Central contracts boost England chances

England's players have received a boost ahead of UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ with the news that 17 of their potential squad have been awarded central contracts by the Football Association (FA).

Strategy
The €350,000 project is part of the FA's four-year women's and girls football strategy, launched last autumn, which also included the introduction of a summer super league, currently scheduled to begin in 2011. Central contracts form a crucial part of this strategy, allowing England players to follow full-time training programmes without the pressure of full-time employment. The contracts last four years and are reviewed annually. They commit players to work for no longer than 24 hours per week if they have another job, to be available at all times during the year for training camps, matches and tournaments, to make a set number of personal appearances to promote the FA's wider work, and to conduct themselves professionally on and off the pitch.

Powell pleased
Hope Powell, England manager, said: "This is a great opportunity for those players who have been successful. These contracts will help them to focus on training and playing, and just as importantly, on getting the adequate rest time in between, without having the pressures of working a 35-hour week. We hope this will allow our girls time to concentrate on helping England qualify for major tournaments on a consistent basis and competing at the very top level against the best teams in the world."

EURO campaign
Most of Powell's likely squad for the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ finals in Finland from 23 August until 10 September, where they face Italy, Russia and Sweden in Group C, are now on central contracts, exceptions including United States-based quintet Kelly Smith, Alex Scott, Eniola Aluko, Anita Asante and Karen Carney. Of next season's two English UEFA Women's Champions League representatives, domestic treble-winners Arsenal LFC provide four contracted players and Everton LFC six.

England players on central contracts
Rachel Brown (Everton LFC), Siobhan Chamberlain (Chelsea LFC), Carly Telford (Leeds Carnegie LFC), Casey Stoney (Chelsea LFC), Faye White (Arsenal LFC), Rachel Unitt (Everton LFC), Stephanie Houghton (Leeds Carnegie LFC), Emily Westwood (Everton LFC), Katie Chapman (Arsenal LFC), Jill Scott (Everton LFC), Laura Bassett (Arsenal LFC), Rachel Williams (Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC), Rachel Yankey (Arsenal LFC), Sue Smith (Leeds Carnegie LFC), Jody Handley (Everton LFC), Lindsay Johnson (Everton LFC), Corrine Yorston (Bristol Academy WFC).