Professional Footballers' Association

Last updated

PFA
Professional Footballers' Association
Founded1907
Headquarters20 Oxford Court, Bishopsgate, Manchester
Location
  • England and Wales, United Kingdom
Members
Increase2.svg 5,457 (2022) [1]
Key people
Affiliations TUC, GFTU, FEU, FIFPro
Website thepfa.com

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales.

Contents

Founded in 1907, it is the world's oldest professional sports trade union, [2] with approximately 5,000 current members each season, including players from the Premier League, EFL and Women’s Super League. [3] Nearly 50,000 former members retain access to services and benefits including education grants, coaching courses and wellbeing support.

The PFA actively supports players with legal assistance, representation on contractual and disciplinary matters, and offers personal and professional development opportunities. The union also provides extensive mental and physical wellbeing support, and is committed to advocating for player rights at national and international levels. This includes taking legal action on issues such as player workload and pushing for equal representation and conditions in women’s football.

Current initiatives include the PFA Business School, which provides leadership training for players, and exclusive UEFA coaching programmes. The union also prioritises brain health through research and direct support for members dealing with neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, it runs rehabilitation programmes for injured players, pre-season camps for out-of-contract members, and ongoing aftercare support for former professionals transitioning into life after football.

The current CEO of the PFA is Maheta Molango, who took over in 2021, and the Players' Board, led by Leyton Orient's Omar Beckles., [4] represents member interests. The PFA's leadership team is supported by an Operational Board of non-executive directors, which oversees governance.

History

The Players' Union

"Outcasts FC" photograph taken before the 1909-10 season. Outcasts fc 1909 postcard.jpg
"Outcasts FC" photograph taken before the 1909–10 season.

The PFA was formed on 2 December 1907 as the Association Football Players' and Trainers' Union (AFPTU; commonly referred to at the time as the Players' Union). On that date, Charlie Roberts and Billy Meredith (who had been involved in the AFU), both of Manchester United, convened the Players' Union at Manchester's Imperial Hotel. [5]

This was the second attempt to organise a union of professional footballers in England, after the Association Footballers' Union (the "AFU"), formed in 1898, had been dissolved in 1901. The AFU had failed in its objectives of bringing about a relaxation of the restrictions on the movement of players from one club to another in the Football League and preventing the introduction of a maximum wage of £4 per week for players in the Football League.

Like the AFU before it, the Players' Union intended to challenge the maximum wage and the restriction on transfers, in the form of the "retain and transfer" system.

Threatened strike action in 1909

When the Players' Union made its objectives clear in 1909, the Football Association withdrew its recognition of the Union, which at that time was seeking to join the U.K.'s General Federation of Trade Unions ('GFTU').

In response, the Union threatened strike action. The Football Association in turn banned players affiliated with the AFPTU before the start of the 1909–10 season. The ban saw membership of the Union fall. However, players from Manchester United refused to relinquish their membership. League clubs turned to amateur players to replace players that had been banned, but Manchester United were not able to find enough replacements, risking the cancellation of their opening fixture at home to Bradford City. The Manchester United players were called "Outcasts FC". [6] [5]

The deadlock swung in favour of the Union when Tim Coleman of Everton came out in support of the Union. Coleman's intervention resuscitated support for the Union, which regained its strength of numbers. Agreement was reached on official recognition for the Union in exchange for allowing bonus payments to be made to players to supplement the maximum wage. The maximum wage remained for more than another half century. [7]

Continuing battles with the Football League

The 1910s saw the Union backing a challenge by Herbert Kingaby against the retain and transfer system in the courts. Kingaby brought legal proceedings against his former employers, Aston Villa, for preventing him from playing. The Players' Union funded the proceedings. Erroneous strategy by Kingaby's counsel resulted in the suit ending disastrously for the Union. [8] The Union were almost ruined financially and membership fell drastically.

