Fulham FC are to withdraw their ladies team from the F.A. Nationwide Women’s Premier League from 2006-7.

After a spell as a professional set-up, Fulham dropped to semi-professional in 2003.

But Fulham FC believe even this level of investment is not financially viable.

Fulham FC will continue to run its FA Licensed Girls Centre of Excellenc and continue its Girls Development Centre and Grass Roots coaching.

Fulham's website states: "The Club continues to be committed to delivering every opportunity for girls to participate in football, but as no other plans to develop the women’s game on the league stage are to be implemented in the near future, it feels that it has no other option but to withdraw funding from its Ladies team at this stage."

Just what the FA needed after it has tried to increase the number of teams in the Prem Div. The FA need to start giving each team in the Prem (max would have been 12) a sum of money to help them through the season. £10-15,000 is still only a total of £100-150,000 per year. This is just embarassing. How can these clubs function on the basis of a race night here, and a quiz night there. To hire a coach is £500 per week. The FA are doing a really good job with the grassroots of womens football ie centres of excellence, etc, please don't go and ruin all that good work, with clubs going out of existence because they cant afford to keep the cost of the club running. Birmingham this year have showed that it can be done without playing wages and expenses but you still have to pay for ground, coach, kit etc, and just this bare minium is probably a minium of ten grand.

Very sad for the womens game.....................

Does it mean only 11 team in the premier league ?

Looks like it

they can have a play off between the play off loosers ?

That's really sad news. Such a powerful team once...

Jeeeez , well to be honest!!! I dont know what to say about this issue. Im gobsmacked and totally gutted!!!!

Its a sad day for the womens game!!!!

An FA Women's Committee meeting has been called for Wednesday to discuss the situation, it is hoped that somehow this situation at Fulham maybe resolved in similar fashion to Birmingham's problems last year.

The Blues had their funding cut off by their parent club but at the 11th hour raised sufficient finance to operate as a stand-alone women's club.

Lets just hope something can be resolved for the sake of the womens game. Especially when it has been progressing so well within the U.K!!!!!!

I agree , money need to be injected in the sport.

Not sure if anyone else has seen it but I found this article on the BBC website. I thought it maybe of interest to you as it includes more information regarding Fulhams situation.

Fulham FC have pulled out of the Nationwide Women's Premier League and scrapped their once all-conquering women's team.

The decision was made because the team, who won the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in 2003, is not "financially viable".

A club statement said: "With little media profile and poor league crowds the structure is not sustainable."

Fulham had became Europe's first professional team in April 2000.

Club owner Mohamed Al Fayed made the leap after the Football Association's announcement earlier that year that the Premier League would become professional from the 2003-04 season.

But when it became obvious that would not happen, Al Fayed reduced the team's status to semi-professional.

A slide followed and last season the Cottagers finished one point above the relegation zone.

Now the team are no more and the decision has shocked the Football Association, who administer the Premier League and must decide how to cope with the loss of one of its top flight clubs.


The club turned professional under Mohamed Al Fayed in 2000

FA spokesman Alex Stone said: "We're surprised and very disappointed that a situation like this should arise at a club that has been one of women's football's innovators over recent years."

An FA Women's Committee meeting has been called for Wednesday to discuss the situation, which within the governing body is hoped might somehow be resolved in similar fashion to Birmingham's problems last year.

The Blues had their funding cut off by their parent club but at the 11th hour raised sufficient finance to operate as a stand-alone women's club.

Stone said: "We don't want to lose clubs and hopefully people within the women's set-up at Fulham might be able to come up with a plan to keep the side going."

The Fulham players, along with manager Marieanne Spacey, were reportedly devastated when informed of the club's decision at a meeting on Monday.

Former Arsenal, Fulham and England striker Spacey has a further meeting with the club on Thursday and is reluctant to speak publicly in the meantime.

