‘Darkest day’ for women’s football

Reading Football Club has confirmed funding problems have forced it to withdraw from the Barclays Women’s Championship for the 2024-25 season.

The move, described by fans as “the darkest day yet for Reading FC”, will see the Women’s first team move to Tier 5 of the Women’s Football Pyramid.

In a statement the club said more investment was needed from owners to build a squad able to compete in and meet the revised mandatory criteria ahead of the 2024-25 season. This would have included returning to full-time training plus further investments in facilities and personnel.

“Unfortunately, given the current economic realities of the club, the outlay required to reach these levels is just not possible without significant owner funding,” said the statement.

It added that with support from the FA, the club had explored external funding and new investment to allow the team to maintain their Barclays Women’s Championship status. But “the complexities around separate ownership have meant operating Reading FC Women under a separate funding model has not been possible”.

The statement continued: “The club understands the demotion to Tier 5 will come as a huge disappointment for all connected with the club. This solution, however, does provide the club with the opportunity to continue to operate a women’s football department.”

The club added that playing in a lower division of the FA women’s pyramid will allow the women’s team to possibly gain promotion back to the top divisions in the future – while keeping a vital grassroots path for young women to pursue their football aspirations through the club.

Fan-led pressure group Sell Before We Dai condemned the decision as an ‘absolute disgrace’.

In a statement it said: “This is the darkest day yet under the ownership of Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li. Reading Women’s youth set-up provided opportunity and community for women and girls across Berkshire and beyond. That has been cruelly snatched out of their hands.”

The move to a Tier 5 side means the club is parting company with a number of players following the expiration of their contracts.

They include Deanna Cooper who has made 79 appearances since joining in 2020, Charlie Wellings who has made 39 appearances for the first team, and Tia Primmer who has made 56 first team appearances since being promoted through the academy.