Outrage over amateur football club’s elimination of all women’s teams: “Terrible”

An English football club has come under criticism after its committee voted to disband the entire women’s section – from the under-7s to the first team – resulting in more than 100 players losing their club.

News of the Thornaby FC committee’s decision was shared on Facebook by a women’s section page, which expressed its disappointment at the remarkable decision.

“Yesterday we learned that a majority of the Thornaby FC committee voted to remove the entire women’s section from the club,” wrote the Thornaby FC women.

“This leaves over 100 girls without a club. We would like to thank all of our coaches, volunteers, players, supporters and sponsors for their hard work over the last three years. You are all FANTASTIC.

“We are all devastated to hear of Thornaby FC’s decision and would like to thank the club’s members who voted to retain women’s football.”

The post was accompanied by a selection of images showing the club’s female players, who played in teams from Under-7s to the Ladies’ team in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire.

Our Sporting Life found that less than a quarter of women have ever played on a football team, compared to 60.6 percent of men.

Yet despite this striking difference, the number of girls playing football in England has increased from 118,000 in 2018 to 777,000 in December 2022.

News of the decision sparked outrage on Facebook.

One commentator noted: “Unfortunately this happens in too many sports. I hope there is a solution for all these girls.”

“I can see a meeting soon to reverse this situation,” added a second. “Unless it’s a PR stunt, in which case it would be well done because I’m now a Thornaby Women’s FC fan.”

Another nearby football club then seized the opportunity and gave the women a place to play, while another outraged commentator said they should not stay at Thornaby FC even if the committee reversed its decision.

One Facebook user, who identified himself as a player on the U15 team, said: “I find this decision absolutely abhorrent. Excluding an entire gender is simply wrong.”

“Women’s football is supposed to be progressing, but we have gone backwards? This is literally discrimination and the Thornaby FC committee that made this decision should be ashamed of themselves.”

“The fact that they think this is justified is disgusting. Yous should be seriously ashamed of having made this decision.” (sic)

In a subsequent post on the club’s social media, chairman Garry Morris said he disagreed with the committee’s decision and had asked the board to “reconsider its decision”.

This is not the first time in recent years that the club has made headlines.

Last June, the club was the victim of an arson attack and was left in ruins. However, thanks to various donors, it was possible to rebuild it.

This did not go unnoticed by commentators on social media in light of the committee’s decision to disband the club’s women’s section.

One Twitter user (X) wrote: “Many of us from the wider football community in the North East came together and donated financially (myself included) when you carried out your arson attack last year. I wonder why we bothered when you are making decisions like this now!”

The club wrote on its official Facebook page that the committee had concluded that removing the women’s section was the only way to address the staffing issues that were affecting the club’s operations.

The statement reads: “The committee held an emergency meeting with all stakeholders and discussed the entire future of the club, including the events of the last 12 months. After discussions, it was concluded that the only way to continue is to continue without the women and play only with the men’s team, as they did before they joined the club. In addition, the staffing levels are very low and the day-to-day running of the club is in question.” (sic)

The Independent has contacted Thornaby FC for comment.