Latest news with #HollyMurdoch
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Alcohol trial at women's matches to be expanded to up to 14 clubs next season
Four clubs – Birmingham, Bristol City, Newcastle and Southampton – took part in a similar trial in the second half of last season and it has now been extended to include up to a further 10 clubs. The sale of alcohol in sight of the pitch is illegal in men's football, but the legislation does not cover the women's game. The new clubs joining the trial are Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, London City Lionesses, Manchester City and Manchester United from the Women's Super League, plus Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and Sunderland in the second-tier Women's Super League 2. Bristol City was one of the venues taking part in last season's trial (Jacob King/PA) Chelsea, London City Lionesses and Newcastle's involvement is still subject to approval from their local safety advisory groups. The aim of expanding the trial is to test at larger scale across a full season, covering a broader range of crowd and stadium sizes. Some of the country's biggest football stadia, including Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, Goodison Park and Stamford Bridge, could potentially be involved. Many of the venues are set to offer the opportunity for tickets to be purchased in designated alcohol-free areas, WSL Football said. Holly Murdoch, the chief operating officer of WSL Football, said: 'Expanding this trial for the new campaign, encompassing our Barclays WSL teams and additional Barclays WSL2 clubs too, is part of our strategy to offer a best-in-class experience for our fans attending matches. The Emirates Stadium is set to feature in the new trial (Ben Whitley/PA) 'Exploring giving supporters the choice to drink alcohol in the stands was something we were excited to trial and, following such positive feedback from the proof-of-concept version, we're looking forward to opening it up to more venues and equally hearing from those at the heart of it – our clubs and supporters.' Feedback from the four-club trial in the second half of last season was positive. Two-thirds surveyed supported the idea of the trial continuing, with 48 per cent strongly supporting its continuation. There were no safety incidents reported and 84 per cent of fans rated their sense of safety at nine or 10 out of 10.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Seven WSL clubs to trial allowing alcohol in stands
Alcohol will be permitted in the stands at seven Women's Super League clubs from the 2025-26 season as part of a trial, marking a significant departure from the decades-long ban imposed on men's games to curb hooliganism. For the upcoming season, fans attending matches at Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, London City Lionesses, Manchester City, and Manchester United stadiums will be able to consume alcohol. This follows a successful trial last year across 19 fixtures involving four second-tier WSL2 clubs and 51,000 supporters. The WSL reported that two-thirds of fans were in favour, with 84 per cent rating their safety between nine and 10 out of 10. Holly Murdoch, chief operating officer for WSL Football, said: "Expanding this trial for the new campaign, encompassing our Barclays WSL teams and additional Barclays WSL2 clubs too, is part of our strategy to offer a best-in-class experience for our fans attending matches. "Exploring giving supporters the choice to drink alcohol in the stands was something we were excited to trial and following such positive feedback from the proof-of-concept version, we're looking forward to opening it up to more venues and equally, hearing from those at the heart of it — our clubs and supporters." The growing women's game in England has proved a far more family-friendly experience than men's football, where foul language is common and violence often flared in past decades, leading to a 1985 ban on alcohol in view of the pitch. The 1985 legislation does not cover the women's game. As well as underlining the cleaner atmosphere at women's games, the decision is a nod to the success of in-seat drinking at the 2025 Women's European Championship.
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Alcohol trial at women's matches to be expanded to up to 14 clubs next season
Four clubs – Birmingham, Bristol City, Newcastle and Southampton – took part in a similar trial in the second half of last season and it has now been extended to include up to a further 10 clubs. The sale of alcohol in sight of the pitch is illegal in men's football, but the legislation does not cover the women's game. The new clubs joining the trial are Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, London City Lionesses, Manchester City and Manchester United from the Women's Super League, plus Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and Sunderland in the second-tier Women's Super League 2. Chelsea, London City Lionesses and Newcastle's involvement is still subject to approval from their local safety advisory groups. The aim of expanding the trial is to test at larger scale across a full season, covering a broader range of crowd and stadium sizes. Some of the country's biggest football stadia, including Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, Goodison Park and Stamford Bridge, could potentially be involved. Many of the venues are set to offer the opportunity for tickets to be purchased in designated alcohol-free areas, WSL Football said. Holly Murdoch, the chief operating officer of WSL Football, said: 'Expanding this trial for the new campaign, encompassing our Barclays WSL teams and additional Barclays WSL2 clubs too, is part of our strategy to offer a best-in-class experience for our fans attending matches. 'Exploring giving supporters the choice to drink alcohol in the stands was something we were excited to trial and, following such positive feedback from the proof-of-concept version, we're looking forward to opening it up to more venues and equally hearing from those at the heart of it – our clubs and supporters.' Feedback from the four-club trial in the second half of last season was positive. Two-thirds surveyed supported the idea of the trial continuing, with 48 per cent strongly supporting its continuation. There were no safety incidents reported and 84 per cent of fans rated their sense of safety at nine or 10 out of 10.
