West Ham and England defender Lucy Parker has revealed that positive conversations have taken place over the possibility of the women’s team playing their home games at the London Stadium.
Parker, who joined the Hammers from London City Lionesses in 2019, spoke about the possibility of playing at the iconic venue in an interview with Sky Sports. She expressed her excitement at the prospect of playing in front of larger crowds and inspiring young girls to take up the sport.
The London Stadium has a capacity of 60,000, making it one of the largest stadiums in the country. West Ham’s men’s team has played their home games there since 2016, but the women’s team currently play their home matches at Rush Green Stadium, which has a capacity of just over 2,000.
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However, discussions have been ongoing between the club and the stadium operators over the possibility of using the London Stadium for women’s games. Parker revealed that she had spoken to West Ham’s vice-chairman Karren Brady about the idea, and that the club were “keen to explore” the possibility.
Parker said: “It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase women’s football and to hopefully inspire the next generation. It would be amazing to play in front of big crowds, and the London Stadium is such an iconic venue. We’re really excited about the possibility.”
The move would be a significant step forward for women’s football in England, which has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. The Women’s Super League has attracted a host of top international players in recent seasons, and the national team reached the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup.
West Ham currently sit seventh in the Women’s Super League table, and are looking to push on in the second half of the season. The possibility of playing their home games at the London Stadium would give the team a significant boost, both on and off the pitch.
The news has been welcomed by fans of the women’s game, who have been calling for greater investment and support for women’s football in England. The move would also be a significant step forward for West Ham, who have been working hard to build a successful women’s team in recent years.
