Swansea City 'putting money where mouth is' for women's football
- Published
Swansea City Women 'have not had fair shot', says chairman Andy Coleman
Chairman Andy Coleman says Swansea City will "put money where our mouth is" in an attempt to drive up the standard of women's football in Wales.
Swansea are to appoint their first full-time women's boss as well as the club's first head of women's football.
The women's side turned semi-professional in the summer, with Coleman arguing there is no limit to what they can achieve.
"We have talked about glass ceilings with women for way too long," he said.
"Why set a ceiling on ourselves? I don't believe in ceilings. Let's see what we can do as a community, as a club and as a country and see where this takes us.
"We want football for women and girls in Wales to succeed across the entire country."
Though they wore the same kit, Swansea's female side were a separate entity from the men's Championship club until Coleman was named chairman in May.
Now known as Swansea City Women - they were previously Swansea City Ladies - they are officially part of the men's club and have 16 semi-professional players.
"I am the chairman of Swansea City Football Club, men's and women's," Coleman added.
"We brought the women in-house earlier this year, which had taken too long.
"I am overseeing all of the women's initiatives personally because it's that important to me and they need a voice to represent them.
"We are making some big moves. We are now looking for a full-time head of women's football and a manager. That will be another transformational change for the club.
"We want to put our money where our mouth is."
Swansea will play at the Swansea.com Stadium for the first time since turning semi-professional when they face Wrexham in the Adran Premier - the top women's league in Wales - this Sunday (17:10 GMT).
They twice played at the venue last season - their usual home is the Llandarcy Academy of Sport - but are expecting a much bigger crowd this time around.
Swansea City played in front of 1,426 fans against Cardiff Met at the Swansea.com Stadium in September 2022
American businessman Coleman says Swansea's women will play more regularly at the stadium in future in an attempt to raise the profile of the women's game.
"We have a stadium that seats 20,000 people and the women have not had their fair shot to play there as often as they should," he said.
The likes of Cardiff City Women - champions last season after Swansea claimed three straight league titles - and Wrexham have also turned semi-professional this season.
Coleman believes it is crucial for women's football in Wales that a number of clubs are committing more to their female teams.
'Wales needs to build foundations'
"We want to progress Swansea City Women, help [increase the number of] eyes on the Adran Premier league," he said.
"But our real focus is not just Swansea but what can this football club [do to] lead the efforts in Wales more broadly.
"Wales has the opportunity - they have a phenomenal senior national team - to participate on the world stage. In order for that to be a prolonged success, they have got to build the foundation up with girls' players.
"We are lucky in that Cardiff have gone all in on their women's team as well. [Wrexham owners] Ryan [Reynolds] and Rob [McElhenney] have done a phenomenal job of turning attention to their women's team as well.
"Collectiely the Adran Premier League should get more eyes on it as a result of those three clubs taking a big first step."
Swansea City chairman Andy Coleman watching the club's women's team in action against Barry Town United in September
'We couldn't find a girls' club'
Coleman, a part owner of MLS side DC United, moved to Wales to take charge of the daily running of Swansea in the summer having bought a "significant shareholding" in the club.
He says the experiences of his family have highlighted the need for progress in women's football in their new home.
"When I landed here and got to work, I have got to be honest, I was really frustrated," Coleman said.
"My 11-year-old daughter Molly is a top, top [football] player. When we came over here, we couldn't find a club for her to play for.
"There was not a comparable club that would give her the same level of competition that she would have got back in the US and that didn't sit right with me.
"Molly is now playing for a boys' academy team, only because there's not access to a girls' team at her level.
"My younger daughters, Winnie and Samantha, both play for Mumbles Rangers. There are hundreds of little girls lined up there. When we go and play in the street, there are hundreds of girls.
"There's absolutely the desire for women's football here. What they need is the opportunity."
Swansea City Women drew 3-3 with Wrexham on the opening day of the season
Swansea, third in the Adran Premier, will be led against second-placed Wrexham this weekend by interim head coach Chris Church.
Coleman does not rule out the idea of Swansea having a fully professional female side and says the idea of the women generating as much interest among fans and the media as Swansea's men is realistic.
"Why not?" he said. "That passion is there.
"Swansea City [Women] can compete and should be competing at some point at the highest levels. So should the Welsh national team, so should Wrexham or Cardiff.
"It doesn't matter who it is. This is about an initiative for Wales and putting a spotlight on something that's been far too long coming for the women and girls of this community.
"I am proud that this club has taken the first step."
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