Although membership increased from 300 in 1915 to well over 1000 by 1920 this did not herald a new era of radicalism among the rank-and-file. Widespread unemployment heralded declines in attendance at Football League matches at a time when many clubs had, once again, committed themselves to expensive ground improvement programmes in the expectation that the post-war spectator boom would continue indefinitely. Inevitably, this caused financial difficulties at many clubs. Clubs believed their problems were due to players' excessive wages rather than over-expansion. In the spring of 1922, they persuaded the League authorities to arbitrarily impose a £1 cut to the maximum wage (£9 a week at that time) and force clubs to reduce the wages of players who were on less than the maximum. Legal proceedings backed by the Players' Union this time established that clubs could not unilaterally impose a cut in players' contracted wages. [8]

Between 1946 and 1957 the Chairman of the Union was former Portsmouth captain Jimmy Guthrie. His book Soccer Rebel, published in 1976, documents his chairmanship and the struggle of the Union to improve the lot of professional footballers in the years preceding the abolition of the maximum wage.

In 1955, the union affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC). [9]

Modernisation

In 1956, Jimmy Hill became secretary of the Players' Union. He soon changed the union's name to the Professional Footballers' Association (the "PFA"), changing a blue collar image to one in keeping with the new wave of working-class actors and entertainers. [10]

In 1957, Jimmy Hill became chairman of the PFA and campaigned to have the Football League's £20 maximum wage scrapped, which he achieved in January 1961. [11] His Fulham teammate Johnny Haynes became the first £100 player.

The PFA also backed George Eastham in his legal action against the retain and transfer system, providing him with £15,000 to pay for his legal fees. The case was brought against his former club, Newcastle United, in the High Court. In 1963, The Court held that the retain and transfer system was an unreasonable restraint of trade. [12]

From 1960, the union began representing trainers, and for a time was known as the "Professional Footballers' and Trainers' Association". [9]

The union decided to register under the Industrial Relations Act 1971, something the TUC opposed. As a result, it left the TUC in 1973, finally rejoining in 1995. [9]

Centenary

2007 brought along the 100th year since the foundation of The Players Union, and to commemorate the centenary year, the PFA launched their "One Goal One Million" campaign. The campaign involved a whole year of celebratory fund-raising activities with the aim of raising £1 million to fully fund a new children's rehabilitation and physiotherapy unit at the University Children’s Hospital, Manchester. Throughout the year the PFA ran a number of high-profile events involving current and former players and managers with the sole purpose of reaching the £1 million target. [13] Events included a pro-celebrity golf event, race days and initiatives involving younger supporters. On the day that the PFA was formed in 1907 – 2 December – there was a match between an England Legends XI – captained by Alan Shearer and managed by Terry Venables – and a World Legends XI – captained by Gianfranco Zola and managed by Jürgen Klinsmann – culminating in a gala dinner in the evening involving a host of top entertainers.

In December of the centenary year, the PFA issued Fans' Favourites; a list of the favourite players at each Football League club. In making the selection, the PFA canvassed the opinions of the supporters of present, and some former, League clubs about their favourite player. [14]

Independent Review and Governance Restructure

In 2018, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) commissioned an Independent Review to enhance its governance, transparency, accountability, and independence, ensuring the PFA operates effectively and in the best interests of its members. The review was prompted by a dispute. [15] over Ben Purkiss' eligibility as Chairman, and an open letter from 200 players calling for Chief Executive Gordon Taylor to stand down. In response, [16] Taylor promised a full and open review of the union's structure. At the 2018 AGM, held in Manchester in March 2019, it was agreed that Taylor, Purkiss, and the entire management committee would step down following the completion of the review. [17] This extensive review concluded in July 2020 and outlined recommendations for the PFA’s future development.

Former England, Manchester United, and PFA Management Committee member Gary Neville was appointed to oversee the selection panel for the recruitment of four non-executive members, in line with the Independent Review Panel’s recommendations and supported by a specialist recruitment agency. This marked the first step towards implementing the recommendations and establishing a new governance structure. The structure includes an Operational Board and a Players’ Board. The Operational Board, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, consists of non-executive members, the CEO, and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Players’ Board, with a non-executive member elected as chair. The Players' Board holds ultimate decision-making authority and delegates operational responsibilities to the Operational Board. It is directly representative of the union’s membership, with 13 members, including representatives from the Premier League, WSL, EFL Championship, League One, and League Two, along with three former players, at least two of whom have played professionally in the past five years.

