Ladies Manager Departs

[oxonian]

Not surprised really. Another poor season.
https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2018/may/andy-cook-departs/

 

[mooro]

Saw his comments before the game which were along the lines of 'probably the last time that we play together'.

I hope that it is just him departing rather than the whole Ladies side being downgraded. They didnt put in a bid to stay in the WSL2 when first asked, but I think did so at the second pass, but I have no idea whether they have been accepted/declined/ still waiting to hear?
Having got into WSL2 when it was first set up, I think it would be a great shame if we stepped back from it now

 

[Didcotox]

I just cannot get excited about woman's football, whether it's national or club level. I don't look out for Oxfords result, and if I happen to see a result I feel nothing if they have lost.
I don't know how much revenue the female team generates or if it runs at a loss but if it is the latter I would get rid personally.
Happy to be educated by people in the know.

 

[JuanPabloRaponi]

I just cannot get excited about woman's football, whether it's national or club level. I don't look out for Oxfords result, and if I happen to see a result I feel nothing if they have lost.
I don't know how much revenue the female team generates or if it runs at a loss but if it is the latter I would get rid personally.
Happy to be educated by people in the know.

If, when I have kids, and I have a daughter I would love for her to have female role models representing Oxford United that she can not only look up to them but can also aspire to pull on a yellow shirt one day.

Sometimes it's not about revenue.

As a club, we should be encouraging young girls to play and engage with sport and have somewhere to go. Sport creates friendships, memories, helps with self-esteem and provides brilliant life lessons whether playing or spectating.

I think a ladies side is brilliant and as long as it isn't completely draining the club of resources (which I doubt it is) then we should do everything we can to support it and keep it going.

Ladies sport and in particular football is only going to grow and grow and we could be missing out on the potential greater coverage of the OUFC brand without one.

 

[Didcotox]

If, when I have kids, and I have a daughter I would love for her to have female role models representing Oxford United that she can not only look up to them but can also aspire to pull on a yellow shirt one day.

Sometimes it's not about revenue.

As a club, we should be encouraging young girls to play and engage with sport and have somewhere to go. Sport creates friendships, memories, helps with self-esteem and provides brilliant life lessons whether playing or spectating.

I think a ladies side is brilliant and as long as it isn't completely draining the club of resources (which I doubt it is) then we should do everything we can to support it and keep it going.

Ladies sport and in particular football is only going to grow and grow and we could be missing out on the potential greater coverage of the OUFC brand without one.

Unfortunately there is little I can do, when I have no interest in the product on offer.

 

[Craig]

It's easy to say another poor season just by looking at the league table, but there has been definite progress and a number of games have been defined by small margins. There were games where we were just outclassed, but quite a few games could have gone either way. If you're a ST holder, entry is just £1. So you can get a pint and a game of football for less than £5. Incredible value.

Saw his comments before the game which were along the lines of 'probably the last time that we play together'.

I hope that it is just him departing rather than the whole Ladies side being downgraded. They didnt put in a bid to stay in the WSL2 when first asked, but I think did so at the second pass, but I have no idea whether they have been accepted/declined/ still waiting to hear?
Having got into WSL2 when it was first set up, I think it would be a great shame if we stepped back from it now

We didn't apply for a Women's Championship (formally WSL2) license when we first had the option. Personally I found that very disappointing and could be a big mistake if we are basically chosen to be relegated. The club took a wait and see approach, but I (skim) read the application, it was over 100 pages and outlined everything. Granted there were aspects I didn't personally agree with, but that's another story. It's also really shitty that Doncaster can't gain promotion because they basically can't afford it - football should be about results, not money. But that's the FA for you.

I believe we should hear before the end of the month.

I just cannot get excited about woman's football, whether it's national or club level. I don't look out for Oxfords result, and if I happen to see a result I feel nothing if they have lost.
I don't know how much revenue the female team generates or if it runs at a loss but if it is the latter I would get rid personally.
Happy to be educated by people in the know.

I believe all women's football teams - just like the majority of men's teams - run at a loss. In this country anyway. Don't know anything about the commercial setups of places like France, Germany and the US.

I could be mistaken, but I think we lose tens of thousands a year. Peanuts in football terms, especially when you can see first hand just how much it means to the players and fans who attend. Watching the kids - both girls and boys - react the way they do is great to witness. One of my favourite (non-Oxford) Wembley moments is actually from a few years ago when Arsenal played Chelsea and a young lad went absolutely crazy when he saw Kirby warming up before the match.

 

[Craig]

I forgot to say - thanks Andy. All the best in the future mate.

If, when I have kids, and I have a daughter I would love for her to have female role models representing Oxford United that she can not only look up to them but can also aspire to pull on a yellow shirt one day.

Sometimes it's not about revenue.

