WSL Hall of Fame inductee Houghton keen to keep league’s progress moving | OneFootball

Barclays Women’s Super League Hall of Fame inductee Steph Houghton MBE says that the game has to keep moving and progressing year-on-year.

Houghton is one of four Barclays Women’s Super League pioneers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024. Gilly Flaherty, Alex Scott MBE and Rebecca Welch have also been recognised for their contributions to the game.

Former defender Houghton retired from playing last summer after winning two Barclays Women’s Super League titles with Arsenal and one with Manchester City. Houghton is amongst the top 20 appearance-makers of all time in the Barclays Women’s Super League. After a career total of 178 Barclays Women’s Super League games and 23 goals, she recently became the first-ever female Club Ambassador at Manchester City.

Speaking to the media in a Barclays Women’s Super League Hall of Fame Celebration Event, Houghton said that she made the right decision to retire and that she is enjoying her new position at Manchester City.

“It’s very different but I’m glad I made the decision,” Houghton said. “I think for me, I’m happy, I’m enjoying what I’m doing now, I have an influence on the league, players and the club in a different way and I’m able to watch the games. I kind of try to not be too biased when Manchester City play but it’s hard not to be biased because they’re my club and I love it when they win. It frustrates me when we get beat and I think you’re always going to have those loyalties.

“I’m happy, I’m really proud to have been in the position to be on both sides and still have the opportunity. I’m conscious that I need to keep doing things to make the game better and hopefully, I can do that.”

Houghton stated that she feels there is more growth needed in the Barclays Women’s Super League, despite the advancements that have already been made.

She said “I think we have a lot more to do which is pleasing, but at the same time, I think sometimes, I’m frustrated a little bit because I don’t want us to be stagnant. I don’t want us to be kind of in that zone where everything’s the same and that’s okay.

“We need to constantly be moving and sometimes, it is good to have been in the game and now come out and to realise what players are feeling to kind of feed that information back.”

Houghton has a podcast with ex-Arsenal men’s player Ian Wright. The former defender stated that she believes it is essential to use their platform to address more challenging aspects of the game.

She said “I think we need to be honest, we want things to be better, we want things to be moving on. We have to talk, we can’t just make change and by going around it, doing it behind everybody’s backs. We need to have that open conversation.”

The Barclays Women’s Super League’s Hall of Fame was launched in 2021 to coincide with the 10th year of WSL football. Four new members are inducted into the Hall of Fame each year.