WSL fixtures may double up with top men’s games

A number of Women’s Super League matches could be played as double-headers alongside Premier League fixtures next season, according to one of the most senior figures in the English game.

The World Cup has generated a groundswell of interest in the women’s game with 11.7million viewers tuning in to watch England play the United States in their semi-final.

The aim is to build on that growth with the biggest WSL clashes of the 2019-20 season set to take place in stadiums usually reserved for respective male teams.

But according to Kelly Simmons, the Football Association director of the women’s professional game, fixtures could also take place on the same day as Premier League matches to tap into the fan base.

“That will be tried as well,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live, when asked if double-headers could be on the agenda. “But even in the standalone games in the men’s stadiums we have already seen when we have done that before a big uplift and a big crossover of fans, so we will see more of that this season.

“There will be a series of games in men’s stadiums as part of trying to build an audience.

“We know that there is a massive potential audience of fans coming across from the men’s game and the men’s clubs across to their women’s team, we are seeing very much a one-club ethos. There is a massive chance for the game to pull those across this season with the Women’s Super League and get more people coming to games.”

The full WSL fixture list is announced on Wednesday, but the opening matches were confirmed last week. Manchester City host newly promoted Manchester United, with the venue to be announced today.

“We have just finished the first year of fully professional women’s football with the Women’s Super League so our job now is to make sure we capitalise on the momentum from the Women’s World Cup and build attendances and build audiences,” Simmons said. “You will see over the next week a series of announcements around fixtures, around games in men’s stadiums.

“We have got a series of live games on television across the season and we are hoping fans will come across.

“One of the things the World Cup has done is make our players household names and now people can follow them back at their clubs, which is really important for the game.”