A pitch to play on shouldn’t be an exception”.
At Beyond the Pitch, our commitment has always been to share the important stories surrounding clubs and players — narratives that deserve to be heard and should not be overlooked. We strive to bring attention to these important situations, ensuring that they receive the recognition they deserve.
The situation at Solihull Moors Women, a club central to Birmingham, has escalated to a point where it can no longer be overlooked.
Eighteen days ago, Solihull Moors player, Alex Liddiard, released a statement on X, detailing the shocking conditions the team has had to operate in. It has been viewed over 600 thousand times.
“We have endured conditions that no team, at any level, should be expected to tolerate – ill-fitting kits, a lack of basic equipment, no provision of transportation for games hours away, and most concerning, no guaranteed pitch to play midweek fixtures on.”
She further elaborates on the treatment that she and other players at Solihull Moors Women had to endure.
“We can’t help but ask – would the men’s team ever be place in this position?”
“Women’s football has made great strides, but our experiences show there is still much work to be done.”
Team captain Rebecca Knight stepped down and left the club, accompanied by several other players. Just days ago, Knight and her teammates were joined by the club’s management staff in their departure, revealing the disturbing realities of what has been happening behind the scenes at Solihull.
Former Solihull Moors player, Beth Gallagher, spoke to Finley Chung at Beyond the Pitch, explaining her reasons for leaving Solihull. She reflects on the next steps and discusses how individuals can help in a situation such as this.
When speaking to Finley, Beth first draws on how the club could not offer the woman at Solihull a pitch to play on.
“For me personally I want to be at an ambitious club who wants to achieve and support the women’s side. You can see in our league multiple teams who get funding and budgets and are successful. We were never expecting payment by any means but a pitch to play on shouldn’t be an expectation.”
She also shares her insights into the challenges at Solihull Moors, revealing a growing sense of being overlooked that has intensified over the past couple of seasons.
“I think for a couple of years we have been fighting for something to change at the club. We have lost players to other clubs showing more backing and support to the teams which has left us struggling to build a squad and attract players into the teams.”
Reflecting on how she felt when she joined Solihull Moors initially, Beth credits the management team and the players for supporting her during a challenging time.
“Overall, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. I came to Solihull Moors in a very negative mindset and potentially giving up on football, but the staff and players got me out of the mindset and built my confidence.
“I have so much gratitude for Tom and his team for picking me up every time. The ending I have no words for – it had the potential to be a team challenging at the top end of tier three if the right investment was there to be able to compete with other teams in the league.”
The situation at Solihull Moors has exemplified the support on and around the women’s game, with the broader women’s football community rallying around the tier three side.
Beth and her Solihull teammates understand that their struggle is far from over; in fact, it has only just begun. However, with the support and the awareness raised, there is hope that such issues can be prevented in the future.
“I just think raising awareness, the amount of support from it all has been incredible. Everyone’s football career is short, and we can raise awareness and try to fight but I think you need to find a club who wants to back and support the women’s section and sees the potential behind it all!”
Everyone at Beyond the Pitch extends gratitude to Beth for her time, honesty, and effort in sharing her story with us. We appreciate her willingness to speak out, as it not only sheds light on important issues but also inspires others to do the same. We are proud to provide a platform for narratives like Beth’s, ensuring that these vital experiences are heard and acknowledged.
Photo – @bethlougall on X