Delegates approved the new rules at the AGM, which are now in effect. Following an open and competitive recruitment process, Maheta Molango was appointed as the new Chief Executive, leading the organisation through this period of change and development.

PFA Awards

In 1974, the PFA created three awards to be given to players – or people who have contributed a lot to the game – every year.[ citation needed ]

In 1974 they introduced the first team based award:

In 2001, they created another award:[ citation needed ]

In 2013 and 2014 respectively, the PFA instituted the first female awards:

At this time the PFA Player of the Year award was renamed Men's PFA Player of the Year [20] and the PFA Young Player of the Year was renamed Men's PFA Young Player of the Year. [21]

In 2020, the PFA added another award for the women:

Sexism controversy

In 1997 some Sheffield United players invited their agent, Rachel Anderson, to the annual awards dinner. [23] Anderson was turned away by then PFA Deputy Chief Executive Brendon Batson because she is a woman. [24]

The following year, when West Ham United F.C. player Julian Dicks invited Anderson to attend the dinner, [24] Anderson contacted the PFA to find out what their reaction would be. [23] On receiving a response that she would indeed be banned Anderson decided to go public and take the PFA to court. [24] As a result, the Minister for Sport, Tony Banks, and the Chief Executive of The Football Association, Graham Kelly boycotted the event. [25]

Anderson won in court and the financial cost to the PFA was considerable, Anderson suggests "over £200,000", [23] of which she received £7,500 for "hurt feelings" and an undisclosed amount for "reasonable costs". [24]

In 2013 the PFA instituted awards for the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year. Kim Little was the recipient in the first year. [18]

Current union objectives

The PFA supports all current and former professional footballers in England across the Premier League, English Football League (EFL) and Women’s Super League (WSL).

Through its day-to-day work, the union directly supports players with legal assistance and representation on a wide range of football-related matters (e.g. contractual and disciplinary issues), provides personal and professional development opportunities, and offers mental and physical wellbeing support.  

The union also works with stakeholders and governing bodies at the national and international level to promote and protect players’ rights and conditions.

Player rights advocacy

Scheduling and player workload

In June 2024, the PFA joined a legal action against FIFA over the "overloaded and unworkable" [26] football match calendar which was presented before the Belgian courts. The PFA is a co-claimant in the case alongside the French players’ union (UNFP) and FIFPRO Europe.

In July 2024, the PFA also joined [27] European Leagues and FIFPRO in a separate legal complaint to the European Commission over FIFA’s “abuse of dominance” in the game. Announcing the legal measures, PFA CEO Maheta Molango, who is also on the Board of FIFPRO Europe, said that “legal action is the unfortunate but inevitable consequence of major stakeholders in the game – the leagues and the players – being ignored.”

Molango has warned [28] that players are willing to take direct action if demands are not listened to with regards to workload. He said: “We have reached a point where we cannot discount any action." Molango has said the football schedule [29] is a health risk and is “killing the product.”

Women’s football

The PFA welcomed the Government’s review into women’s football led by Karen Carney, published in July 2023, which recommended that “comprehensive and formalised union representation for both Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship players.” At present the union [30] does not receive direct funding from the FA towards its representation of professional players from the women’s game.

In December 2023, the PFA welcomed [31] the Government’s backing of the Carney review’s recommendations. Molango said that “players will now rightly expect to see [the recommendations] acted on.”

The PFA is a member [32] of the Women’s Football Review Implementation Group which was formed to “progress the review’s recommendations.”

PFA CEO Maheta Molango used an address to the TUC Congress in 2023 to ask Britain’s trade unions to support the call for “equal rights and conditions for female footballers.” The motion was backed [33] by Lionesses Lucy Bronze and Katie Zelem, a member of the elected PFA Player’s Board.

Player guidance and representation

All members of the PFA are entitled [3] to receive contractual advice from the PFA. Under the standard playing contract, current players are also entitled to representation during general and field disciplinary appeals with the FA and with tribunals with the Premier League, EFL and WSL.

The PFA’s legal department oversees all governance and policy matters related to the union. Working alongside the Player Services division, it also provides members with advice on various legal issues in relation to all football matters. General Counsel James King, formerly part of the legal team at Arsenal FC, was appointed [34] to lead the department in May 2022.

