Solihull Moors Women accuse parent club of ‘neglect’ and ‘lack of respect’

Players with Solihull Moors’ women’s team have gone public with a statement laying bare “neglect, broken promises and lack of respect” from their parent club, as well as conditions “that no team, at any level, should be expected to tolerate”.

The team, who compete in Midlands Division One of the Women’s National League, say the club are failing to secure pitches for them to fulfil midweek fixtures and not providing transportation to away matches.

Posted on X by the squad member Alex Liddiard, the statement read: “Despite countless emails and meetings with the club, our voices have gone unheard; leaving us no choice but to address the situation publicly.” In addition to problems with pitches and transport, the unsuitable conditions referred to include “ill-fitting kits” and “a lack of basic equipment”.

Last month, the team were due to play West Brom in the FAWNL Cup – at the time Albion said: “The hosts have now withdrawn from the competition.” In Friday’s statement, the Solihull Moors players say: “We were forced to forfeit due to the club’s failure to secure a pitch. This not only resulted in a significant fine but also saw us removed from both the League Cup and the League Plate competitions.”

The players also spell out potential future flashpoints, adding: “With two months’ notice of our upcoming league fixture against Worcester City Women, we find ourselves in the same position. Once again, the club have informed us that there is currently no pitch available. If we are forced to forfeit again, we face a potential points deduction and another fine – consequences beyond our control.”

The Solihull Moors players’ statement also highlighted a lack of visibility for the women’s team, suggesting that at neither the club’s Armco Arena and Studley training facility is there “any indication to visitors that [the club] has a women’s team”, adding to “the feeling of being overlooked and undervalued”.

“We deserve better … we deserve respect, support, and the opportunity to play the game we love under fair conditions,” the statement continues. “Women’s football has made great strides, but our experiences show there is still much work to be done.”

“This lack of visibility further reinforces the feeling of being overlooked and undervalued. As players, we dedicate ourselves to this club week after week. In return, we ask only for the basic necessities required to play football, especially to compete at tier 4. It’s time we speak out against the neglect, broken promises and the lack of respect we have faced from our own club. We deserve better.”

Solihull Moors’ men’s team are in the National League and in May lost the playoff final for a place in League Two to Bromley.

The statement is the latest insight into problems affecting the women’s game beyond the top leagues. Last month Partick’s Courtney Stewart had to endure a three-hour wait for an ambulance after sustaining a head injury during a game against Rangers of which her head coach, Brian Graham, said: “I just don’t think we get that in the men’s game … obviously it comes down to finance.”

In June, the North Yorkshire non-league club Thornaby sparked anger by withdrawing support for their six women’s teams, which looked like leaving over 100 women and girls without a club. Following the backlash, to which the Lionesses forward Beth Mead added her voice, the club then backtracked. The following month Wakefield AFC dropped their women’s team.

A Solihull Moors club spokesperson said: “The club is currently reviewing the statement and will make a comment tomorrow.”