30 - 17:00, in partnership with the Chelsea Foundation at Stamford Bridge. Tickets £20
Brighton and Hove Albion Women's Fans Summer Meet-Up
Sat, 10 Aug 2024 12:30 - 18:00 BST
Caxton Arms, 36 North Gardens Brighton and Hove BN1 3LB
Tickets £14.25
A history of Women's football in Scotland
Sunday, September 8 · 3 - 4pm GMT+1
Feast Cafe, 32 Saint Cuthbert Street Kirkcudbright DG6 4HZ
Tickets £11.55
Is there a women’s football event happening near you? Give us a heads-up
📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
More Women Working in Football
Policy Officer, Women's Football | Fifpro | Apply by 28 June
1st Team Assistant Coach (MCWFC) | Manchester City | Apply by 28 June
Safeguarding Manager | Premier League | Apply by 10 July
Women’s Football Content & Marketing Executive | Celtic FC | Apply by 28 June
📚 JARGON BUSTER
WAFCON – Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
CAF – Confederation of African Football
NewCo – The new company taking over the running of the WSL from The FA. Their official name is TBC, but it’s called NewCo for now.
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