While the Football Association might say they are 'pleased to confirm' that Sky Sports and BBC Sport have made their Women's Super League broadcast selections for the opening weekend of April, the kick-off times completely neglect travelling fans.
Sky Sports have selected to showcase the WSL clash Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester United on Saturday, April 1st with an 11:30am kick-off at Broadfield stadium.
For dedicated United fans it is a 400-mile round trip and according to numerous sites to book a train, travel availability by public transport is in serious question.
It would potentially take over four hours and two changes via rail if leaving Manchester Piccadilly station at 6:30am and arriving at Broadfield stadium with 40 minutes to spare, the route back is equally as long. But in any case tickets are unavailable to be purchased due to a suspected rail strike on April 1st.
BBC Two are set to feature Arsenal’s hosting of Manchester City in a WSL top-of-the-table clash at 12:30pm. That's a 380-mile round trip from the Academy Stadium to Borehamwood - four hours by car or over six by rail, one way.
Broadcast times are undoubtedly interfering with game scheduling and massively favour the fans who watch from home, stealthily taking ticket money from the clubs. To watch from home without a Sky Sports membership it will cost £11.99 otherwise it will cost £10 per game ticket plus travel expenses.
Sky Sports also selected to broadcast the Aston Villa fixture against Chelsea at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Sunday, April 2nd with a later kick-off at 18:45 further ignoring travelling fans and their families to watch and support their women’s teams in person, on a school night.
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