As a club, we should be encouraging young girls to play and engage with sport and have somewhere to go. Sport creates friendships, memories, helps with self-esteem and provides brilliant life lessons whether playing or spectating.

I think a ladies side is brilliant and as long as it isn't completely draining the club of resources (which I doubt it is) then we should do everything we can to support it and keep it going.

Ladies sport and in particular football is only going to grow and grow and we could be missing out on the potential greater coverage of the OUFC brand without one.

A lot of good points.

Re: OUFC brand. If we are successful and gain Women's Championship status, it's great to think there will be an OUFC v Man U league match. If that happens, hopefully it'll be the first game of the season - the press will lap it up, being their first professional game and all. May even be televised (BT Sport or BBC Red Button).

 

[JuanPabloRaponi]

Unfortunately there is little I can do, when I have no interest in the product on offer.

That's absolutely fine, you don't have to watch or even care about it!

 

[iambungle]

I forgot to say - thanks Andy. All the best in the future mate.



A lot of good points.

Re: OUFC brand. If we are successful and gain Women's Championship status, it's great to think there will be an OUFC v Man U league match. If that happens, hopefully it'll be the first game of the season - the press will lap it up, being their first professional game and all. May even be televised (BT Sport or BBC Red Button).

Man U? They are only just setting up a womens team which for the supposed 'biggest club in world football' is P**s poor!

 

[Jerome'SAle]

Unfortunately there is little I can do, when I have no interest in the product on offer.

You are interested enough to make two posts on this thread telling everyone how uninterested you are!!!

 

[Didcotox]

You are interested enough to make two posts on this thread telling everyone how uninterested you are!!!

My second comment was a reply to "we must do everything....."
And I'll comment on what I like thank you. I, personally would bin the ladies team. That is a very selfish point of view I accept, but there is little interest in it and I don't think it's worth spending a penny on. That is why I comment.

 

[WokinghamYellow]

I am sure young female followers of the women’s team would also become supporters of the men’s side therefore increasing revenue and exposure across the county for the club

 

[Craig]

Man U? They are only just setting up a womens team which for the supposed 'biggest club in world football' is P**s poor!

I agree, there’s no excuse for not having a women’s team. They have been heavily criticised in the past and rightfully so. They’ve always had a girls’ CoE, so helped with their development until 16 or so.

With that said, they are still a massive club with a worldwide following. Bringing more eyes to the sport can only be a good thing.

 

[Jerome'SAle]

My second comment was a reply to "we must do everything....."
And I'll comment on what I like thank you. I, personally would bin the ladies team. That is a very selfish point of view I accept, but there is little interest in it and I don't think it's worth spending a penny on. That is why I comment.

You think all things that you arent a fan of should be stopped immediately? Interesting viewpoint.

Would make league one pretty easy next year, bit dull turning up to see Oxford play against no one each week though.

 

[Didcotox]

You think all things that you arent a fan of should be stopped immediately? Interesting viewpoint.

Would make league one pretty easy next year, bit dull turning up to see Oxford play against no one each week though.

Clearly not what I said. My point is that there is little interest in the women's game so is it worth running at a loss?

 

[beyondthefourth]

Clearly not what I said. My point is that there is little interest in the women's game so is it worth running at a loss?

There is increasing interest in the women's game, it is worth getting a place at the table early on.

 

[JuanPabloRaponi]

Clearly not what I said. My point is that there is little interest in the women's game so is it worth running at a loss?

Just because you're not interested doesn't mean there is little interest.

Compare it to men's football which is the most popular sport in the world and nothing can compete in terms of interest - therefor should all other sports stop because there isn't as much interest compared to men's football?

 

[Didcotox]

There is increasing interest in the women's game, it is worth getting a place at the table early on.

Valid point.
Have you any figures for attendances/income and has that increased in the 3-4 years we have been running a female team. Has that increasing interest shown in attendances etc?
As I said in my first post on this topic, I am happy to be educated on the topic.

 

[Didcotox]

Just because you're not interested doesn't mean there is little interest.

Compare it to men's football which is the most popular sport in the world and nothing can compete in terms of interest - therefor should all other sports stop because there isn't as much interest compared to men's football?

How much interest is there? Give me some figures?
There is little coverage in the local media with regards women's football, I didn't even know the season had ended until the start of this thread. There is rarely a discussion about the female team on here, no clamour over signing, no match threads so where is the interest? Where is there a desire for a female Oxford team from a significant proportion of fans to warrant tens of thousand pounds a year loss as previously quoted?

 

[Jerome'SAle]

Valid point.
Have you any figures for attendances/income and has that increased in the 3-4 years we have been running a female team. Has that increasing interest shown in attendances etc?
As I said in my first post on this topic, I am happy to be educated on the topic.

Google it if your interested