Aston Villa Women 'dreading' playing WSL game this weekend because of Castore kit issue

Aston Villa women are 'dreading' playing their opening Women's Super League game of the season due to a Castore kit issue, according to commentator and presenter Jacqui Oatley.

Villa kick off the 2023/24 campaign with a home clash against Manchester United, which will be televised on BBC Two.

Carla Ward's side are looking to build on a successful 2022/23 season, which saw them finish in a comfortable fifth behind the established top four of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and United.

Villa possess reigning WSL Golden Boot winner Rachel Daly within their ranks, as well as Alisha Lehmann and ex-Arsenal star Jordan Nobbs.

But build-up to their opening clash has been overshadowed by an issue with kit providers Castore.

According to The Telegraph, players from the men's and women's side have told club chiefs that they are unhappy with the season's shirts, which have a 'wet look' to them.

Players claim that the shirts are 'weighing them down', and have had to change shirts at half-time. Villa men's head coach Unai Emery thought to be aware of the issue.

And Oatley, who commentates on and presents Women's Super League action for BBC, says the women's players are 'dreading' playing their opening fixtures.

She explained to BBC Newsbeat: "They've got four TV games coming up. Normally they'd absolutely relish those games and look forward to them.

"But they're actually dreading it because they're really conscious about how they're going to look in this wet, clingy kit - for obvious reasons."

She added: "As we know, women are different specimens when it comes to our bodies and it can really affect us and how we perform if we're constantly thinking about how we look, or a top might be clinging to our breasts and also our body shapes.

"These are genuine issues for women which you would have thought somebody would have thought through before they released this kit.

"But it seems perhaps that wasn't the case, because they didn't think about it for the men so I'm quite sure they won't have thought about it for the women."

SPORTbible has contacted Castore and Aston Villa Football Club for comment.