Women’s grassroots football in Merseyside is growing, but clubs across the region are struggling to cope with increasing financial demands.
Rising facility costs are squeezing some clubs, whilst others say their biggest challenge comes from within their own organisation.
At MSB Woolton Women, the main challenge is the rising costs of pitches, with the club struggling to cope with the inflation of facilities.
A club spokesperson said: “The costs are astronomical, and the pitches are mostly private, so they are expensive to hire out.”
Council-run pitches have been described as unreliable due to a lack of maintenance, leaving teams with little choice but to book private 3G pitches or FA hubs.
Private facilities are essential for winter training, but Woolton says they are unaffordable for many families.
The spokesperson said: “The FA hubs charge what they want. Our younger age groups are facing greater challenges as they have fewer players meaning affording things is especially difficult.”
The financial burden is not limited to pitch hire, with clubs also required to fund training sessions, matchday fees, kit, and equipment.
The spokesperson added: “It is hard on people less fortunate who cannot afford to pay. Teammates often must cover costs so that every child can stay involved.”
A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said it carries out regular maintenance on its pitches and works with partner organisations to support women’s participation in football across the city.
They said: “We are committed to making football, and all physical activity, accessible and inclusive for women and girls at every level.
“We work with partners such as the FA, Sport England and local organisations to ensure that women have the support, facilities and opportunities they need to participate and thrive in sport across the city.
“Each summer, the council carries out maintenance work on all grass pitches to ensure they are at a high standard for the start of the football season.
“During the season, we carry out weekly maintenance and pitch inspections, with fixtures only called off as a last resort to prevent further damage following heavy rain or frost.”
The council spokesman said these measures are intended to protect pitches throughout the season while keeping them available for as many teams as possible.
Further across the city, Mossley Hill Women’s FC face a different challenge, citing a lack of financial backing within their own club structure rather than the cost of facilities.
A representative of the club said: “The only thing we get from the club is the pitch. Everything else is paid for by us.”
The lack of financial support has affected the team’s ability to maintain consistent training routines due to increased running costs.
They added: “We’ve had to train at different venues because one is cheaper than the other. Most of the money we raise goes directly into buying kits and equipment, which leaves us short.”
The team says it receives no direct financial support from the wider club and has already paid training costs covering the period from August to December.
They said: “We’ve just paid training funds from August to December and now we’re scraping the pennies together to pay for the rest of the season.”
In addition, the club charges a membership fee of £47 per senior player, payable in January.
With a squad of 22 to 23 players, this amounts to around £1,000 for the season, further increasing financial pressure.
At Mossley Hill, the issues go beyond weekly costs, with the women’s team unsure how any funding linked to women’s football is distributed.
They said: “I don’t know what the club is getting in terms of funding as I don’t get any communication on funds unless it comes directly to me, and we haven’t had any at all from the club.”
The uncertainty surrounding the club’s future has caused management to be hesitant about applying for grants themselves.
They expressed concern that any funds would simply disappear without their benefit. The club is currently facing significant financial difficulties and relies entirely on its own funding.
Women’s grassroots football in the region is full of talent and momentum, but the financial foundations behind it remain uneven.
For many teams, the biggest challenge is not finding players. It is finding the resources that allow those players to keep going.
