Reading Women’s Football Club are currently await agonizing news about whether their former Women’s Super League team and its girl’s academy will have a team next season.
Recent reports have raised concerns that Reading Women may be forced to withdraw from the second-tier Championship due to financial reasons and a lack of players. According to The Guardian, Reading Women currently only have two contracted senior players at the club.
Earlier this month, on 5 June, a statement was released by Reading FC, it confirmed that the exclusivity period from a previous potential purchaser of the club had expired. Although, the club’s owner, Dai Yongge, expressed that they have the aim of, “completing a sale at the earliest opportunity”.
The club, whose men’s side play in League One, have developed the talents of current Lionesses’ Fran Kirby and Mary Earps.
Youth players are now also stuck in a position where they are unable to sign onto other clubs, as they await the decision about Reading Women’s future, as the Football Association requires that girls sign academy contracts in February ahead of the season.
In response to the news, fearful parents of the club's young players have started a petition to keep both the women’s team and academy safe from closure. Players and parents have been warned by Reading FC that there is “no guarantee” that they will operate a women’s team or girls academy in the 2024-25 season.
'Supporters' Trust At Reading'posted on their 'X' account: "We have been sent this by a parent from the Reading FC academy and urge everyone to sign the petition: Women’s football has had a meteoric rise over recent years, clubs have had massive increases in participation, match attendance and revenue."
"Whilst most clubs are investing in the future of their women's and girls teams with obvious results, (look at local team Portsmouth Football club, who have just been promoted to the Championship) over recent years the ownership of Reading FC has taken the decision to reduce this investment. There are now serious suggestions that the new potential owners of the club are keen on ending the women’s teams all together."
Petition link.
A mother of one of Reading’s under-21 players has voiced that girls in the football academy have made the same sacrifices as the boys have, “dedicating their lives to football since they were as young as seven, juggling school and intense training sessions, […] made life-changing decisions for their future in football.”
Reading Women have had a history of success, they were promoted to the WSL in 2015 and remained in the top flight for eight seasons, finishing as high as fourth. They also reached the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup in 2019, the furthest they have ever gone in the competition.
However, in May 2023 they were relegated to the Championship and reverted to part-time to save money, numerous players and former manager, Kelly Chambers, left the club.
Last season, Reading Women placed 10th in the Championship, one place and six points above the relegation zone. The men’s team finished 17th in League One, also avoiding relegation, despite having six points deducted for financial problems.
Last season, the under-21s beat the senior team of third-tier Milton Keynes Dons to win the Berks & Bucks Cup.
Reading have a deadline for 1 July to confirm their participation in FA leagues for 2024-25. However, parents have again raised their concerns that this may be too late for players to find other clubs, as most trials for the season ahead have concluded.
In a similar case, Thornaby FC voted to drop their women’s teams, and following heavy criticism across social media, they have decided to reinstate them.