But she said: "The girls were very disappointed when they heard the news, and it looks like it's the end of an era."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/4988138.stm

This is really heartbreaking.
How come they don't do anything to prevent such things?
If they said earlier that they'll need more money, perhaps they could manage to get it.
Being quiet about it obviously did not help.
I'm really sorry for the team and their supporters

I couldn't and still cannot believe this has happend! aarrgghh tbh i am disgusted they are a huge team in english womens football. The first to turn professional and in their day were amazing! And what its all over, IT IS NOT THE END OF THE ERA

I honestly cannot get my head round this!!!!! Fulham has my full backing, i really really hope they get back and get the financial funding they need...i'll give a bit if they need it !

I feel so sorry for Marianne she has stuck at that club and was a formidable footy player! Top lady Marianne Hopefully like Birmingham they will keep going.

KEEP IT GOING FULHAM PLEASSSSSSEEEEEE

But Fulham are our Ladies team, we started going to see them every home game last season and had already decided we were going to try to make all the away games this season.
I'm gutted, I loved going to the training ground and watching a res game then a league game. What's Fred going to do, he's done so much for Women's Football and tried so hard to get Fulham to take it seriously and charge admission and that sort of thing.
I'm going to go and sulk now.

Fulham is a lovely place! Well it was when i went to see Arsenal play them, was really sunny and there was a fair amount of people there I feel like having a 2 yr old tantrum am sooo bleedin angry!

An ex team mate of mine just went there from Arsenal, what a mistake!

Wonder what the players will now do!?

V. sad i think my first ever attendance at a ladies game was Fulham x

Aww is a shame, trained for them for a while once:cry:

so why has not Mohamed Al Fayed stepped in and put up some money to rescue the ladies team . He is not exactly hard up is he , i suppose it would be too easy .

I agree with Conn - Al Fayed could pay for next season (and more) with just a bit of his pocket money.

But, assuming he's not going to - is the Premier league staying at just 11 teams next season? Anything decided yet?

GOOD NEWS!!


from fairgame:

Fulham Women start training with new management team, as the search for new sponsors continues.

After having their funding removed by their men’s club, Fulham ladies section have had a fantastic response from their officers, parents, and players, in setting up their new club, as they continue to get themselves on a stable footing for the new campaign.

Within the last few weeks as a result of donations the club is in a position to pay all the initial league set up costs.

The club has also acquired a Reserve Team pitch and training facility at Lower Green Training Facility, Farm Road, (off Douglas Rd) Esher, Surrey, KT10 8AU. This will now enable the club to hold a training session & trials this coming Thursday July 6th at 7-30 pm. Training will then continue on Sundays 1 pm and Wednesdays 7-30 pm thereafter throughout July.

Talks are also in progress for a senior ground for the first XI fixtures.

The club are hoping to attract old players and new, who are invited to attend on the day or ring Fred Brockwell on 07885-936331 for details.

Six weeks ago, with a mountain to climb, the clubs officers, parents, and players, have moved from having nothing, to setting up a fully functioning club and committee with a full management structure.

Fulham’s Fred Brockwell commented, “There remains a fund raising issue but we are optimistic of acquiring a new sponsor."

"Any prospective sponsor will have the opportunity to take out a full playing kit sponsorship etc. This will be enhanced by the continued coverage in the women’s football magazines, the continued higher TV profile on Sky Sports and News, Telly-text every week, and now having the BBC covering the Women’s F A Cup Final and news."

"This is a fantastic opportunity of a full sponsor to take on all the Premiership clubs sponsorship space, at a fraction of the cost of the equivalent in the men’s game. If we cannot find a main sponsor there is also the option of several smaller sponsorships which could be broken down to playing kit, training kit, track suits, match programmes, bags, travel kit, etc."

"For any community minded company this is a great opportunity to put something back into the community, thus backing up the hard work of the many volunteers the club now has at it’s disposal."

"We are now looking for any interested sponsors to contact the club to work with us and ensure success for the coming season."

Contact can again be made through Fred Brockwell on 07885 936331.


So good to see Fulham still battling away, hopefully they will get a sponsor and with that get the financial backing to go on. They deserve it so much!