Professional and personal development

PFA Business School

In May 2023, the PFA launched the ‘PFA Business School’ to “develop [35] the next generation of leaders in football management.” The school offers PFA members access to bespoke football-relevant courses, led by leaders from across football and sport. Degree and certificate qualifications are accredited [36] by the University of Portsmouth.

In June 2024, the PFA Business School launched [37] a first-of-its-kind undergraduate degree designed specifically for footballers. The course incorporates study for the UEFA B Coaching licence, the FA Talent ID & Scouting Certificate, and preparation for the FIFA Agent Licence. Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Watford signed a partnership with the PFA to co-fund player participation in the programme.

Former Arsenal manager and FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development is overseeing the course as Course Director. Players Jordan Henderson, Phil Jones, Lucy Staniforth and İlkay Gündoğan have studied with the PFA Business School.

Coaching and officiating

The PFA delivers exclusive, subsidised courses to help current and former professional players gain UEFA coaching badges. The courses are led by the PFA’s in-house team of coach developers, led by Head of Coach Development and former Lioness Lousie Newstead, who was appointed [38] in April 2024.

Granit Xhaka, Jermain Defoe, Mohamed Elneny and Colin Kazim-Richards are among the former Premier League players to have undertaken their UEFA coaching badges with the PFA.

In May 2024, the PFA, FA and UEFA announced [39] the first-ever all-female cohort of students for the UEFA A Licence course. The course consists of 17 current and former professional players, including Steph Houghton, Aoife Mannion, Kim Little, Beth Mead and Karen Bardsley.

The PFA Coach Development department co-runs [40] the Professional Player to Coach Scheme (PPCS) alongside the Premier League and EFL. The scheme is designed to increase the number of Black, South Asian and Minority Ethnic players who transition into full-time coaching roles in the professional game.

In June 2024, the PFA announced [41] a partnership with PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) to create a new programme offering current and former players the chance to explore a career in refereeing.

Personal Development

The union’s Personal Development [42] department provides current and former members with access to career advice and skills development opportunities. The department provides members to career advice, professional development guidance and access to funding to pursue courses and academic or vocational qualifications.

Former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter completed [43] a PFA-funded Social Sciences degree from the Open University.

Mental and physical wellbeing

Wellbeing

The PFA’s Wellbeing [44] department provides the union’s members – past and present – with tailored support around all aspects of mental health and behavioural challenges. The department offers direct support to players and clubs, as well as via partners at the Sporting Chance clinic, which provides mental health support specifically for professional sportspeople.    

Members can access a specialised network of over 200 therapeutic counsellors, a 24/7 helpline which puts players in direct contact with a counsellor, and residential care is also accessible for members with particular behavioural or addiction challenges.

Led by psychotherapist and former professional player Dr Michael Bennett, the department conducts tailored workshops to clubs across the Premier League, EFL and WSL. These workshops focus on holistic wellbeing, as well as issues specific to footballers and their working environments.

Confidential data collected during visits to clubs is used to track and highlight wellbeing issues for players in the professional game. In November 2023, the PFA highlighted [45] that anxiety and online abuse were prevalent issues for its members.

In May 2024, the PFA and Loughborough University published findings [46] from a joint study into snus use among professional footballers. The project was commissioned [47] by the union the year prior to explore the usage and perceived health and performance effects of snus use among players.

Brain Health

The PFA’s Brain Health division leads the union’s work around educating and supporting current and former members on all things related to their brain health. The union states [48] that its work is focused on two areas: “developing a culture of positive brain health for players across football”, and “enhancing the quality of life for players living with neurodegenerative disease.”

The department is led by Dr Adam White, [49] an interdisciplinary researcher crossing sport, medicine and health and the co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation.

The union conducts year-round workshops in clubs, educating players and staff coaches on associated risks, relevant guidelines and the need to protect the brain health of players during training and matches.

The department funds and promotes academic research focused on improving current and former players brain health, including brain donation. The PFA has co-funded two studies, FIELD [50] and FOCUS, [51] to help advance understandings of dementia amongst former professional footballers.

In September 2023, the PFA and Premier League launched [52] the Football Brain Health Fund. The fund was established with an initial allocation of £1 million to provide financial support to former players and their families affected by dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. The union’s CEO, Maheta Molango, has said there needs to be a “football-wide responsibility” in supporting former players with neurodegenerative disease.

