Tottenham statement: "The progress and evolution of our women's set-up is an ongoing, organic process"; Morgan announces she has signed for Crystal Palace on Women's Football Show
Sunday 12 July 2020 18:58, UK
Goalkeeper Chloe Morgan says her former club Tottenham must do more to ensure the women's team do not feel like second-class citizens.
Morgan has just left Tottenham after six years with the club to move to Crystal Palace, and appeared to suggest on Twitter earlier this week she did not see eye-to-eye with the club with respect to equality between the men's and women's teams.
The shot-stopper told The Women's Football Show her motivation for speaking out is to create a better environment for the next generation of female footballers, insisting her former club must do more to bridge the inequality between the two squads.
"In terms of my experiences with Spurs, I'm still taking the time to reflect back on the things that have happened and the experience I have had with the club over the past six years," Morgan told The Women's Football Show.
"Now as an older player, I definitely think things could be better on the women's side in terms of equality and I'm ready to stand up and speak out against that, and that's with the intention of making things better for the next generation of players.
"I don't want to see progress go at such a slow pace. It's almost going nowhere, I want to be part of the push forward.
"But in terms of equality and what I think Spurs should do better, I definitely think there are grounds there to really consolidate the women's and men's team and make it more of a cohesive team.
"I never want a situation where a women's team feel like a second-class team or they feel like they are second-class citizens to a men's team, so I think there is work to be done there.
"I do think in some ways the men's team were supportive but I definitely think there were occasions when the cohesion could have been a lot better.
"In terms of being part of the men's setup I definitely think there could have been ways we could have used the facilities better, we could have been in a situation where we met the men's team more a little bit more often.
"I just think there were things that were going on behind the scenes that I feel need to be addressed."
In a statement given to Sky Sports News, Tottenham insisted equality and inclusion is of "paramount importance" to the club, pointing to their launch of their new female talent pathway as just one example of the strides they are making.
"The progress and evolution of our women's set-up is an ongoing, organic process and something which we as a club are fully committed to," a Tottenham spokesperson said.
"In a short space of time, the club has fully integrated its women's team into its day-to-day operations and fully supported the team's entry into the Barclays FA Women's Super League (WSL).
"Last year, we staged the first Women's north London derby in the top flight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which set a new all-time attendance record for the WSL of 38,262. We have also this week launched a new Female Talent Pathway, enabling us to help aspiring young female footballers develop their skills from a young age to play at the highest level possible.
"Equality and inclusion is of paramount importance to us as a club and is central to everything we do.
"Our men's players have shown cohesiveness with our women's team by attending matches in support of the players, engaging with them on social media and appearing alongside each other at community events as we recognise that our men's and women's players provide equal inspiration to young people within our local area.
"Our women's team has a dedicated home at The Hive Stadium - training is split between The Hive and our training centre, based on logistical requirements and in compliance with regulations pertaining to gender appropriate changing areas.
"Players have full access to appropriate training facilities and medical provision at all times, including those utilised by our men's and academy teams when they train at our training centre, where both the men's and women's teams are undergoing tests for COVID-19."
Crystal Palace have moved quickly to sign Morgan, who was a free agent after the expiration of her Tottenham contract.
Palace had made the arrival of a goalkeeper a top priority after Lucy Gillett left the club.
The 30-year-old is excited about the prospect of moving across London to join the Women's Championship club.
"It's been in the process now for a couple of weeks and it is something that I am so excited about," Morgan said.
"The club for me, when we have played them before, we have had some really difficult, tough games and they have been a tough side.
"I'm very much looking forward to another promotion battle - the club's got ambitions this season - so I'm very much looking forward to being a big part of that."
Morgan helped Tottenham to promotion to the WSL in 2019 and Palace manager Dean Davenport was pleased to add the shot-stopper.
Speaking to the Palace club website, Davenport added: "Chloe is a major coup for the club. In bringing her to Palace, we have signed someone with valuable experience who knows exactly what is required to get promoted from this league.
"We returned to training on Thursday this week, and I can already tell Chloe will fit in with the squad well."