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Alcohol trial at women's matches to be expanded to up to 14 clubs next season
Four clubs – Birmingham, Bristol City, Newcastle and Southampton – took part in a similar trial in the second half of last season and it has now been extended to include up to a further 10 clubs. The sale of alcohol in sight of the pitch is illegal in men's football, but the legislation does not cover the women's game. The new clubs joining the trial are Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, London City Lionesses, Manchester City and Manchester United from the Women's Super League, plus Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and Sunderland in the second-tier Women's Super League 2. Chelsea, London City Lionesses and Newcastle's involvement is still subject to approval from their local safety advisory groups. The aim of expanding the trial is to test at larger scale across a full season, covering a broader range of crowd and stadium sizes. Some of the country's biggest football stadia, including Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, Goodison Park and Stamford Bridge, could potentially be involved. Many of the venues are set to offer the opportunity for tickets to be purchased in designated alcohol-free areas, WSL Football said. Holly Murdoch, the chief operating officer of WSL Football, said: 'Expanding this trial for the new campaign, encompassing our Barclays WSL teams and additional Barclays WSL2 clubs too, is part of our strategy to offer a best-in-class experience for our fans attending matches. 'Exploring giving supporters the choice to drink alcohol in the stands was something we were excited to trial and, following such positive feedback from the proof-of-concept version, we're looking forward to opening it up to more venues and equally hearing from those at the heart of it – our clubs and supporters.' Feedback from the four-club trial in the second half of last season was positive. Two-thirds surveyed supported the idea of the trial continuing, with 48 per cent strongly supporting its continuation. There were no safety incidents reported and 84 per cent of fans rated their sense of safety at nine or 10 out of 10.
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Alcohol trial at women's matches to be expanded to up to 14 clubs next season
Four clubs – Birmingham, Bristol City, Newcastle and Southampton – took part in a similar trial in the second half of last season and it has now been extended to include up to a further 10 clubs. The sale of alcohol in sight of the pitch is illegal in men's football, but the legislation does not cover the women's game. The new clubs joining the trial are Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, London City Lionesses, Manchester City and Manchester United from the Women's Super League, plus Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and Sunderland in the second-tier Women's Super League 2. Chelsea, London City Lionesses and Newcastle's involvement is still subject to approval from their local safety advisory groups. The aim of expanding the trial is to test at larger scale across a full season, covering a broader range of crowd and stadium sizes. Some of the country's biggest football stadia, including Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, Goodison Park and Stamford Bridge, could potentially be involved. Many of the venues are set to offer the opportunity for tickets to be purchased in designated alcohol-free areas, WSL Football said. Holly Murdoch, the chief operating officer of WSL Football, said: 'Expanding this trial for the new campaign, encompassing our Barclays WSL teams and additional Barclays WSL2 clubs too, is part of our strategy to offer a best-in-class experience for our fans attending matches. 'Exploring giving supporters the choice to drink alcohol in the stands was something we were excited to trial and, following such positive feedback from the proof-of-concept version, we're looking forward to opening it up to more venues and equally hearing from those at the heart of it – our clubs and supporters.' Feedback from the four-club trial in the second half of last season was positive. Two-thirds surveyed supported the idea of the trial continuing, with 48 per cent strongly supporting its continuation. There were no safety incidents reported and 84 per cent of fans rated their sense of safety at nine or 10 out of 10.
