Midfielder Lindsey Morgan hoping West Ham Ladies' hard work on training ground will be rewarded on the pitch

Midfielder Lindsey Morgan hopes the West Ham Ladies’ hard work on the training pitch will see them climb up the table once they return to FA Women’s Premier League South.

The Hammers haven’t played a league game since they beat Chesham United 3-1 on December 8 because of the wet weather conditions so far this winter and might not play another league game until March.

The Ladies currently sit fourth from bottom having picked up 12 points from their opening 12 games and Lindsey believes the prolonged winter break has been a positive.

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"I think to a certain extent having a break from games has worked in our favour," the 33 year old said. "It has enabled us to regroup and given us the opportunity to work together as a squad to improve in some areas.

"I can't really see any issues arising as a result of the backlog of games. It will obviously prolong our season but for me this will only become an issue if we suffer any injuries because we don't have the biggest squad this season in comparison to previous years."

Lindsey rejoined West Ham United in 2011 from Millwall Lionesses and has impressed so far this season with one player of the match award and a goal in 12 appearances.

"My hope moving forward is that we put in some good solid team performances and pick up some momentum,’ she continued. "It is important that we pull together and work for each other and hopefully the results will start to reflect the hard work we are putting in on the training pitch.

"As a senior player I look forward to continuing to nurture the young talent at the club and will pass on my experience to the other players in the squad whenever possible."

The midfielder had planned to hang up her boots at the end of the 2011/12 campaign but admits she now has no plans to retire. "I have spoken previously about retirement but while I'm fit and injury free hanging up my boots couldn't be further from my mind," she said.

As for the departures of fellow senior players, forward Becky Merritt and goalkeeper Toni Anne Wayne, she added: "It is the nature of football that there will be a natural turnover of players at the club. However, that being said it is always disappointing to lose experienced players. On a positive note we have a lot of good young talent at the club and perhaps this will give them the opportunity that they need to break through into the first team."

The Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Grays, Essex, RM19 1YN.

Captain Becky Merritt quits West Ham Ladies for Women’s Super League hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion

West Ham Ladies captain Becky Merritt has followed goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne in quitting the club to join Women’s Super League hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion.

 The 27-year-old, who joined the Hammers in 2009, had been made captain following the arrival of Mark Saunderson as Ladies manager in the summer. But in an exclusive interview with Blowing Bubbles, the forward admitted the move to the south coast side – on standby to join the Women’s Super League (WSL) – was one she couldn’t turn down.

“I am extremely sad to be leaving the club because ultimately I am a West Ham fan and it was such great feeling pulling on that shirt every week,” she said. “Being captain ensured the decision was even more difficult because I would never want to let down the players, management or the club. I have invested so much time and effort behind the scenes in recent years to try and help take the club forward and this just reinforced my love for the Hammers.”

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Becky, whose only goal of the season came at home against Chesham United in the league in December, said the decision to quit wasn’t one she took lightly.

 “I can honestly say this has been the hardest decision in my football career,” she continued. “Ultimately I had two choices; stay where I was or move to face a new challenge. The offer from Brighton was too good to turn down.

"The club has an amazing vision so it is exciting to be a part of this ambition. Due to the nature of the approach, coupled with the fact that Brighton are keen to strengthen ready for potential WSL status, my decision had to be made within a certain time frame.

"I utilised every possible day to make the decision because I was so torn. But having experienced my first few training sessions as a Brighton player, I do feel as though I have the buzz back again, and therefore from a personal perspective, have made the right decision.”

The former Crystal Palace and Gravesend & Northfleet player announced her decision to the squad at the end of last month.

“Everyone has been supportive of the move, from the players right through to the management and even the fans,” Becky explained. “Everyone seems to understand the opportunity is a good one, especially with the WSL expansion, and have wished me lots of luck in my new challenge.

"I have made some great friends throughout my West Ham journey and hope to remain in contact with them. I personally contacted players, staff and supporters individually to explain my decision because as captain I felt I owed them all an explanation and I wanted to wish each and every one of them luck for the remaining season.”

The West Ham Ladies have endured a difficult season so far and currently sit fourth from bottom in the FA Womens Premier League South.

Becky continued: “The season has been a tough one as West Ham Ladies are a team very much in transition. There have been moments of frustration but also moments of sheer joy. The club has massive potential with a mix of experience and youth within the ranks.

“The club was obviously disappointed in not gaining WSL status and this makes for a nervous time for most managers within the league, as the bigger clubs look to take their pick of players. With this in mind I have no doubt that the Ladies will survive the hardships and continue to be a success in the women's game.

“The weather is proving to be disruptive but I know that once the girls have a run of games they will surprise a few teams. You cannot underestimate the passion and belief of some of these players, combined with the experience of others and therefore may become the dark horse.

“I sincerely hope that the club continues to grow into a sustainable and successful club. Hopefully they will be considered in the next WSL applications and can really kick on. The club has some amazing people working behind the scenes, and in women's football, these people are gold dust”

Reflecting on her time at the club, she added: “There have been so many highlights during my four years here. Being a fan, pulling the shirt on every week was an immense feeling and that passion was transferred into my game. Scoring a hat-trick on my full debut against Fulham was pretty special, as was my goal in the County Cup final.

