Lewes FC launches Equality FC campaign and becomes first professional football club to pay its women’s and men’s teams equally.
Lewes Football Club announced today it has become the first professional or semi-professional football club to pay its women’s team the same as its men’s team, as part of its Equality FC campaign. In an unprecedented move, Lewes FC will establish a sustainable model of funding to support the women’s and men’s football teams on an equal basis.
This will include:
- Raising and setting the playing budgets for the women’s and men’s first teams at an equal level
- Providing equal resource for coaching, performance and strength & conditioning staff
- Upgrading equipment and facilities to meet the standards required by higher
- football divisions
- Investment in local grassroots outreach to drive equal participation in football from girls and boy
This announcement comes as part of the launch of the club’s campaign, Equality FC, to raise awareness about gender inequality in football. The campaign also aims to encourage more support for women’s and girls’ football across the UK and around the world.
The first tranche of funding for the campaign has been approved by the Lewes FC board and has established pay parity between the two teams.
The club will continue to raise funds to achieve these aims through donors and sponsors, as well as by encouraging more people to become owners of Lewes FC.
Jacquie Agnew, Lewes FC Director, said: “At Lewes FC we believe that there should be a level playing field for women in football. By committing to paying our women’s and men’s teams equally, and providing equal resource for coaching, training and facilities, we hope to spark a change across the UK that will help put an end to the excuses for why such a deep pay disparity has persisted in our sport.
“Together with our owners, donors and sponsors, Lewes FC can show that equal pay can be implemented to the benefit of both women and men in sport and beyond.”
John Donoghue, Lewes FC Women’s First Team Manager, said: “I am proud that Lewes FC has stepped up to launch the Equality FC campaign. Every day I see the passion and commitment our players have for the game, and I am sure this is mirrored across the country in women’s football. For female players to have the same rewards as their male counterparts for doing the same job is a fantastic leap forward for women’s football. This sends a powerful signal to not only our players and our club, but to the whole UK football community that women’s football deserves an equal voice and support to men’s.”
Darren Freeman, Lewes FC Men’s First Team Manager, said: “We use the same pitch, the same facilities, the same ball. As football fans we all want our team to win regardless of gender. Parity means giving everyone the same opportunity and getting the same rewards.”
Report courtesy of Lewes FC
