[Albion] Players leaving the womens team this summer

[zeetha]

With the final match of the season coming up on Saturday, and with survival in the WSL confirmed we are now starting to hear about those players who will be leaving the Womens team this summer.

Heard about Victoria Williams last evening, but also joining her in leaving the club are Kayleigh Green, Megan Connolly, Megan Walsh and Danielle Carter. Most of these I'd expected, though a bit surprised at Connolly as she is coming back from injury and had looked good before that had happened.

Just have to hope that we recruit BETTER this summer than last year and don't start the season with a very thin squad. This year has not been a fun watch - unlike the mens!!

UTA

 

[jonny.rainbow]

Getting out of Crawley to help increase attendances also needs to be a priority.

I wonder of Brighton Uni have a bit of land that could be developed into a 2,000 seater stadium?

 

[fly high]

With the final match of the season coming up on Saturday, and with survival in the WSL confirmed we are now starting to hear about those players who will be leaving the Womens team this summer.

Heard about Victoria Williams last evening, but also joining her in leaving the club are Kayleigh Green, Megan Connolly, Megan Walsh and Danielle Carter. Most of these I'd expected, though a bit surprised at Connolly as she is coming back from injury and had looked good before that had happened.

Just have to hope that we recruit BETTER this summer than last year and don't start the season with a very thin squad. This year has not been a fun watch - unlike the mens!!

UTA

Some experienced players there so a bit of a worry. Expect Robinson to be picked off for free by one of the top 3 just like Le Tissier was.

 

[Bozza]

Am I right in thinking that player churn and contract length still seems crazy in the women's game.

It reminds me of our days knocking down the lower leagues when we'd rock up at Worthing for our first pre-season fixture and spend the whole game trying to figure out who all the new faces were.

 

[Echo the Seagull]

Getting out of Crawley to help increase attendances also needs to be a priority.

I wonder of Brighton Uni have a bit of land that could be developed into a 2,000 seater stadium?

Can I suggest this area although it might be a tad tight

 

[amexer]

We lost several good players at end of last season....Can somebody tell me if the latest 5 players want to leave to improve there lot or Brighton not willing to offer them another contract and want them to go

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Can I suggest this area although it might be a tad tight
View attachment 161338

Or on the other side. We could infill the duckpond?

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

But seriously, I know there are regulations about minimum stadium requirements for WSL football. These are massively damaging to the growth of women's football and I hope we are arguing for an exemption.

If we could play games at Withdean, Lancing, Worthing, Lewes, Whitehawk, we would get good crowds.

I actually don't agree with playing at the Amex. RDZ's football required us to have a very reliable playing surface so the less football there the better. And of course, it's too big and not economical.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

But seriously, I know there are regulations about minimum stadium requirements for WSL football. These are massively damaging to the growth of women's football and I hope we are arguing for an exemption.

If we could play games at Withdean, Lancing, Worthing, Lewes, Whitehawk, we would get good crowds.

I actually don't agree with playing at the Amex. RDZ's football required us to have a very reliable playing surface so the less football there the better. And of course, it's too big and not economical.

Lancing and Worthing can't be used as they have artificial surfaces.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Lancing and Worthing can't be used as they have artificial surfaces.

But again, isn't there a bigger picture?

We have a women's team in a progressive city that would get very good gates if they played remotely near where their supporter base is.

Nobody will go to Crawley as it's basically Palace up there. If they toured around the towns which make up our supporter base, they could be playing to packed houses and starting the process of making the women's game commercially viable. So what if it's a plastic pitch?

The game is massively loss making and the Brighton WSL team certainly is. It's only really Tony's generosity in paying for wages and facilities that's keeping this whole thing afloat. It's ridiculous to be asking him to build a bespoke stadium when there are perfectly good ones locally which could be used.

The authorities running the women's game need to change the regulations.

 

[zeetha]

Am I right in thinking that player churn and contract length still seems crazy in the women's game.

Yep, most contracts are 1 year, or even only to the end of the season if signed after the season has started. It is starting to change with 2 year contracts coming in, and occasionally longer but I've not heard of many.

Of the ones that are leaving, 3 are at the end of their top flight careers (Williams, Green, Carter). Walsh didn't play for awhile even though she is our best goalie so I'm assuming the team already knew she was off. Connolly I'd have hoped that we'd offer a new contract, but maybe with the injury was too much of a risk or she wanted to go elsewhere.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Getting out of Crawley to help increase attendances also needs to be a priority.

I wonder of Brighton Uni have a bit of land that could be developed into a 2,000 seater stadium?

2000?
It'll need to be the minimum of Withdean sized attendance when the girls get to the Brighton area.....and that may not be enough in the future. The female game is developing fast and it's a secure way to introduce kids to football match crowds.

 

[Hotchilidog]

But seriously, I know there are regulations about minimum stadium requirements for WSL football. These are massively damaging to the growth of women's football and I hope we are arguing for an exemption.

If we could play games at Withdean, Lancing, Worthing, Lewes, Whitehawk, we would get good crowds.

I actually don't agree with playing at the Amex. RDZ's football required us to have a very reliable playing surface so the less football there the better. And of course, it's too big and not economical.

Withdean is not a bad shout, put the South Stand back and it would satisfy the regulations and would a be a lot cheaper than building a purpose built stadium.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Face it. Just about nobody is going to watch the women's team in Crawley. Unless they are friends and family of players. Or happen to be mildly interested and happen to live in Crawley. And yes I'm sure there's a myriad BS regulations why the team can't play anywhere in the myriad of stadiums in the vicinity of B&H. But that's the club's problem to address if they genuinely want to grow the game

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Can I suggest this area although it might be a tad tight
View attachment 161338

Barber was asked about Bennett's field and he said watch this space for some exciting news. A small stadium will fit with a change to the coach park

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Face it. Just about nobody is going to watch the women's team in Crawley. Unless they are friends and family of players. Or happen to be mildly interested and happen to live in Crawley. And yes I'm sure there's a myriad BS regulations why the team can't play anywhere in the myriad of stadiums in the vicinity of B&H. But that's the club's problem to address if they genuinely want to grow the game

What about the 4600 at the last home game, or 3200 the game before that?

 

[Echo the Seagull]

Barber was asked about Bennett's field and he said watch this space for some exciting news. A small stadium will fit with a change to the coach park

Would a stadium get planning on that side?

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Would a stadium get planning on that side?

Sorry I'm a Beer Quality Manager not a planning consultant

 

[Robinjakarta]

Heard about Victoria Williams last evening, but also joining her in leaving the club are Kayleigh Green, Megan Connolly, Megan Walsh and Danielle Carter. Most of these I'd expected, though a bit surprised at Connolly as she is coming back from injury and had looked good before that had happened.

Maybe they got the wrong Connolly?

 

[medwayseagull reborn]

Certainly seems the club are serious about improving results for the Womens team. I think thet have signed eight new players so far and, by the looks of it, a significant step up in quality. Hope it is reflected in their results this season.