EMMA HAYES believes the women’s FA Cup prize money is nowhere near what it needs to be as Chelsea prepare to battle Arsenal for the trophy.
And the blues boss wants to pay more attention to equal access to football and the struggles of the game pioneers.
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Emma Hayes and her Chelsea team hope to win their third FA Cup on SundayPhoto credit: Reuters
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Chelsea face Arsenal at Wembley with Jonas Eidevall hoping to win his first major trophy with the GunnersPhoto credit: Getty
Hayes spoke ahead of the belated final of this year’s competition – which takes place a little over 50 years after the first in 1971, when the Southampton Ladies defeated Stewarton Thistle.
Due to Covid restrictions, the showdown between the Gunners and Blues has been postponed until this Sunday, with a record 45,000 to 47,000 expected at Wembley.
Hayes, 44, said, “Why aren’t we getting more prize money? We have to invest more so that it can trickle down to the bottom.
“We need more prize money for everyone, not just for the winning team.
“I don’t think the prize money is anywhere near where it belongs.
“That journey started with TV money, but when it comes to prize money, I think they are nowhere near what they should be.
“It is nowhere near what the men’s game is.”
Hayes ‘comment comes in a week that Clapton FC launched a crowdfunder to help cover their players’ travel and accommodation expenses in the third round of this year’s FA Cup.
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The team was the first women’s team in the seventh division to reach this stage of the competition in November.
However, the rising costs for the club, which claims to be receiving no financial support, have proven worrying.
On their Crowdfunder page, the team says they earned £ 2,900 for their four wins in the competition, with the club next up against Plymouth Argyle.
This is in stark contrast to the £ 65,629 a team would make by reaching the third round of the men’s competition.
Hayes added, “If we’re going to invest in our game further down, we need that money to provide more broad-based opportunities.”
Chelsea will face Arsenal at Wembley, exactly 100 years after the FA banned women’s football on their premises, believing the game was “quite unsuitable for women”.
Having the game on an important date on the women’s football calendar serves as a reminder that the game will not be banned again. Never.
Emma Hayes
Before that, the game became increasingly popular with fans.
On Boxing Day 1920, more than 53,000 crowded Goodison to see Dick, Kerr Ladies face off against St. Helen’s Ladies in a benefit game for soldiers wounded in World War I.
Hayes hopes the anniversary of the ban that slowed development of the game will result in greater recognition of the work of the pioneers in the sport.
The Kingsmeadow chief added, “It’s about the recognition of all ancestors.
“I think having the game on a poignant date on the women’s football calendar will serve as a reminder that this game won’t be banned again. Never.
“We’re two fabulous teams, both fighting for victory, but the FA Cup final is about history.”
Hayes’ team could seal a delayed triple if they win on Sunday.
But while Pernille Harder is fit, the blues boss announced that she doesn’t expect Maren Mjelde to be in the final.
Hayes said, “I think we’ll keep bringing them back slowly. She still needs a little more time.
“But Maren is much more valuable in the long term than Maren is now.”
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Pernille Harder could return to Chelsea in the FA Cup final against ArsenalPhoto credit: Getty
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