Lewes FC becomes first to pay men and women the same
Sussex club hands equal budget to both sexes and same coaching and training facilities
A non-league football club from Sussex claims to have become the first professional or semi-professional outfit to pay its women's team the same as its men’s team.
Lewes FC, whose men’s side play in the Isthmian League Division One South, or Bostik South as it’s now known, and women's side in the Premier League Southern Division, have pledged to offer both teams an equal budget and the same coaching and training resources.
The men's budget is expected to remain the same with the women's funding increased through private backers and sponsors.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We believe that there should be a level playing field for women in football," said Lewes FC director Jacquie Agnew. "We hope to spark a change across the UK that will help put an end to the excuses for why such a deep pay disparity has persisted in our sport.
"Together with our owners, donors and sponsors, Lewes FC can show that equal pay can be implemented to the benefit of both women and men in sport and beyond."
The "unprecedented" move is part of the club's Equality FC campaign, which aims to drive equal participation in football from girls and boys, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The gulf between the men and women's game "was highlighted two years ago when it emerged England men’s captain Wayne Rooney earned £300,000 per week, while his female counterpart, Steph Houghton - who leads her country at the European Championship starting next week - netted £35,000 over an entire year," adds the paper.
As for Lewes, "both teams already play at the same home ground - the Dripping Pan - and will share Equality FC as their shirt sponsor next season," reports the BBC.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Long summer days in Iceland's highlands
The Week Recommends While many parts of this volcanic island are barren, there is a 'desolate beauty' to be found in every corner
By The Week UK Published
-
The Democrats: time for wholesale reform?
Talking Point In the 'wreckage' of the election, the party must decide how to rebuild
By The Week UK Published
-
5 deliciously funny cartoons about turkeys
Cartoons Artists take on pardons, executions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
English cricket is ‘racist, sexist and elitist’, says independent report
Speed Read Chair of governing body apologises after crushing indictment of the sport ‘at all levels’
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrations
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
By Mike Starling Published