Everton Ladies Celebrate With Tim Howard The WSL Launch

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has urged the club's fans to support Everton Ladies as they enter a new era in women's football.

The Blues are one of eight clubs to play in the inaugural season of the new Women's Super League, which starts this month and will be played during the summer.

The new set-up is backed by £3m from the Football Association and Everton are founder members of the new division along with Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Doncaster, Bristol, Lincoln and Birmingham.

Rachel Brown is the Everton and England number one, and is in line to play at this summer's World Cup in Germany and in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

She has been involved in the game for the past 15 years since she made her debut for local rivals Liverpool at the age of 15.

The 30-year-old has seen the development of the game over that time and admits girls coming into the game now are more fortunate than she was.

"I wish this happened a few years ago," said Brown.

"People say women's football doesn't get the credit and it's not as far forward as it should be. But when I look at it now from where it was 15 years ago, it's made a massive step forward.

"There's been a progression in the standard of football; there are over a million women and girls playing football in this country now - that is phenomenal really.

Source: bbc.co.uk

Photo: Everton FC

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