England and Arsenal striker Beth Mead has described the decision by a non-league club on Teesside to ax their entire women’s team as an abomination.
Thornaby FC’s board announced on Sunday that they had voted to disband their women’s team after a “difficult year” and that continuing “without women” was the only way the club could continue to operate.
The move will leave more than 100 players without a team, disbanding a system that includes the under-7s, under-8s, under-10s, under-11s, under-15s and senior women’s teams.
First-team manager Abbey Lyle said the club’s players were “delighted” with the decision, and the move was quickly condemned by England’s Mead, who was announced two years ago as a McDonald’s Fun Football ambassador to help launch more sessions on the ground for youngsters. the girls.
Writing on social media, the 29-year-old player wrote about this decision: “The women’s game is at the top but we still have committees that make these bad decisions.
“It’s not good enough, these little girls deserve better.”
Mead promised to send the team a signed England shirt to help “keep them motivated”, and his messages of support were quickly echoed by Tottenham Hotspur captain Bethany England and Aston Villa Scotland international striker Kirsty Hanson.
Disgusted to see this decision, the women’s game is at the top but we still have committees that make these horrible decisions. It’s not good enough, these little girls deserve better. I would like to send the team a signed England shirt to keep them motivated @ThornabyFCWomen ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/vW3iLiJDn1
– Beth Mead MBE (@bmeado9) June 10, 2024
“The battle for women to keep their place at the table is a never-ending battle,” England wrote. “This must not happen, these women and girls deserve better!
“My thoughts go out to everyone involved at the club, players, staff and volunteers.
“How can you allow this to happen as a team?”, Hanson added. “Women’s sports are growing, obviously they are not seen as a priority for others.”
The Grassroots Football Organization has come out and urged “the club to review its situation as a matter of urgency”, and it has been confirmed that the six board members who voted to disband Thornaby FC’s women’s teams have now resigned.
Chairman Gary Morris and Phil Genery – the only two who voted to keep the clubs – will now form a new diverse board including representatives of the women’s side.
