Solihull Moors accused of ‘neglect’ and ‘lack of respect’ towards women’s team

Solihull Moors’ women’s team have spoken out about their treatment by the club, saying they have faced “neglect, broken promises and (a) lack of respect”.

The team play in the fourth tier of the women’s football pyramid, in Division One Midlands of the National League.

A statement from the squad posted on X by player Alex Liddiard said that, with their voices having gone “unheard” despite “countless emails and meetings with the club”, they had been left with “no choice but to address the situation publicly about the way our own football club has treated us”.

The statement continued: “We have endured conditions that no team, at any level, should be expected to tolerate – ill-fitting kits, a lack of basic equipment, no provision of transportation for games hours away, and most concerning, no guaranteed pitch to play midweek fixtures on.”

The team had been “forced to forfeit” a cup tie against West Brom “due to the club’s failure to secure a pitch”, which “not only resulted in a significant fine but also saw us removed from both the League Cup and League Plate competitions”.

It then said the team had been informed by the club that there is no pitch available for an upcoming league fixture against Worcester City, which could lead to another fine and a points deduction, adding: “Shockingly, our own club wanted to charge us £2,600 to allow us access to the men’s pitch.

“We cannot help but ask – would the men’s team ever be placed in this position?”

The players also said there was a “lack of social media exposure and integration within the club”, with no indication to visitors at Solihull’s Armco Arena or training ground that there is a women’s team, a “lack of visibility” that “further reinforces the feeling of being overlooked and undervalued”.

The statement continued: “As players, we dedicate ourselves to this club week after week. In return, we ask only for the basic necessities required to play football, especially to compete at tier four.

“It’s time we speak out against the neglect, broken promises and the lack of respect we have faced from our own club. We deserve better.”

Solihull Moors men’s team were eighth in the National League heading into Saturday’s home clash with Southend.

A club spokesperson said on Saturday: “The club are currently reviewing the statement and will be making a comment today.”

Published: 21/09/2024 by Radio NewsHub