UK women’s football set to become professional with launch of Ladies’ Premier League

LONDON - Women’s football is all set to become professional after 90 years, with preparations under way for the launch of a Ladies’ Premier League.

According to Sky News, the Football Association’s new Super League is considering to pay players of various football clubs for the first time.

Liverpool Ladies Football Club is one of England’s top sides but players are currently expected to receive a maximum performance tip of just 30 pounds per win, and is reportedly one of eight clubs selected to play in the new league.

Kelly Simmons, head of national game at the FA, however warned that professionalism does not mean that there would be immediate drastic change in the women’s game.

“We don’t think we’ll see all players full time straight away. Some will be part time. We’ve developed a three-year strategy for women’s football. We’ve already put England players on central contracts so that we can basically buy them out of work so they can train more,” she added.

Over one million girls and a quarter of a million women play football in England but for 50 years until 1971, the FA banned the women’s game on its grounds, the report said.

Now, top players are reportedly being lured by salaries in countries such as the US, where the professional game is established.

Liverpool Ladies is planning five salaried positions at first and manager Robbie Johnson believes that the Super League could change the sport.

“If it raises the profile to younger girls and women and they want to come into the game, that will hopefully increase the players available to be selected and increase the standards,” she added.

The Super League be launched in spring 2011 and many of the games would be televised, the report added. (ANI)