EVEN THE SCORE

THIS weekend Lewes FC take on Dulwich Hamlet FC in the first round the Women’s FA Cup.

Yet it is much more than just a match for both of these teams, it is a statement.

Both teams are uniting and standing together in their ongoing fight of equality, as they demand equal FA cup prize money in both the men’s and women’s competition.

Lewes FC have been campaigning since 2018 for the FA to increase the cup prize money for the Women’s game for years – yet their work is still far from being done.

Did you know that the women’s team that wins in this weekend’s FA Cup first round will earn £6,000 in prize money. A victory for a men’s team at the equivalent stage of the competition earns £45,000 – mind blowing!

Although the club successfully lobbied the FA to increase their overall prize fund for the Women’s FA Cup, it is still only 30% of the men’s prize pot. This highlights that the inequality within the sport is still being overlooked by the FA and shows that there is still a long way to go.

To highlight the injustice, both teams will pause at kick-off for 21 seconds.

Why 21 seconds you ask? Because in 1921, the FA banned women from playing football in England. A ban that was only lifted in 1971, when the first Women’s FA Cup was held.

This is not the first time Lewes FC have called for equal FA prize money.

In the 2022/23 season, Lewes FC Women had a fantastic run in the FA cup making it to the quarterfinals, where they played Manchester United at the Dripping Pan in a hug seminal moment in Lewes FC’s history.

Yet these sort of cup runs are supposed to be historic, magical moments that can hugely elevate a club and transform it, leaving a lasting legacy on the community.

If this was the men’s competition Lewes FC women would have made a staggering £450,000 for the club.

Instead, they earned £51,250 in prize money.

£450,000 for a Women’s FA Cup quarter-final spot could totally transform a club like Lewes FC, not to mention scores of other clubs in their position.

Operating costs, licensing requirements, wages, hospitality, electricity bills and everything else is exactly the same as a men’s team - so why do women’s teams still get less prize money while withstanding the same costs simply to exist?

Both Lewes and Dulwich Hamlet FC are asking all their supports and everyone who believes in ‘football done better’ to write to their MP asking them to put pressure on the FA to offer equal prize money in both competitions.

Kelly Lindsey, COO of Lewes FC said: “Lewes fights for gender equality in football, in sport and in society.

“This ridiculous difference between the prize funds for men and women FA Competitions is a historic bias and does not need to be the way forward – it is simply unjustifiable in 2024 and beyond.”

Brittany Saylor, director at Dulwich Hamlet FC added to this: “While it is disappointing to be having to fight for women to have access to equal FA Cup prize money. We are proud to partner with Lewes FC in this campaign.

“As we’ve seen from huge rise in crowds and our own women’s teams, fans are increasingly realising that it isn’t ‘men’s football’ and ‘women’s’ football’ – it is all ‘football’ and it is time that the game’s leaders recognise that by closing the financial gap, and fair FA cup prize money is an obvious place to start.”

#EqualFACup

#EvenTheScore