Classical Mechanic
Full Member
I do think it's deeply disappointing how the FA is going about trying to improve the women's game. The desire to get big clubs involved is understandable, but the way in which the FA has courted clubs like City, and now United, at the expense of historical clubs in the women's game like the Doncaster Belles is incredibly disappointing. I'm glad United are in it now, but I hope it's actually a genuine commitment to the women's game rather than a cynical deflection of some of the criticism the club has courted over recent years.
I do think if the women's game is ever truly to thrive it needs to be something which stands on its own two feet and that means its own traditions, history and achievements not clubs which are popular – if they are popular – because they're an appanage to the mens team. The England women's football team and cricket team both, from my perspective, have done far more for the popularity of their respective games than any of these clubs attached to the men's version of the sports.
That's not to say that using the popularity of the men's game doesn't have a place, but I think it can only take women's sport so far.
Didn't they let City straight into the top division as well?