Barnsley fold women’s team amid financial pressures

The board maintained moving the women’s team into the main stadium or to another venue was neither financially nor logistically viable.

It added it was with “great sadness” that the decision had been taken to withdraw from FA Women’s National League ahead of the 2025-26 season.

“Whilst as a club we applaud the efforts of the FA to provide financial backing to the WSL and the Women’s Championship, that funding does not trickle down sufficiently to the Women’s National League and the financial restraints put upon the club this summer has driven us to make this difficult decision,” said the statement, external.

“It may have been possible to obtain temporary dispensation from the FA, however this would only delay the inevitable decision around the additional costs of playing at a different venue.