"But the overwhelming highlight has to be the captaincy. There aren't enough words to explain my pride at that appointment. My only disappointment is not winning any silverware in claret and blue.”

Becky is, however, “extremely excited” by Brighton’s ambitions as a club. She concluded: “In my first conversation with the club's officials it was clear to see they were going somewhere. There is a real intent in their actions and beliefs, and this inevitably transfers to the players who demand such high standards themselves.

"The opportunity to play in the WSL was an obvious attraction but the real swaying point was the knowledge and expertise of the staff, I realised immediately that I will only improve as a player and the staff can help add longevity to my career.”

Blowing Bubbles would like to thank Becky for her amazing efforts in helping us build our excellent relationship with the Ladies.

Goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne quits West Ham Ladies for Women’s Super League hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion

West Ham Ladies shot stopper Toni-Anne Wayne has quit the club to join Women’s Super League hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion.

The 30-year-old had been in fine form for the Hammers this season, bagging two player of the match awards in 13 games. But she admitted the move to the south coast side – currently on standby to join the Women’s Super League - was one she couldn’t turn down.

“I had a few approaches come in for me this season including one from Millwall but I know there are quite a few players going there so I turned them down,” the goalkeeper told Blowing Bubbles. “Then Brighton came along and my initial reaction was that I would say no because it was too far for me to travel but their manager wanted to meet me and speak to me so I went down there to look around their set up.

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“During my journey down there, I was thinking there was no way I would join Brighton but I was really impressed with their set up and the support from the men’s team which is second to none.

“I’m at an age now where I’m starting to get a few injuries and as great as the physios are at West Ham, I think at Brighton I’ll be able to sort them out rather than maintain them. That was my thinking behind the move but the chance to play in the Women’s Super League, which Brighton are on standby for, was another big reason for moving to them.”

The former Charlton Athletic and Gillingham ‘keeper said she thought the current season would be her last but admitted if Brighton get into the Women’s Super League, she doesn’t know what she will do.

“I spoke to the manager [Mark Saunderson] and told him about Brighton and them saying they wanted me to go down there and he was great,” Toni-Anne continued. “He told me he didn’t want me to go and would be sad to lose me but that I deserve to be playing at a higher level.

“I also spoke in depth to Julia Setford [Director of Football] and she was great too because she looked at it from a West Ham point of view but also as my friend.

“I was told I had to make the decision the Tuesday after the Cardiff game [December 1] but by the time we were travelling to the game, I still hadn’t made up my mind because even though I knew deep down what the right decision was, I love this club.

“I was so upset after the game, which we lost 4-1, because I knew it was likely to be my last. On the Monday night, I sent a group e-mail to everyone explaining my decision to leave and I was asked if I could play one last game, which turned out to be the following week at home to Chesham United, and if I could be captain for it.

“They are a great bunch of girls and it was an honour to be captain. They really didn’t have to do that especially given the fact I’m going to be in the same league and playing against them in April.”
Toni-Anne, who has played on and off for West Ham for the past five years, still has high hopes for the Hammers in the future.

“They are building and working hard to get a better infrastructure in place with things like the Centre of Excellence to help bid for Women’s Super League in 2015,” she added.

“I think you can see from the likes of Liverpool, Brighton and Chelsea that the only way women’s football can progress is with the support from the men’s teams and for me West Ham doesn’t have that at the moment. But they do deserve to be in the Women’s Super League and I don’t think people on the outside appreciate the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

“Everything is done for the players so that all they have to do is turn up and play their game and don’t have to do anything else. I’m really going to miss everyone at the club and I wish them all the luck for the rest of the season.”

The West Ham Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Aveley, Essex, EM19 1YN. They play Charlton on January 5 at home with kick off at 2pm.

Cup run could ignite season for West Ham Ladies

A good run in every cup competition will help fire the West Ham Ladies up the FA Women’s Premier League South.
That is the view of centre back Sophie Reed who has impressed so far this season after breaking into the first team.
The 20-year-old has been with the club since she was 11 and has flourished since she was given her league debut against Lewes in September.

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Speaking exclusively to Blowing Bubbles, the London Metropolitan University student said: “We’ve got KIKK United in the cup this weekend which is our last game this year so we are hoping to get a good win before our Christmas break.
“We are taking all our cup competitions very seriously this season because cup games are great to play in. It’s just something about them that gets me and the others excited.
“In many cup games we go into them without knowing the opposition very well which I always like and I think some players are more relaxed and play more freely in cup games.
“I honestly believe if we can have a good run in all cup competitions then these performances will rub off on our league form and hopefully we can start climbing the league.”
Reed spoke to Blowing Bubbles after the Ladies comfortably beat Cheshum United 3-1 last weekend with the goals coming from Cherrelle Albert and captain Bex Merritt.

