To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Arsenal Women's Manager Joe Montemurro Wary Of Playing Double Headers With Men

Arsenal Women's Manager Joe Montemurro Wary Of Playing Double Headers With Men

Australian manager has experience of double headers from his time in Australia managing Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory's women.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro fears women's games could be played in front of empty stadiums if they take place before men's matches.

The 49-year-old Australian is against the FA's idea of double headers having experienced it during his time managing Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory women's teams.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Montemurro is delighted his Arsenal women's side are part of the Emirates Cup on Sunday afternoon against Bayern Munich in a revamped format.

But he says he's happy to play Women's Super League matches at Boreham Wood's 4,500-seat Meadow Park for the time being.

Montemurro told SPORTbible: "I think we need to be careful. We used to have double headers in Australia with the W League and the A League.

"Really the fans were coming for the second game - that's the reality.

"The Emirates Cup is a real pre-season showcase and I think it's fantastic that we get the opportunity.

"It wasn't that we had to beg to play before the men because we are one club and they felt it was a very important occasion."

He added: "I think with the stadium scenario, we are happy at Boreham Wood.

"It's an amazing stadium and once we fill out that venue then we'll see about playing in bigger stadiums."

Image: PA
Image: PA

The FA are keen to build on the momentum from this summer's World Cup when the nation got behind the Lionesses and a peak audience of 11.7 million watched their semi-final defeat by USA.

FA director of the professional game Kelly Simmons is hoping to "build audiences and build attendances" for women's football.

The Women's Super League will kick-off on September 7 with a Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium before Chelsea take on Tottenham at a sold-out Stamford Bridge the next day.

But Arsenal women's average attendance at Boreham Wood was around 1,000 last season.

Montemurro said: "Some of the games are good enough to be standalone games in big stadiums.

"It's the responsibility of each club to make sure that every aspect of the game is at a high standard.

"In women's football we get one chance and the first time that it's played on a bad pitch, it's broadcast and it's a terrible game - you lose a fan and we can't afford that."

Joe Montemurro was speaking at the Hardwired launch event at Arsenal's training ground, The Hardwired boot pack is available from adidas.co.uk/football-boots

Featured Image Credit:

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

X

@jackkenmare_