Government pledge to make UK “top destination for women’s sport investment” October 23, 2024 The government has today pledged to make the United Kingdom a “top destination for women’s sport investment”. Investment minister Poppy Gustafsson, formerly of Darktrace, has launched the Women’s Sport Investment Accelerator scheme to bring together 20 leagues and teams with investors to boost commercial activity in women’s sport. The participating sports include football, cricket, rugby, [...]
Fans will grow weary if player burnout continues in sport October 21, 2024 With demands on players like nothing seen previously, is potential player burnout also going to have an impact on fans too? It’s a surprising thing that during a cost-of-living crisis, with households struggling and economies straining, I find myself sympathising with Rodrigo Hernández Cascante. The £200,000-a-week Manchester City midfielder, better known as Rodri, last month [...]
Mercury/13 co-chief: We could partner WSL club within two years October 14, 2024 Mercury/13 co-chief Mario Malavé discusses the women’s football portfolio, where global growth is and which clubs the organisation will buy next. Mercury 13 was a privately funded programme that aimed to ready women for space flight. It was a revolutionary mission in 1960 that, nine years before Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, put [...]
Italy Euros hero Chiellini bets on women’s sport with Mercury/13 investment September 25, 2024 Giorgio Chiellini, one of Italy’s greatest ever defenders, has invested in Mercury/13, the aspiring multi-club women’s football organisation. The 40-year-old former Juventus star, who returned to the Old Lady last week in a new strategic role, has linked up with the investment group who have committed to spending $100m across the European women’s game. Chiellini, [...]
Old Trafford development could be worth £7.3bn to UK economy each year September 23, 2024 A new Old Trafford development could boost the UK economy by over £7bn per year should Manchester United’s masterplan become a reality. United, who last year had a 27 per cent stake in the club purchased by chemicals billionaire and Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are looking to spend £2bn on a new 100,000 capacity [...]
Women’s Super League scores bumper new Barclays deal in win for new regime September 23, 2024 The Women’s Super League has secured a major boost after Barclays renewed its title sponsorship of the WSL and Championship on improved terms. Under the new deal Barclays says it has doubled its investment until 2028. Reports suggest the bank has committed £15m a year, starting from next season, in what is the biggest agreement [...]
New era, new challenges as Women’s Super League goes it alone September 20, 2024 Norbiton might seem an unlikely place for a revolution but nothing less than a new era in the history of the Women’s Super League (WSL) is in the offing at Kingsmeadow today. The season opener between champions Chelsea and Aston Villa will be the first fixture to take place since the WSL flew the Football [...]
Who gives a crap? Lewes FC confirm new sponsor of ‘crappiest kit of all’ August 14, 2024 Lewes FC, the world’s first gender equal football club, have announced eco toilet paper brand, Who Gives A Crap, as its new sponsor. It is claimed the kit will be the first “created by a toiled brand” as the club looks forward “to a season of clean sheets”. The two-year-deal sees the Who Gives A [...]
Football Regulator: Lawyers react to Kings Speech pledge July 19, 2024 On Wednesday King Charles III’s King’s Speech – on behalf of the new Labour government – included a commitment to a football regulator. The Football Governance Bill fell to the wayside at the end of the last Parliament after a snap General Election was called by then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. But Wednesday’s confirmation relating [...]
Women’s football clubs saw income grow by 50 per cent thanks to Lionesses Effect June 20, 2024 Aggregate revenues of the 12 WSL teams swelled to £48m in 2022-23 as more fans and brands took an interest in women’s football.