The PFA’s Brain Health division provides guidance and support for players and families suffering with neurodegenerative disease, including free access to Admiral Nurses specialising in dementia care. Dawn Astle and Rachel Walden, daughters of Jeff Astle and Rod Taylor respectively, joined [53] the union in 2021 to support the union’s care provision for members.  

The PFA and FA co-fund the Advanced BRAIN Health Clinic. [54] Located at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) in central London, the clinic provides confidential and specialist neurological assessments to mid-life retired male and female professional footballers.

Rehabilitation support

The PFA provides players with free, residential rehabilitation support at St George’s park. Delivered in partnership with Game Changer Performance (GCP), the scheme is designed to help members overcome injury and safely return to playing.

Aftercare for former professional players

The After Academy

In April 2024, the PFA was confirmed as a supporting partner to Trent Alexander Arnold's 'The After Academy' [55] project. The initiative provides career opportunities for former academy players who wish to forge new career paths outside of professional football.

The union hosts the scheme’s job board which was launched [56] in February 2024 and is the main access point to view and apply for job listings.

Alexander-Arnold said: “I’m proud of this programme as it looks to give another chance to those who didn’t make it, and I hope it is just a first step towards a brighter future for these young players.”

RECONNECT

In April 2024, the PFA launched [57] RECONNECT – a nationwide fitness network available to retired PFA members and aimed at helping ex-professional players manage the physical and mental transition away from playing full-time.

The scheme was backed by Leicester City’s 2016 Premier League title-winning captain West Morgan. The network is part of a wider PFA effort to help members during and after their playing careers.

PFA CEO Maheta Molango said: “The physical impact of moving away from full-time football is often overlooked, but it can have big knock-on effects at what is often a really challenging time for players.”

Monthly sessions take place at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Liverpool John Moores University, Leeds Beckett University, Hull University, Loughborough University, University College Birmingham, University of East Anglia, among others.

Pre-season support for out-of-contract players

PFA pre-season

To support out-of-contract players during the off-season, in May 2024 the union announced [58] the introduction of  ‘PFA pre-season’, a 10-week residential training camp for PFA members. The scheme followed a successful two-week pilot hosted the year prior.

‘PFA pre-season’ was made available to PFA members who were under professional contracts over the 2023/24 season.

Each week-long camp provided members with a full pre-season training schedule, including on-pitch training and fixtures, strength and conditioning as well as rehabilitation and recovery sessions. The camp was hosted at Champney Springs in Leicestershire with players’ accommodation, nutrition and kit all provided by the union.

The scheme was backed by Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe: “There are a lot of players who will really benefit from this as a way of giving them the best chance of staying ready for when the next opportunity comes.”

In 2024, the camp was attended by players including Dwight Gayle, Ciaran Clark, Aiden O’Brien, Omar Bogle, and Asmir Begovic. Clark [59] said: “You can see how much it helps the lads. It’s massive really, physically and mentally. Being around the lads and the coaches, getting your training sessions in, eating together. It’s all the lads know really.”

The initiative was introduced following a recommendation from the PFA Players’ Board, an elected leadership group of current and former players which helps set the direction of the union.

Key personnel

Players' Board [60]

Chairs

1907: Harry Mainman [61]
1910: Evelyn Lintott [61]
1911: Colin Veitch [61]
1919: Charlie Roberts [61]
1921: Jimmy Lawrence [61]
1922: Jimmy Fay [61]
1929: Howard Matthews [61]
1930: Arthur Wood [61]
1931: David Robbie [61]
1936: Albert Barrett [61]
1937: Sammy Crooks [61]
1946: Jimmy Guthrie [61]
1956: Jimmy Hill [61]
1961: Tommy Cummings [61]
1963: Malcolm Musgrove [61]
1966: Noel Cantwell [61]
1967: Terry Neill [61]
1970: Derek Dougan [61]
1978: Gordon Taylor [61]
1980: Alan Gowling [61]
1982: Steve Coppell [61]
1984: Brian Talbot
1988: Garth Crooks
1990: Brian Marwood
1993: Pat Nevin
1997: Barry Horne
2001: Nick Cusack [62]
2002: Richard Jobson
2003: Dean Holdsworth
2005: Chris Powell
2010: Clarke Carlisle
2013: Ritchie Humphreys
2017: Ben Purkiss
2021: John Mousinho
2023: Omar Beckles

Chief Executives

This position was originally named "secretary".

