Three of the 1972 Lionesses invited to Wembley in October to be honoured with an official cap, 50 years after they played in England’s inaugural game against Scotland, are having to share a hotel room for the event, i can reveal.
The original Lionesses are delighted that they are set to be handed official caps but some are disgruntled that the Football Association has not offered to help with travel and accommodation expenses.
Jeannie Allott, a winger in the 1972 side who beat Scotland, lives in the Netherlands and told i the trip is costing her upwards of £500. Allott will be travelling via train and has booked a hotel room with two of her former team-mates to make the trip more affordable.
“I’m definitely coming, the hotel has been booked,” Allott said. “But three in a hotel sharing a room — that’s how bad it is. A single bed and a bunk bed. I’ve got the single bed. I don’t know them that well — it’s been 50 years!” She added: “It hasn’t even got breakfast — I’ve got to pay for that on top.”
Allott says she intends to write her bank account details and cost of the trip on a piece of paper and hand it to one of the FA officials she meets on the day.
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Members of that team shared with i their stories of having to pay their own way to train and play matches and that they were given replica caps, handmade by Flo Bilton, an officer at the Women’s Football Association. Allott, 66, recalled hitchhiking from Crewe to London and back to play for the national team and once sleeping in Waterloo station when she could not find a ride home.
i’s reportage was raised in the House of Commons and the FA eventually revealed it would give all female England players bespoke caps, a system used with the men’s team for 150 years, to honour them properly.
But while Lynda Hale, one of the Original Lionesses, told i last week she was “over the moon” when official confirmation was announced that they would receive the caps at the England v USA friendly, Allott says she and others are unhappy they are, yet again, having to pay their own way. It is thought that at least one member of the team has decided not to attend because she cannot afford the trip.
“It’s nice to know I’m going to get the cap after 50 years, but it’s taken 50 years and I’ve got to pay over £500 to collect it,” Allott said.
“The train fares in England are sky high. A hotel in London is expensive. The FA is making a lot of money out of women’s football. Especially after England won the last tournament.
“It’s upset me a little bit. First I wait for 50 years, now I’ve got to pay to collect it. OK, I get to go in a room at the stadium and have a meal. But it’s costing me over £500 to receive a cap.
“They need to think of those who live way outside of London. I think it’s a disgrace.”
She added: “I’m going to put my bank account details on a piece of paper and when I shake the hand of someone at the FA I’m going to give it to them.”
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It is understood that as a not-for-profit organisation the FA is not in a position to pay hotel and travel expenses for all of the guests invited to Wembley. An FA source insisted this was the same for the vast majority of guests invited to Wembley events, including the England Senior Men’s 1,000th game in 2019.
An FA spokesperson told i: “We are looking forward to honouring the England players who played under both The Women’s FA and The FA from 1972 until the present day at the marquee international between England and the USA at Wembley Stadium on Friday 7 October 2022.
“As part of the celebrations, we are delighted to be welcoming and hosting members of the inaugural 1972 team as our guests, who will play a key role in proceedings and will receive a bespoke England cap on the evening as part of a special presentation.”
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