The victory ended a nine game winless which stretched back to the last time the Hammers played Cheshum back in September. They currently sit ninth in the league - five points above Keynsham Town at the bottom.
Sophie, who has made 11 appearances so far this season, continued: “I didn’t expect to have played so many games for the first team this season but the manager has come in and given me the chance to play in a lot of games.
“I think I’ve been doing all right. At first I was really nervous but with every game I’ve played, I’ve felt my confidence grow.
“Everyone in the squad has also been brilliant at making me feel welcome. They are all so friendly and that has helped to make the step up easier for me.
“The senior players in the team are really approachable and have been great at helping me out and giving advice.”
She added: “We have been getting results that on paper don’t look too good but we have been playing well. But we are working hard as a team and we’ve just been unlucky not to get the results we deserve.
“We are trying to put things right and everyone has been training hard even though it hasn’t really been happening for us this season so far.
“Everyone also makes the effort of picking each other up and we all try to go again as a team. We need to keep going because there are a lot more games to play this season.”
The Ladies were also boosted by the return of Danica Revell and Stacey Little from injury and both impressed last weekend. It was, however, the last game for influential goalkeeper Toni Anne-Wayne who has joined Brighton & Hove Albion Ladies.
Sophie continued: “Danica is such a brilliant defender. We are a similar age but she has a lot more experience than me and I know I will learn so much from her.
“But while she has been out Hayley [West] and I have been playing together and I think we have started to get a really good understanding of how we both play and I’m looking forward to building on this relationship.
“As for TAW [Toni Anne Wayne], I’m gutted she is leaving because she is such a fantastic ‘keeper. She has been brilliant at helping me week in, week out and she was always there for me.”
She added: “I joined West Ham when I was 11 and I’ve gone all the way through the ranks. This is the club I’ve always wanted to play for because I’m a West Ham fan.
“I can still remember now how massive it was for me when I had a trial and then got asked to play for the club.
“My goals for the rest of the season now are to just keep learning and improving and hopefully keep my place in the team.”
The West Ham Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Aveley, Essex, EM19 1YN. They play Charlton on January 5 at home with kick off at 2pm.

Campaign launched to stop FA cutting Women's Premier League and West Ham Ladies funding

West Ham Ladies are fearing for their future after FA plans to withdraw funding from the Women’s Premier League were revealed.

Blowing Bubbles understands that under the new proposals, dubbed the ‘Game Changer’ strategy, the FA’s focus will be primarily on the top flight of women’s football, the recently-created Women’s Super League.

This strategy will be at the expense of the Women’s Premier League, which will be merged with the South West, South East, Midland and Northern Combination league and would mean likely financial and footballing disaster for West Ham Ladies.

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But last week a campaign was launched to try and stop this from happening. A spokesman for the Save Our WPL campaign said: “In December 2012, the FA invited all the Premier League clubs to a meeting to discuss the new League structure where [FA Director of the National Game and Women’s Football] Kelly Simmons delivered the FA’s devastating fait accompli.

"Either the current WPL clubs (29 in all made up of National, Northern and Southern divisions) would have to agree to become amalgamated with the Combination clubs from the leagues below and formed into a new, less supported Championship League, or the WPL would simply cease to exist altogether.

"The meeting was labelled ‘consultation’ but this was the first time all clubs had the chance to look at the new structure and therefore were denied any opportunity to fully consider all its implications.

"A vote was then undertaken in part by at least half the clubs who now belong to the WSL and also one or two now relegated clubs.

"But what was not fully understood at the time was how the clubs, and indeed the entire women’s game, would be affected when the new Championship league lost its Premier League stature and the level of funding substantially decreased.

"This means that 36 clubs per league will get a share of just £45k instead of 22 clubs accessing £140k, therefore less funds to help towards the cost of running teams at this level.

 "The league will be downgraded from Premier to Championship level so clubs will find it hard to attract players and there will be less players coming into the game in the lower leagues because the FA isn’t strongly supporting them.

"When funding is cut, Men’s clubs that have Women’s team may not continue to support them either; therefore there is a real risk to their future survival.

"The FA are building a top down strategy rather than a bottom up one which will create an elitist sport rather than a sport for all."

Save Our WPL are demanding a Special General Meeting with the FA to debate ‘Game Changer’ against their alternative strategy for women’s football, ‘Every Player Counts’.

 The spokesman added: “It’s clear from Women’s Premier League (WPL) players’ reactions so far, the absence of promotion from WPL to Women’s Super League (WSL) in the Game Changer strategy is a huge demotivating factor in their development and may even cause some to leave the game.

"Rather than throwing the Women’s Premier League under the bus, the FA should, in fact, be looking to retain the WPL and invest more in its growth both in finance and management, as they have learned already how necessary it is to support the lower leagues in the men’s game.

"Ours is an approach that will be a more effective and cost-efficient way to achieve a more widespread player development route and create pathways for new players.

"In short, it will respect and deliver on the women’s game as a national, grassroots movement and not an elite sport for the wealthy few. And it will ultimately better serve the England national team by helping to develop many more English players. The FA have also moved to distance themselves from the FAWPL by claiming their previous collaboration was a “mistake”.

The news was announced on the influential independent FAWPL News Twitter account which has done much to promote the women’s game in England. The FA were unavailable for comment.