1907: Herbert Broomfield [61]
1910: Albert Owen [61]
1913: Harry Newbould [61]
1929: Jimmy Fay [61]
1953: Cliff Lloyd [61]
1981: Gordon Taylor [61]
2021: Maheta Molango [61]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PFA Players' Player of the Year</span> Annual award

The Professional Footballers' Association Men's Players' Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the year in English football. The award has been presented since the 1973–74 season and the winner is chosen by a vote amongst the members of the players' trade union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA). The current holder is Phil Foden of Manchester City, who won the award for the first time on 20 August 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FWA Footballer of the Year</span> Annual award

The Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football. The award has been presented since the 1947–48 season, with the inaugural winner being Blackpool winger Stanley Matthews. The latest winner of the award as of 2023–24 is Phil Foden of Manchester City. Nine players have won the award on more than one occasion, with Thierry Henry having won the award on the most occasions, with three wins in four seasons.

The Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels, generally referred to as FIFPRO, is the worldwide representative organisation for 65,000 professional footballers. FIFPRO, with its global headquarters in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, is made up of 66 national players' associations. In addition, there are four candidate members. Lionel Messi has the most ever appearances in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 with 17 overall, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with 15.

Gordon Alexander Taylor OBE is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He was chief executive of the English footballers' trades union, the Professional Footballers' Association, for over 40 years, between 1981 and 2021. In March 2019 it was reported that he was to stand aside upon completion of a "full and open review" into the PFA's finances along with its entire management committee and chairman Ben Purkiss. He was reputed to be the highest paid union official in the world. The 2020 PFA AGM is scheduled for 26 November, and is expected to appoint four non-executive directors. In September 2020 the chair of the all party group on gambling, Carolyn Harris voiced her reservations on gambling related harm exampled by the Union's CEO. On the 1 June 2021, Taylor was formally replaced as CEO, retaining a temporary transitional advisory role to his successor.

Maheta Matteo Molango is a Swiss-born sports executive and former professional footballer. He was born in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, he is an Italian citizen, born to a Congolese father and Italian mother.

The PFA Footballer of the Year Awards is an annual award ceremony created to formally recognise the most outstanding Australian soccer players playing abroad or in the A-League, as well as foreign players playing in the A-League. The inaugural ceremony took place on 11 June 2009 in Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Izzy Christiansen</span> English footballer (born 1991)

Isobel Mary Christiansen is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder or forward. She is known for her time with Manchester City Women between 2014 and 2018, and Everton (2019–2023). She has also played for Birmingham City and Lyon. She played as a junior international in 2009 and later in the senior team, including in the 2019 World Cup qualifiers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PFA Women's Young Player of the Year</span>

The Professional Footballers' Association Women's Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is voted to have been the best of the year in English women's football. The award has been presented since the 2013–14 season and the winner is chosen by a vote amongst the members of the players' trade union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Greenwood</span> English footballer (born 1993)

Alex Greenwood is an English professional footballer who plays for Women's Super League club Manchester City, whom she captains, and the England national team. Primarily a left-sided defender, she plays as both a centre-back and a left-back. Greenwood began her senior career at Everton, Notts County and Liverpool, before playing for Olympique Lyonnais and winning Division 1 and the Champions League with the club. She also captained Manchester United, winning the Championship in their inaugural season. Greenwood is known for her tackling, positional play and passing; as a left-footed player she is a set-piece specialist, who often takes penalties, free kicks and corners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fran Kirby</span> English footballer

Francesca Kirby is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the England national team. She began her career with hometown club Reading before moving to Chelsea in July 2015 where she remained until 2024. In August 2014, Kirby won her first senior cap for England. She represented her country at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France and the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 in the Netherlands. She is considered as one of the best players of her generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hannah Blundell</span> English footballer (born 1994)

Hannah Jayne Blundell is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester United in the Women's Super League and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Stanway</span> English footballer

