[Albion] What would it take for Albion to become true challengers in the WSL?

[Withdean South Stand]

We have done really well in our recruitment of Nikita Parris and Super Franny Kirby. There are some really good players leaving Arsenal and Chelsea at the end of this season. Players like the aforementioned with plenty of international experience. I hope we are monitoring!

Sophie Ingle would be a complete "no-brainer" for me. Yes, she is in her 30s and certainly nearer the end of her career than the beginning, but like Fran would bring her experience (over 140 International caps) to the club and I think would be a positive role model to the younger players who I hope we are bringing through..

I agree - I think we're making incremental progress with the squad and in my opinion, you're on the money with the last comment. I think we need to put a lot of effort into bringing through our own young women - if we can start producing players ready to step into the team, that will make a huge difference.

 

[Milano]

We have way more than 4k who give a shit, if we move the team back to Brighton I reckon we would be getting 10k in no time, just needs to not be at the shit tip in Crawley.

I deliberatley typed Sussex because IMO there aren't 30k people in Brighton willing to regularly go to the mens games (yet), as the hundreds of empty seats for Newcastle proved, even Liverpool hasn't sold out yet. Take the "Sussex" based fans away and the Amex would be at about ~25k I reckon. So where are 10k womens team fans coming from?

 

[Flounce]

Good luck to the women’s team but I am struggling to care. No point lying about it and I know a few families who are very enthusiastic but I cannot get excited. Is that wrong as an Albion fan?

Most of those I know who are women’s football fans are not that bothered about the men’s team either

 

[jackalbion]

I deliberatley typed Sussex because IMO there aren't 30k people in Brighton willing to regularly go to the mens games (yet), as the hundreds of empty seats for Newcastle proved, even Liverpool hasn't sold out yet. Take the "Sussex" based fans away and the Amex would be at about ~25k I reckon. So where are 10k womens team fans coming from?

Because the people who attend women's football are in a demographic which suits the city of Brighton down to a tee. 300k people here, if you take away, away supporters, I don't think it's unimaginable that we will be having attendances of 8-10k regularly. Ultimately it holds no interest for you, but women's football has got a new demographic, some of which have never attended men's games. If you are semi regularly getting attendances of 4k up to 6k at Crawley, a stadium with quite frankly abysmal transport links and abysmal facilities. An easily accessible stadium in Brighton, will be selling out for larger WSL teams, and I reckon averaging around 8 or so thousand within a few years, however the game has to be given the chance to grow but that is happening exponentially.

 

[jackalbion]

Good luck to the women’s team but I am struggling to care. No point lying about it and I know a few families who are very enthusiastic but I cannot get excited. Is that wrong as an Albion fan?

Most of those I know who are women’s football fans are not that bothered about the men’s team either

Can we not have yet another women's football thread just turn into this same discussion every time. Plenty I know go to both and support both, mostly young people, sorry that you don't care, that is your problem to ponder over.

 

[Ding Dong !]

Lambast me if you wish but i've no interest in women's football

 

[MattBackHome]

Because the people who attend women's football are in a demographic which suits the city of Brighton down to a tee. 300k people here, if you take away, away supporters, I don't think it's unimaginable that we will be having attendances of 8-10k regularly. Ultimately it holds no interest for you, but women's football has got a new demographic, some of which have never attended men's games. If you are semi regularly getting attendances of 4k up to 6k at Crawley, a stadium with quite frankly abysmal transport links and abysmal facilities. An easily accessible stadium in Brighton, will be selling out for larger WSL teams, and I reckon averaging around 8 or so thousand within a few years, however the game has to be given the chance to grow but that is happening exponentially.

Completely correct.

 

[Flounce]

Can we not have yet another women's football thread just turn into this same discussion every time. Plenty I know go to both and support both, mostly young people, sorry that you don't care, that is your problem to ponder over.

Fair enough, I’ll leave it there but I don’t see it as a problem. Well not for me anyway

 

[jackalbion]

Fair enough, I’ll leave it there but I don’t see it as a problem. Well not for me anyway

I don't see it as a problem either some people just don't like it, I see it as supporting the Albion, I probably wouldn't go watch a game as a neutral, but with time and quality increase I don't see why not.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Sadly, the women’s game is being held back by predictable investment from the rich clubs who have effectively bought up the game and strangled competition before it could start.

