U.K. football club Lewes will become the first professional or semi-professional club in the world to pay its female players the same as its men, with the supporter-owned side saying that the change is "just the right thing to do," according to George Caulkin of the LONDON TIMES. Announcing the formation of Equality FC, Lewes' "campaign to raise awareness of gender inequality in football," the club confirmed it "will set playing budgets at an equal level" for its men's and women's teams. Lewes Ladies play in the Premier League Southern Division -- the third tier of the women's game in England. The men are in Isthmian League Division One South, four levels below the Football League. Lewes Dir Jacquie Agnew said, "We believe that there should be a level playing field for women in football." Lewes will pay for this arrangement "through donors, sponsorship, and by encouraging a broadening of their ownership" (LONDON TIMES, 7/12). In London, Marcus Christenson reported the club set out its aims as follows:
- Raising and setting the playing budgets for the women's and men's first teams "at an equal level."
- Providing equal resources for "coaching, performance and strength & conditioning staff."
- Upgrading equipment and facilities to "meet the standards required by higher football divisions."
- Investment in local grassroots outreach to "drive equal participation in football from girls and boys" (GUARDIAN, 7/12).
