Local footy clubs pledge to support women’s teams despite potential cuts to deal with the coronavirus shutdown
Adelaide Footy League bosses say they will continue to support their women’s programs despite likely cost cuts to deal with the COVID-19 forced sport shutdown.
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Local football clubs are refusing to make women’s teams a casualty of the COVID-19 forced sport shutdown.
There has been some concern local women’s programs could face the axe or at least be reduced as clubs cut costs to deal with the pandemic fallout. But speaking the Sunday Mail as part of the paper’s Support Our Clubs series, Adelaide Footy League clubs say they are determined to continue their women’s teams.
The State Government announced on Friday all sporting codes could start non-contact training outdoors in groups of 10 as of tomorrow.
It will then consider allowing competitions to start from June 8, albeit without crowds.
But football clubs were still waiting on the SANFL and the Adelaide Footy League to announce a season start date.
Mount Lofty president Scott Taylor said women’s teams helped boost club culture and axing them would be detrimental for the community.
Despite expecting the club to record a substantial financial loss following the hiatus he said it would “absolutely” continue providing a pathway for local girls to play.
“We support it (women’s football), we need it, we want it,” Taylor said.
“I don’t think it’s a girls v boys scenario and that’s never how we look at it. We look at it as a whole club, that’s juniors to seniors, boys and girls.
“I would hate to think that some body would say the simple solution would be to cut women’s sport.”
Taylor hoped players, sponsors and the local community would rally around the club to help it survive. He also urged the government to make sporting fees tax deductible donations this year.
“We are going to need to ask our members and the people who have paid their subs (fees) to keep that money with the club. We need them to please consider the impact on the club asking for that money back.
“We are very excited to hopefully return but it’s got to be safe and viable.”
SMOSH female football director Emma Sampson expected the club to field two senior women’s team and an under-18 side.
“The girls are still really keen to hopefully have a season,” Sampson said.
“Obviously our club as a whole relies on sponsorship and grants from the council and also from the bar takings at home games.
“Some of the sponsors have probably taken a bit of a hit, too, financially, so it’s it's about working with them to see how we can continue forward.
“But we are pretty lucky that we have a one-club approach and our women’s teams will be ready if there is a season.”
Adelaide University president Michael Dadds said the women’s programs would “certainly not be a casualty at our club”.
“In terms of financial support we will obviously take a hit this year,” Dadds said.
“But our expectation is that our three women’s teams will hopefully take the field in due course. We are committed to enabling both genders to play footy.’’