Rachel Corsie, captain of Aston Villa’s women’s team, claims that the controversy caused by the club’s 2023-24 home shirt is “being dealt with”.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Castore deal may be cut shortMen & women express concernsWSL season up and runningWHAT HAPPENED?
The Villans are reported to be discussing bringing their deal with kit suppliers Castore to a premature conclusion – with Newcastle United having already done likewise. The men’s team have been wearing the latest design for several weeks, with concerns raised regarding a wet-look design that leaves the jerseys feeling heavy as they cling to the players in question.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Villa’s women’s team expressed concerns regarding the shirt prior to their WSL campaign getting underway, but they opted to wear the home shirt when facing Manchester United on Sunday. Skipper Corsie said of that decision: “We wanted to wear the home shirt. It’s first game of the season so you want to be in your home kit.”
She added on the controversy sparked by the Villa jersey: “It is being dealt with, yeah. The club have been really supportive.”
WHAT THEY SAID
Villa have been exploring short-term options with Castore heading forward, with Corsie eager to point out that the group of players she forms part of have been eager to keep as much focus as possible locked on football matters. She said on shirt-gate: “Obviously there has been a lot of talk about that this week but when you get here and it’s the start of the season everyone is buzzing it’s under way now. It’s been a long break and there’s just a huge buzz that we’re not under way. It is going to be the best season in the WSL I believe and we want to make sure we do a really good job so things like the shirts… once you’re in the game and you’re competing you just do what you can as well as you can.”
GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
England star Rachel Daly gave Villa the lead against United, shortly after they had been reduced to 10 following the dismissal of Kirsty Hanson. The Red Devils were not to be denied, though, and got their season off to a positive start courtesy of a Luis Garcia leveller and a 92nd-minute winner from Rachel Williams.