Georgia Marie Stanway is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Frauen-Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the England national team. Stanway started her senior career at Blackburn Rovers before joining Manchester City and winning the WSL in 2016, as well as three times the FA Cup and League Cup. In her first two seasons with Bayern she won the Frauen-Bundesliga. Stanway has also represented England at various youth levels, including captaining the U17 team, prior to scoring on her senior debut in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren James</span> English footballer

Lauren Elizabeth James is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League (WSL) club Chelsea and the England women's national team. James started her senior career with Arsenal in 2017 before joining Manchester United in 2018 and winning the Championship. Since joining Chelsea in 2021, she has twice won the WSL and FA Cup with the club, and was awarded the PFA Women's Young Player of the Year for the 2022–2023 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 FA WSL</span> Eighth season of the top English womens association football league

The 2018–19 FA WSL was the eighth edition of the FA Women's Super League (WSL) since it was formed in 2010. It was the first season after a rebranding of the four highest levels in English women's football. The previous FA WSL 2 became the Championship – eleven clubs competed in the 2018–19 FA Women's Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khadija Shaw</span> Jamaican footballer (born 1997)

Khadija Monifa"Bunny"Shaw is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Manchester City and captains the Jamaica national team. She is Manchester City's all-time top goalscorer, Jamaica's all-time top goalscorer for both women and men, holds the joint record for most hat tricks in the WSL, and was awarded CONCACAF Player of the Year in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maya Le Tissier</span> British footballer (born 2002)

Maya Le Tissier is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Women's Super League club Manchester United, which she captains, and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PFA Team of the Year (2020s)</span> Annual English football award

The Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 55 footballers across the top four tiers of men's English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, as well as the women's FA WSL, who are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year". Peter Shilton currently holds the most appearances in the PFA Team of the Year in the top division with 10 appearances. Steven Gerrard currently holds the most appearances in the PFA Team of the Year in the Premier League era with eight appearances.

The 2022–23 Women's Super League season was the 12th edition of the Women's Super League (WSL) since it was formed in 2010. It was the fifth season after the rebranding of the four highest levels in English women's football.