Great to see the first team not to be owned by a male team coming up this year, but without the might of investment in players they will struggle.

Sadly, throw cash at it, is the answer.

I know that it's the nature of the 'business' but I find that conclusion utterly depressing. And that goes for the men's game too. To stay competitive, clubs are forced to spend and spend and spend. The sums of money get more outrageous and the more clubs that attract wealthy investors/owners means that the likelihood of 'success' diminishes, which means spending even MORE money at the 'project'.

Etc, etc, etc.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Lambast me if you wish but i've no interest in women's football

I'm guessing most people on this thread will have no interest in the fact you have no interest in women's football

 

[Pavilionaire]

Good luck to the women’s team but I am struggling to care. No point lying about it and I know a few families who are very enthusiastic but I cannot get excited. Is that wrong as an Albion fan?

Most of those I know who are women’s football fans are not that bothered about the men’s team either

I understand your viewpoint, and I will probably watch no more than 1 or 2 Albion women's matches on telly per season. But I DO care and I always follow their results. It depends what the Albion means to you as an individual.

For many it's just the men's team, but the Albion is trying to be inclusive, be a community-led club but also be a leader, an innovator. I think it is an important part of the club ethos should be to have a strong women's side, and one that is properly backed in a way that is consistent with how the club is run generally.

If Tony wanted he could throw money at it and we'd have the strongest women's side in the country, but what would that prove? The big clubs will do their thing their way, we do our things our way.

 

[Flounce]

I understand your viewpoint, and I will probably watch no more than 1 or 2 Albion women's matches on telly per season. But I DO care and I always follow their results. It depends what the Albion means to you as an individual.

For many it's just the men's team, but the Albion is trying to be inclusive, be a community-led club but also be a leader, an innovator. I think it is an important part of the club ethos should be to have a strong women's side, and one that is properly backed in a way that is consistent with how the club is run generally.

If Tony wanted he could throw money at it and we'd have the strongest women's side in the country, but what would that prove? The big clubs will do their thing their way, we do our things our way.

True

 

[Mackenzie]

A. About £10m

 

[slartibartfast]

Lambast me if you wish but i've no interest in women's football

I have no interest in motor racing, or boxing..... but I dont join their discussion threads to tell everybody that.

 

[Bry Nylon]

Lambast me if you wish but i've no interest in women's football

An easy and unanimous decision for the ITTPTC Awards Committee this week

 

[dazzer6666]

Lambast me if you wish but i've no interest in women's football

….and yet here you are…..

 

[Zeberdi]

To be honest, the Women's game is years and years of development away from having a consistent level of quality throughout the top flight. The disparity in ability is amazing across the league and only the really top teams have achieved something close to a consistent level of ability in the squad. I'm not going to start naming names, but there are some really bad players in our squad and will be again for next season. The pool of players to pick from is small and attracting the top players to Brighton will be challenging because the best players want to be at City, Chelsea, Arsenal or United because of the prestige of the football club overall. We're already better set up than some of those clubs, and will be well ahead when we have a Women's dedicated stadium. But it will still be tough to attract the best players and then to keep them.

This.

And until dedicated stadium built, let them play at the Amex - maybe sell joint season tickets and even schedule home matches on same day as men’s home games so people can buy a double ticket - no reason why Brighton’s hybrid pitch couldn’t cope with an extra 90 mins on same day.

 

[Albion 4ever]

I would be more concerned about looking down than up... 8 points separate 5th and 11th.

 

[sussexbee]

All the sensible investment points have been made already. Absolutely key to establish ourselves as best of the rest in coming seasons and 'challenge the establishment'. Having taken points of of Chelsea and Arsenal this season that's already a work in progress.

Back room stability has been crucial after a torrid 18 months, so let me add keeping Dario into the mix.

It's a Euros year, so we can also expect a post tournament bump in appeal again, will be important to capitalise on that and I'm confident the club's marketing machine (and shop sales team) are already hard at work making sure everyone knows the Lionesses include Seagulls. I'll play my part taking the flag to Switzerland in July.