Page 3 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.13 2020-21

The Barclays FA Women's Super League has reached one of its first
significant landmarks as this week [April 13th] marks the ten-year
anniversary of the league's launch.
To celebrate the anniversary, The FA is launching its first FA
Women's Super League Hall of Fame, which will be sponsored by Barclays,
that will look to recognise those individuals who have made a significant
impact on the league. Whether that be a Golden Boot winner, a
Championship winning coach, or an individual who has displayed
excellence or leadership during the league's existence, induction into the
Barclays FA WSL Hall of Fame will be reserved for an exclusive group each
year, honouring their contribution to the league.
An induction event will take place later in the year and an expert
panel will create a shortlist of nominees before determining who will be the
first inductees.
The launch of the Hall of Fame will double up as a celebration and
acknowledgement of the ten year anniversary of the Barclays FA Women's Super League, which
has seen significant development since its inaugural season.
On this day in 2011, Chelsea and Arsenal stepped onto the field at Tooting & Mitcham
Football Club to kick off the very first match in the league, with the Blues' Helen Ward kicking the
first ball in the competition, and Arsenal's Gilly Flaherty scoring the first goal in a 1-0 win for the
Gunners in front of 2,510 fans.
What has followed has been a ten-year journey that started with an eight team, semi-
professional competition, that has developed into a fully professional 12 team league with added
exposure and an ever-increasing audience.
Teams have gone full time, players have become household names, and some of the best
talent has come through the England pathway, as well as from abroad. Barclays showed their
commitment to the league when they became title sponsor ahead of the 2019-20 season, while the
BBC and BT Sport have shone a light on the competition with their coverage. In addition, the
league was made more accessible than ever with the launch of the FA Player in August 2019, which
provides live streams, highlights and features from across the Barclays FA Women's Super League.
Fans have played a significant part in the league's growth, with crowds growing over the
ten years, supported by clubs opening their main stadia that has seen crowds flock to the Etihad
Stadium, Stamford Bridge and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - where a record crowd of 38,262
witnessed last season's North London derby.
Kelly Simmons, FA Director of the Women's Professional Game, said: "I could never
have envisaged the league having been on such a journey of growth and development when we
launched it ten years ago. The support we have received from clubs, stakeholders, the media and
fans has been overwhelming.
"The launch of the Barclays FA WSL Hall of Fame is designed to recognise those who
have made a major contribution to the league over the last ten years. I am delighted that Barclays
will be supporting it, and I am really excited to have our first induction later this year.
"I want to say thank you to all those who have been on the journey with us over the last
ten years. Without your support, we wouldn't be where we are now. Rest assured, we still have
huge ambitions for this league, with the ultimate goal to have the best professional women's
competition in the world."
Tom Corbett, Barclays Head of Sponsorship; said: "We are delighted to be the first
sponsors of the new Barclays FA Women's Super League Hall of Fame. The positive change in
women's football in the last ten years has been huge and the Hall of Fame is a great opportunity to
honour the pioneers who have transformed the game for the next generation of women and girls
who can now see that being involved with top football is not only a dream but a realistic
opportunity."
Issue no. 13 - 15 April 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk