Women's FA Cup: Enjoyment and prize money important for Luton Town Ladies

'It's not about the money, money, money', so Jessie J once sang - but for clubs like Luton Town Ladies, the increased cash on offer in the Women's FA Cup cannot be ignored.

Inspired by last season's promotion success of the men's team, they travel to Enfield Town in the second round on Sunday.

Victory would lead to the possibility of being drawn against a side from the second-tier Championship, with the elite Women's Super League teams then entering the competition in round four.

"We like to enjoy our football and not put too much pressure on ourselves to win for the money, we want to win because we want our name out there and the club (name) out there," captain Jess McKay told BBC Look East.

But Luton play in the Premier Division of the Eastern Region Football League - the fifth tier of the women's game - and coach Rob Burton acknowledges that at that level most clubs need financial support from wherever they can find it.

"The FA Cup is always special; men, women, it's all the same," he said.

"It is always about the enjoyment but the prize money makes it that little bit sweeter. It takes a lot of funding for the facilities these days, the kit and equipment, so for us it's really about stability for the club."

Every third-round game has a £44,000 prize pot, with £35,000 for the winners - and those figures rise to £67,000 and £54,000 in round four.

Burton added: "Some [of the money at the top end of the women's game] is starting to filter down to our level but for the majority of teams it's a pay-to-play scenario.

"As it filters down, as things progress, the quality of the game is definitely improving. It will build for us but we're at the infancy of that."

'It was only my second game'

Luton won 4-1 at Grays Athletic and 2-1 at Wodson Park to reach the first round proper, and then beat Harpenden Town 3-0 to set up the tie against Enfield.

And they have also banked £13,000 in the process as a result of those three victories.

Two of their goals against Harpenden were scored by 16-year-old Gabriella Spillman.

"It felt amazing because it was only my second game for Luton. I've playing at tier seven level, so to play up at tier five in the FA Cup in the first official round, I was buzzing," she said.

She first played football at the age of two but it is only recently, having seen England's triumph at Euro 2022, that she has aspired to one day become a professional like her favourite player, skipper Leah Williamson.

"Since England won the Euros a year ago, women's football has just spiralled and it's just great.

"Leah Williamson has really inspired me to try and make it as a professional. She's my inspiration. The way she captains England, I think it's amazing and she's a great person as well.

"I would love to play against her, it would be an honour, but I also think it would be quite a struggle. Hopefully [it will happen], that's the dream."

England captain Leah Williamson lifts the trophy following their European Championship triumph

Her coach has no doubts about her potential, with Burton adding: "Gabi is just making her way into the game but she's got a bright future for sure."

The more experienced members of the Luton squad have an important role in mentoring their junior team-mates.

"We just gel well together, a lot of it is just natural and quite effortless really," said McKay.

Luton Ladies are affiliated to the men's team, who will have plenty on their minds this weekend with a home Premier League game against Crystal Palace.

"The men have done great," added McKay.

"They've supported us, given us kit and hopefully that relationship grows more and more as time goes on. Fingers crossed that we can follow in their footsteps."