England's women's World Cup players will land around £35,000 ($55,000) each "should they go all of the way and win the tournament in Canada," according to Craig Hope of the London DAILY MAIL. A bonus payment in the region of £800,000 ($1.2M) "will be shared among the squad of 23 players if they become the first England team since 1966 to rule the football world." Given that their central contracts with the FA are worth £26,000 ($40,000) per year, "that is a sizeable incentive and the incremental scheme has already rewarded them for reaching the semi-finals." England’s
men’s team, however, was set to earn 10 times that amount -- £350,000
per player -- had it "returned victorious from Brazil last summer." The
top female earner is captain Steph Houghton, whose salary of £65,000 ($102,000) "is
made up of her international retainer, her contract with Manchester
City and sponsorship deals" (DAILY MAIL, 6/29).
U.K. SUPPORT: In London, Carrie Dunn wrote after beating Canada in the quarterfinals, this is only the third time an England team has reached the last four of a football World Cup "after the men managed it in 1966 and 1990." Not surprisingly, "the tributes flooded in." The Duke of Cambridge, the president of the FA, "was quick to congratulate the team." He said, "This team is making history and I can’t wait to see them in action against Japan. The Lionesses are doing their country proud." Wayne Rooney tweeted, "England women doing the country proud. Huge congratulations on reaching the semi-finals." David Beckham "posted a picture of the team’s pre-match huddle on Instagram," captioning it, "Girls, what a performance. We are so proud of what you have achieved and the passion you have shown gives us so much pride. Our lionesses roar into the semis." Reaching a World Cup semifinal "is a groundbreaking achievement but just reward for a complete revamp of elite women’s football in England." This "has been the biggest and most professional England squad at a women’s World Cup, with a full staff travelling with them, from media officers to psychological support." The FA’s commitment to funding and promoting the England team, including offering central contracts to govern int'l commitments, "is admirable and is particularly noteworthy during this tournament when it has become clear that so many countries continue to neglect their women’s teams." The FA Women’s Super League, which began in '11, "has been a big move towards bringing professionalism into the women’s domestic game." It "has been slow and steady progress, intended to encourage the development of English players, with salary caps in place to ensure an even spread of talent and thus a competitive league" (LONDON TIMES, 6/29).
