The spotlight is on the women’s game this weekend when the second ever Women’s Football Weekend takes place, with an unprecedented number of hours of live coverage available to YOU the fans.
The FA confirmed last month that every Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture will have staggered kick-off times to be broadcast live on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November, and now they have now confirmed that every FA Women’s Championship match will also be available live on The FA Player.
That totals 990 minutes of live football over the weekend – something which has never happened in the women’s game before. Fans can tune in through The FA Player, BT Sport or the BBC.
In addition, a few of this weekend’s fixtures will also have some recognisable names giving their expert analysis, with guest co-commentators Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankey and Faye White adding their thoughts on three of the matches.
The weekend sees the Barclays FA Women’s Super League play host to another mouth-watering line-up of fixtures. Amongst the highlights are two derbies in Manchester and Birmingham. Manchester United host Manchester City, with BT Sport providing fans the opportunity to watch the game free to air in front of its paywall. For the first time in the Barclays FA WSL, Aston Villa will face rivals Birmingham City, while league champions of the two previous seasons, Arsenal and Chelsea, are also due to face off in a London derby.
The FA Women’s Championship promises to be equally exciting with every game being streamed on The FA Player, including a clash between title-chasers Sheffield United and Durham, as well as Blackburn Rovers hosting Liverpool.
Barclays FA Women’s Super League
Saturday 14 November (FA Player unless stated):
Manchester United v Manchester City (12.30pm) BT Sport 1
Aston Villa v Birmingham City (2.30pm)
Everton v Reading (4.30pm) BBC Red Button
Bristol City v Tottenham Hotspur (6.30pm)
Sunday 15 November (FA Player unless stated):
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion (12.30pm)
Arsenal v Chelsea (2.30pm) BT Sport 1
FA Women’s Championship:
Sunday 15 November (all 2pm)
Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool
Charlton Athletic v London City Lionesses
Coventry United v Leicester City
London Bees v Lewes
Sheffield United v Durham
The full fixture list for the season can be viewed here.
Kelly Simmons, The FA’s Director of the Women’s Professional Game says: “I’m delighted that we have managed to make every game from the Barclays FA WSL and FA Women’s Championship available for broadcast this weekend, a first for The FA.
“I cannot understate how disappointed we are that we will not have fans – the heartbeat of our game – in our stadiums this weekend, which is why it was really important that we brought the action to the fans in their homes.
“This is yet another opportunity to place the spotlight on our wonderful game, and I hope that fans will join us this weekend to enjoy the world class talent on the field.”
Fans can also get a glimpse of what the weekend has in store with the weekly Barclays FA WSL Warm Up Show, which will be released at 6pm on Friday on The FA Player. The Women’s Football Weekend special features Arsenal pair Leah Williamson and Lia Wälti, Chelsea duo Sam Kerr and Erin Cuthbert, Manchester City’s Lucy Bronze and Manchester United’s Ella Toone.
