New partnership is a ‘special moment’ for women’s game

A GROUND-BREAKING sponsorship deal for women’s football could mark the start of “three huge years” in the development of the sport, according to the Football Association’s Kelly Simmons.

The FA’s director of the women’s professional game was speaking after Barclays was announced as the first title sponsor of the Women’s Super League.

The three-year partnership, which is understood to be worth in excess of £10million, has been described by the FA as “the biggest ever investment in UK women’s sport by a brand”.

It will see the top tier of women’s football renamed the Barclays FA Women’s Super League from the start of the 2019-20 season.

Securing sponsorship for the WSL was among Simmons’ main priorities on assuming her FA role in September.

With that objective now achieved, she feels this summer’s World Cup in France, next year’s Olympics and a European Championships on home soil in 2021 provide major opportunities to further increase the stature of the sport.

“It does feel a really special moment. It’s not just the investment, it’s the power and the reach of that brand can take women’s football to new audiences,” Simmons said.

“In terms of building the profile, building the fan base, we’ve got potentially three huge years.

“Of course, we’ve got the World Cup and then the GB Olympic team and then Euros on home soil, which is incredible, in 2021.”