It's June 2005 and a solitary column in the inside back cover of The Times informs readers that the English women's team will take no further part in their home tournament. The Albion are about to embark on their sixth season at The Withdean.

It's July 2022 and the English women's team lead Norway 5-0 in the first half at the 'Brighton & Hove Community Stadium'. It's their second group game of a tournament they will dominate and go on to win. The Amex is rocking, for this game and the subsequent quarter final against Spain.

It was after that game against Norway that I got quite emotional. Not only were the country taking women's football seriously: they were doing it at our ground. Sure, there was PTSD as I remembered the last team at the Amex to score five (Bournemouth) and sadness that the 8-0 victory may never be emulated by an Albion side. But mainly, it was pride.

Photo by @groundhoppercam

I wasn't there that night, but I watched it with 7.6m on the BBC (the highest audience in 2005 was 2.75m). A women's team fully backed by a delirious capacity crowd at Albion's incredible home ground. 2005 me wouldn't believe it. 2022 me barely does. An incredible statement of how far the women's game - and the Albion - has come.

It's easy to forget exactly how far we've come It's very easy to forget how lucky we are to have Tony Bloom, and this stadium. The Amex may be over a decade old now, but every single visit is one I treasure. As I have every Albion game since Doncaster in 2011 (well, maybe not that Bournemouth one).

The growth of the women's game has been wonderful. When I studied football at university in 2005 (I know, right?) I wrote about how the media needed to provide more coverage of the women's game to help propel it forward. In July 2022, Euro fever was everywhere: the traditional press lapped it up, and social media went into overdrive. I've spent more time this summer watching TikToks about Leah Williamson than the entirety of the BBC coverage for that 2005 tournament.

The success of the tournament in 2023 has been largely attributed to the reorganisation of the women's game in 2010, following the loss of (Albion legend) Hope Powell's Lionesses in the Euro 2009 final. And, yes, this reorganisation must have contributed to the most successful England team of all time. But did they get it completely right?

And whilst the WSL is undoubtedly an improvement on what came before, it is a model based entirely on the Premier League. There was a chance to look seriously at creating a more level playing field - one where the clubs with huge financial clout could not buy the league. It didn't happen. And most likely never will.

And whilst the WSL is undoubtedly an improvement on what came before, it is a model based entirely on the Premier League. There was a chance to look seriously at creating a more level playing field - one where the clubs with huge financial clout could not buy the league. It didn't happen. And most likely never will.

Competitiveness is this sport's greatest attribute. The fact anyone can beat anyone, regardless of income, or supposed quality of playing staff. This can still be done in men's and women's football, of course, but it's far easier to win games when you can pay £60m for a full back. Or sign one of the best young full backs in the country for free.

At the 2022 tournament, the England squad consisted of players from just five domestic clubs: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United (and one of the two Villa players was on loan from Manchester City). Villa aside, the four clubs that provided the most Lionesses finished in the top four of the WSL last season.

And as the glow of this glorious summer wore off, I watched in horror as Albion's most impressive proposition of all time, Maya Le Tissier, left for Manchester United for (seemingly) no fee and (I assume) improved wages.

As with the men, the privileged few at the top seem to be completely on another level (OK, maybe this doesn't quite hold true with uson the march for Europe!) There's a Champions League effect here, too. The Albion women finished 7th last season - a wonderful achievement - but the top four was never a possibility. And games against the top four were fruitless.

So structurally, what can be done? Now, probably nothing? But in 2010 there was a real opportunity to introduce a salary cap, or a financial fair play that actually works, or measures to ensure more parity.

As the women's game becomes more professional, and a more attractive proposition for sponsorship. As the game grows its TV revenue and becomes richer, there is still time to implement level playing field policies. Two being relegated from the top flight each season would be a good start.

Maybe I'm just a bitter Albion women's supporter whose favourite player last season was signed by a club who have only existed for four years? Maybe I want Bloom to spend 10% of the Cucurella fee on a charge for WSL glory? Maybe I just can't enjoy an amazing thing like winning a major international tournament without finding something to moan about?

And as the structural changes are about as likely to happen as the England men's team winning a major tournament, I'll have to settle for the Albion investing more in our women's team. How can you help? Make sure that you go watch a game this season. Even if it is in Crawley. At risk of sounding like the club's marketing department, it's only £10.

This article was originally published in Dogma Issue 7, September 2022 and has been amended slightly for publication here.

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