Our Wolves Women’s team currently competes in the National League Northern Premier Division (third tier), but despite their recent successes and historical significance, they now find themselves at a crucial juncture.
While other clubs like Nottingham Forest Women and Newcastle United Women have transitioned to full-time status, Wolves Women remain on an expenses-only basis.
This raises significant questions about the club’s commitment to its women’s side, especially given their recent performances and the broader context of women’s football.
Recent Performance and Comparisons
Wolves Women won the league in the 2021/22 season and narrowly missed out on the title in 2022/23, finishing second on goal difference to Nottingham Forest Women.
The 2023/24 season saw Newcastle United Women go full-time and dominate the league, highlighting the competitive edge that professional status can provide.
Despite these achievements, Wolves Women have made the controversial decision to scrap their Reserves/U21 team, even after a second-place finish last season.
I spoke to supporters of the Women’s team prior to the season beginning and there was a growing concern that several senior players might leave due to the perceived lack of ambition from the club, potentially weakening the team further and making it increasingly difficult to remain competitive in the league.
These fears have been realised with the recent departure of Beth Merrick.
It was clearly a gut-wrenching decision for Merrick, a season ticket holder at Molineux since a young age, to depart the club she loves. She has been instrumental to the women’s side’s success in recent years, racking up over 100 appearances and scoring 36 goals since joining the club in 2021. She won the double in her first season at Wolves, as Dan McNamara’s side sealed the Northern Premier Division title and Birmingham Challenge Cup. It’s fair to say she will be a huge miss, and I sincerely hope she isn’t the first in a line out the door. Some supporters of the women’s side worry that Beth’s departure is indicative of the low ambitions of the club and fear it could see our women’s side finish below rivals West Bromwich Albion Women this term, which would represent a significant backward step and be a huge dent in local bragging rights—something we’ve held firmly this side of the Black Country after recording a 10th consecutive win over the Baggies last season.
Historical Context of the Women’s Game
Understanding the broader historical context of women’s football is essential. In 1921, the Football Association (FA) banned women’s football due to its popularity and the financial success it was achieving, a ban that lasted 50 years.
This long hiatus means that women’s football is still playing catch-up, but the gap in quality between the FA Women’s National League (FAWNL) and the Women’s Super League (WSL) is not as vast as one might think. With a small amount of further investment, Wolves Women have proven in recent years there is more than enough quality in the current squad to push on and join the elite of the women’s game. The women have a solid foundation and have been under the ever-reliable and stable leadership of manager Dan McNamara since 2018.
But for the club as a whole, investment in the women’s game should not just be about catching up; it’s about ensuring any side that pulls on the old gold is as supported as they possibly can be. It’s about recognising and fostering talent that has for too long been undervalued.
Club Ambitions and Support
When Fosun International acquired Wolves, they initially showed promising support for the women’s team. However, this enthusiasm appears to have waned. The reason for this is unclear. Despite the women’s game not generating anywhere near the income of the men’s game, investment in the women’s side would only require a fraction of the cost compared to the men’s team, and it would align with the club’s stated ambition to return to the top tiers of women’s football.
Despite this, the board seems hesitant to commit to making Wolves Women a fully professional outfit.
The club asserts that Wolves Women are an integral part of the Wolverhampton Wanderers family. Indeed, the women’s and girls’ section benefits from shared facilities at Compton Park training ground, including sports science, analysis, and physiotherapy. However, for Wolves’ vision to be realised, further investment is imperative.
The Broader Picture
Wolves have become a club with global reach, with income streams extending beyond Premier League participation and TV money. They have expanded into areas like esports, music, and fashion, and formed global partnerships with clubs worldwide. Yet, it remains unclear how much of this diversification translates into revenue for the club, and if it does, how much of that is pumped back into the community, especially in regards to the supporting of the development of homegrown talent, grassroots and the women’s sides.
As clubs like Aston Villa and Bristol City this season move their women’s games to Villa Park and Ashton Gate respectively, it’s evident that at some clubs, investment in women’s football is growing; in keeping with the growing status and popularity of the women’s game. Incidentally, there is a fantastic documentary on BBC iPlayer following West Ham United’s heavy investment into their women’s side: “Squad Goals: Britain’s Youngest Football Boss.” It is well worth a watch to see how when the investment is there, the women’s sides can succeed. Without it, it is inevitably a permanent backs-to-the-wall job.
In contrast to these clubs, Wolves Women will remain at AFC Telford’s SEAH Stadium (formerly New Bucks Head). A ground in which we saw record attendances last season, while reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in modern history, pitting our hybrid semi-pro/pro team against World Cup winners. The appetite is clearly there from the fans and the endeavour is clearly there from the team. So ultimately, the higher-ups at Wolves must decide if they see themselves as a forward-thinking, progressive club or a stagnant one that will rapidly fall further behind and, as the years pass, will look increasingly archaic in their philosophies.
If they do, as I sincerely hope, see themselves as the former, they need to invest in their women’s team pretty sharpish. Gaps can emerge worryingly quickly and, as we know, filling those gaps can be incredibly difficult if they are left to widen too much. Wolves Women are perched, ready to pounce, ready to take off; they just need that spark to light their fuse. And that’s all it is, all that’s required, a mere spark. The investment required to professionalise the women’s team is minimal compared to the potential benefits and the costs associated with the men’s team. But it’s about more than money; it’s about commitment and ambition.
What Next for Wolves?
Wolves have a chance to support not only their current women’s team but also to inspire local girls throughout the region. How many of us have young daughters or granddaughters utterly enamoured by the game?
Just like Beth Merrick.
Isn’t it time we demanded the club show them that they are valued and that there is a pathway to professional football?
It’s time for the club to focus on supporting its women’s side with the resources and financial backing they deserve.
After all, we are one club, and, as we continue to grow, our successes should be shared in equally.
ARTICLE BY GEORGE LAKIN
George fell in love with Wolves the moment Colin Cameron fizzed one into the bottom corner against Plymouth Argyle on the 31st December 2005- during his first ever Wolves game as a child.
He loves digging a little deeper when it comes to Wolves, often conducting his own research to help him read between the lines and increase his knowledge and understanding of all aspects of our great club. He is keen to share his insight and findings with fans who share in his biggest love, -after his lovely wife, Amy and little boy, Tommy of course!- our mighty Wolverhampton Wanderers!
George is passionate about reaching and uniting all corners of the Wolves family, young and old, near and far. So make sure you don’t miss his weekly column exclusively for Always Wolves this season!