Pompey skipper’s career concerns

Jade Bradley claims a number of women's players at non-elite level could miss out on furthering their careers as semi-pros or pros due to a second successive season curtailment.

And the Pompey Women's captain is 'baffled' how all clubs from steps 3-6 of the pyramid were given the same weight on a vote over how to conclude the 2020/21 campaign.

Some teams and players operating at National League level in the women's game are outraged that they have been classed as 'grassroots'.

The non-elite labelling has prevented clubs below Super League and Championship level - including Pompey, who play in the third tier - from playing and training since a third national lockdown was imposed.

Bradley, 24, who came through the ranks at Super League side Reading's Academy, says it's not right that National League teams were unable to continue their seasons despite the tightening of restrictions.

There was a further blow for players and clubs operating in the third tier when all seasons at steps 3-6 were curtailed last month.

Bradley, above, believes the premature halt could have a detrimental impact on playing careers.

'A lot of us are at an age now where we need to push on, granted I’m still lucky with my age, and those a little bit younger are really lucky.

‘There are some girls over 26 or 27, this is their last chance, they really want to push over these next seasons. Their careers, which could potentially have been semi-pro or pro football, are now stunted by two seasons.

‘That’s the gap (to the Championship) that we want to bridge more than anything. Financially we can definitely bridge it and technically and tactically there’s not a lot of difference.

‘There are hundreds of girls I think that are capable of playing in the Championship - they just don’t get the exposure they deserve.'

Women's teams at steps 3-6 were canvassed for a vote on what should happen this season while football remained halted at non-elite level because of lockdown

But Bradley questioned why National League clubs were only allowed the same weight of vote as other teams lower down the pyramid.

She said: 'Last season (2019/20) was a write-off for everyone so from that sense there’s not much to be annoyed about; everyone was in the same boat, it was the first time we’d been in a pandemic.

‘This season is completely different. How certain teams in certain leagues, in particular the men’s, are carrying on and we’re not - I don’t even know what the word would be - I’m in shock, really.

‘The fact that our vote to play or go null and void was carried as the same weight as those in tier six. The fact it’s weighed the same as those in tier six baffles me.'