Charlton Athletic: Ladies Team No More
Posted by The Addickted in Charlton | 25 June 2007
Very rarely do i find myself talking about women's football, but following the announcement that Charlton are disbanding the entire women's section of the football club, with a total of 140 jobs being made redundant, it seems a fairly unavoidable topic to addess.
In my opinion, as entertainment, ladies football is no more than a chance to poke fun at their standards of passing each year when the FA cup final is broadcast by the BBC, but this move will certainly harm more than just my entertainment. It strikes me that the cutbacks in expenditure following of the men's team's failures are taking their toll very heavily on the club, especially as disposing of the women's team is estimated to save only £250,000 per annum. Contrasted to the fact that Charlton are set to receive £16m for Darren Bent and £11m in parachute payments for the next year, 250 grand does seem peanuts. I prefer not to think what multiple of that figure we have paid the likes of JF Piggybainks and Marcus Bent in the last year. I wonder what Doncaster and Bristol Rovers, who both field top flight ladies teams, think about us cancelling our team due to a loss of income.
Women's football is indeed a luxury for the club, but it's termination will affect many more than just the 140 losing their jobs, such as the hundreds playing in school's of excellence.
Despite the fact that the ladies team is not particularly well supported, it is a shame that so many people have been disappointed, and the loss of a consistent top 3 team will certainly set back the women's game to some extent.
Comments
On the one hand I agree that the club has to focus on it's core purpose - which is the men's team.
However, I wonder how much having one of the country's most successful women's teams has done for Charlton? Has it helped build a better female following for the club in general? Have you noticed more women supporting Charlton than other clubs?
Whatever the impact for Charlton, it's certainly a shame for women's football.
Scrapping the women's team really has sent out the message that they are focussing on getting financially sorted to support the men's Charlton team, which i agree is a good sign. Also, I dont think, despite their success, having a women's team has really benefitted Charlton. Still, it's very ruthless for a club that are really quite rich and it's a rare step back in Charlton's pretty spotless community record.
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