References

  1. ↑ "The Professional Footballers' Association Form AR21 for year ended 30 June 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "The PFA". League Football Education (LFE). Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Your Membership". Professional Footballers' Association. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "New PFA chairman Omar Beckles determined to be 'voice for the voiceless'". The Independent. 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  5. 1 2 Harding, John. Football Wizard, The Story of Billy Meredith. Empire Publications (2014) https://www.empire-uk.com/ Archived 28 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ McMillan, Ian (20 October 2009). "A forgotten part of Manchester United's history". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  7. ↑ How players won football's 100 years war Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine , Independent.co.uk
  8. 1 2 "Web JCLI Index". webjcli.ncl.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 Arthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.5, p.326
  10. ↑ "From Meredith to Powell: 100 years of PFA chairmen". Professional Footballers' Association. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  11. ↑ Harding, John (2009). Behind The Glory 100 Years of the PFA. DB. pp. 141–145. ISBN   978-1-85983-682-8.
  12. ↑ Harding, John (2009). Behind The Glory 100 Years of the PFA. DB. pp. 141–145. ISBN   978-1-85983-682-8.
  13. ↑ The Professional Footballers' Association – Introduction Archived 17 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ Smith, Martin (19 December 2007). "Best footballers: Shearer a hero on two fronts". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 20 December 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  15. ↑ "Ben Purkiss: PFA disappointed 'dispute' has become public knowledge". 16 November 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  16. ↑ Bartlett, Evan (21 November 2018). "Gordon Taylor's open letter to PFA members – in full". inews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  17. ↑ "Gordon Taylor: PFA chief executive to step down after 38 years". 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  18. 1 2 "PFA Player of the Year Past Winners". Professional Footballers' Association. Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  19. ↑ http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/martha-harris-wypoty Archived 28 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine ,
  20. ↑ "Men's PFA Player's Player of the Year: Luis Suarez - PFA Awards". Professional Footballers' Association. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Men's PFA Young Player of the Year: Eden Hazard - PFA Awards". Professional Footballers' Association. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  22. ↑ Frith, Wilf (24 August 2020). "Miedema wins PFA Bristol Street Motors Fans' Player of the Year Award". Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  23. 1 2 3 "Anderson backs women in sport". skysports.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Kessel, Anna (27 April 2013). "Agent of change Rachel Anderson gains entry to a man's world – the PFA". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  25. ↑ "Football: Banks and Kelly boycott men-only date". independent.co.uk. 1 April 1998. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  26. ↑ "PFA joins legal case against Fifa over match calendar". BBC Sport. 13 June 2024.
  27. ↑ "Fifa: European leagues & Fifpro take legal action over 'abuse of dominance'". BBC Sport. 23 July 2024.
  28. ↑ "Players could strike if Fifa fails to listen to them - PFA chief". BBC Sport. 30 May 2024.
  29. ↑ "Football schedule is not just a health risk but is 'killing the product', says PFA". BBC Sport. 28 February 2024.
  30. ↑ "Raising the bar - reframing the opportunity in women's football". GOV.UK.
  31. ↑ "PFA WELCOME GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO WOMEN'S GAME REVIEW". Professional Footballers' Association.
  32. ↑ "Women's Football Review Implementation Group". GOV.UK.
  33. ↑ "PFA chief to ask trade unions to support equal rights call for female players". Morning Star. 11 September 2023.
  34. ↑ "PFA recruits James King as General Counsel". Professional Footballers' Association.
  35. ↑ "PFA Launches Innovative Business School to Develop Next Generation of Leaders in Football Management". Professional Footballers' Association.
  36. ↑ "University signs partnership with the PFA to help prepare players for life after football". University of Portsmouth. 13 December 2023.
  37. ↑ "Arsène Wenger to Lead New PFA Undergraduate Degree for Players". Professional Footballers' Association.
  38. ↑ "Former Lioness Louise Newstead appointed PFA Head of Coach Development". Professional Footballers' Association.
  39. ↑ "The PFA, FA and UEFA host 17 current and former women's game professionals for latest UEFA A Licence course". Professional Footballers' Association.
  40. ↑ "Player Services - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion". Professional Footballers' Association.
  41. ↑ "PFA and PGMOL Partner on New 'Player to Match Official' Programme". Professional Footballers' Association.
  42. ↑ "Personal Development". Professional Footballers' Association.
  43. ↑ "Who is Graham Potter?". The Argus. 14 May 2019.
  44. ↑ "Player Services". Professional Footballers' Association.
  45. ↑ Keith, Felix (1 November 2023). "PFA warns of three 'emerging concerns' for professional footballers". The Mirror.
  46. ↑ "PFA and Loughborough University publish findings from joint research study into Snus use in professional football". Professional Footballers' Association.
  47. ↑ "'Snus' Use in Football: Loughborough University and PFA Launch Joint Research Project". Professional Footballers' Association.
  48. ↑ "Brain Health". Professional Footballers' Association.
  49. ↑ "Dr Adam J White | Home". adamjohnwhite.co.uk.
  50. ↑ "FIELD Study". Professional Footballers' Association.
  51. ↑ "Second findings of the FOCUS study published".
  52. ↑ "PFA and Premier League announce creation of new Football Brain Health Fund". www.premierleague.com.
  53. ↑ "Dawn Astle and Rachel Walden to advise PFA on neurodegenerative care provision". Professional Footballers' Association.
  54. ↑ "ADVANCED BRAIN HEALTH CLINIC - LONDON". iseh.co.uk.
  55. ↑ "The After Academy". Professional Footballers' Association.
  56. ↑ "The After Academy". Professional Footballers' Association.
  57. ↑ "PFA launches fitness programme to help ex-players manage move into retirement". beIN SPORTS.
  58. ↑ "PFA launches residential pre-season training camps for out-of-contract players". Professional Footballers' Association.
  59. ↑ Young-Myles, Oliver (25 July 2024). "The innovative training camp helping released footballers find new clubs". inews.co.uk.
  60. ↑ "Players' Board". Professional Footballers' Association. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  61. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Redhead, Steve (1984). The legalisation of the professional footballer (PDF). Warwick: University of Warwick. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  62. ↑ "Cusack in the PFA chair". BBC Sport. 7 November 2001. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.