FA launches WSL Hall of Fame as part of 10-year anniversary
The FA is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the start of the inaugural Women’s Super League season by launching a first WSL Hall of Fame that will honour legends of the game.
The Barclays-sponsored WSL Hall of Fame will seek to recognise individuals who have made a significant impact on the league. One group of selected nominees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame each year and the first group of inductees later this year will be chosen by an expert panel.
The creation of a Hall of Fame will help preserve the growing history of the WSL, which has helped change the landscape of women’s football in England since its inception. The first inductee event will also double as a 10-year celebration of the league in general.
When the first ball was kicked in the WSL on 13 April 2011, it was an eight-club semi-professional league. There are now 12 fully professional clubs and the league is fed by a second tier Women’s Championship that was initially launched as WSL 2 in 2014
The 2019 Women’s World Cup and the fortunes of England have seen interest in women’s football skyrocket over the last two years alone, with an increasing number of WSL games held at major stadiums and record crowds seen before the coronavirus pandemic struck in 2020.
When stadiums re-open, hopefully later in 2021, things will pick up from where they left off, while increased media interest thanks to a new television broadcasting deal with Sky Sports and BBC will only serve to increase the audience for the WSL.
“I could never have envisaged the league having been on such a journey of growth and development when we launched it ten years ago. The support we have received from clubs, stakeholders, the media and fans has been overwhelming,” said Kelly Simmons, FA director of women’s professional football.
“The launch of the Barclays FA WSL Hall of Fame is designed to recognise those who have made a major contribution to the league over the last ten years. I am delighted that Barclays will be supporting it, and I am really excited to have our first induction later this year.
“I want to say thank you to all those who have been on the journey with us over the last ten years. Without your support, we wouldn’t be where we are now. Rest assured, we still have huge ambitions for this league, with the ultimate goal to have the best professional women’s competition in the world.”
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