It's good to hear that Fulham didn't give up and are still hanging in there. Hopefully they will get the backing they need to survive in the league for years to come

Well, that's much better news

I hope they get the backing they need
any who has/does follow women's footie in England knows about the team and their past success
be good for the game and Fulham's supporters, not to mention those associated with the club, if they survive into the future

Well done to those people who believe in women's football enough to back a good old team like Fulham and keep them going. I am sure the girls will repay them on the pitch. It is great news for the sport



Xena xx

GLAD TO HEAR FULHAM TRYING TO MAKE AGO OF THINGS!!!! IT WOULD BE A VERY SAD DAY FOR WOMENS FOOTBALL IF ONE OF THE OLD STANDING BIG CLUBS WERE TO JUST DISSAPPEAR!

its unfortunate that the mens clubs arent willing to offer more support accross the board of womens football, and with the amount the men themselves are being paid you would thing they would give something back to the game that made them who they are today???

Can a campaign not be set up for more support??

after all womens football is the fastest growing sport in the uk!!!!

20/07/2006

Fulham Women F C step up search for new players and sponsors after Marieanne Spacey stands down.

Fulham Women’s Football Club have announced manager of three years, Marieanne Spacey, has officially stood down for personal reasons. The club will announce her replacement by the weekend.

Fulham WFC's Fred Brockwell commented: “The officers and members would like to thank Marieanne for her hard work over the last three seasons in her capacity as first team manger. We understand she intends to stand down from football to concentrate on other things outside the game.”

Player trials are now under way to fill gaps in the squad and reserve team, after losing several players at the end of last season.

The club are looking to offer promising and established premier division standard players football at the highest level.

Training has started, with new players being invited to attend sessions by turning up on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm and Sundays at 1pm.

Players who feel they can compete at National Premier League level, can contact Fred on 07885 936331 or e-mail fbrockwell@aol.com for details.

The clubs new grass training facilities are at Esher in Surrey; Lower Green FC, Farm Road Recreation Ground, Farm Road, (off Douglas Rd) KT1O 8AU.

The club are also on the look out for sponsors, to ensure a sound financial footing for the new set up. The club has a full or several part sponsorship opportunities open.

If you feel you could help the clubs band of volunteers with some financial backing, the club would like to hear from interested parties on the number above for details.

It's a great shame that Marieanne has stepped down but all good things have to come to and end a good player in her time and has done a lot for the womens game Hopefully she will have a good time away

Fulham will get back and it shall be interesting to hear who will take over.

Manager appointed: Mark Saunderson

thefa:

Fulham have promoted reserve team manger of two years Mark Saunderson to the first team job, with Lorraine Swindlehurst as club Physio ahead of their first league game at home to Chelsea on 20 August.

Mark is still looking to increase the squad with some experienced and good quality young players as a priority. Next on the list is a Reserve team manager to work under Mark, and progress the good squad of young talent at the club.

As work on the rebuilding of the club continues at a pace, the club has also announced the set up of its new website.

Fulham secretary Fred Brockwell commented: “After what has turned out to be a hectic six weeks for our new officers and club committee, our meetings have brought forth astonishing progress in such a short space of time.

"As word has spread of the new women’s team, several supporters have not been slow in coming forward to add financial support for the ladies, with two donations of £1,000 and £600.

"It's been fantastic the way people have rallied around the club and the donations have become an important part of the struggle to set up the minimum of £10,000 we feel we need to compete in the top flight of women’s football.

"It’s been a great boost to all the hard work that has been put in by all the club volunteers and we would obviously hope that this is not the end of peoples generosity as we also search for main kit and tracksuit sponsors."

Interested parties can contact Fred for more details on: fb@fulhamwomenfc.com or fbrockwell@aol.com or phone on 07885 936331.

The club's new website is: www.Fulhamwomenfc.com


It looks like it's all coming together now liked to see if Mark changes anything around. Will they do any better with him?