Transgender footballer boycotted by players plots return

A transgender footballer at the centre of a mass boycott by players in a women's league is plotting a return to the game.

Francesca Needham, 31, quit the sport after opponents refused to play for 'safety reasons' when a player who attempted to block her shot was left with a season-ending broken knee.

But is has now emerged she played three 'friendlies' for a team based in the same league this summer. However, was blocked from registering for them by the Football Association.

According to West End Terriers FC's Facebook page, in one of those comeback games the former sex worker scored five goals in an 8-4 win. 

It is understood the FA stepped after it learned Needham had trained and played for the club, with sources claiming she chose not to seek registration following talks.

The governing body has discussed finding her a team at 'a higher level', in keeping with its transgender policy that deals with individuals on a case-by-case basis, according to The Telegraph. 

It also discussed the possibility of her moving into other roles within the game such as coaching, after providing support since she quit playing last November. 

Needham has not been banned from playing and it is understood the FA will continue to support her if she wishes to play football at an appropriate level for her.

She began playing for the West End Terriers days after a Facebook account in her name posted to the page for Girls & Women's Football in Wakefield and surrounding areas: 'Any open age teams looking for players still? Barnsley, North Sheffield, Rotherham? Can play most positions and as back up goalkeeper too!'

The replies included one that read: 'West End Terriers Ladies.'

The mass boycott of Needham's previous team, Rossington Main Ladies, which is based in a former pit village near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, started due to safety concerns.

It followed claims Needham smashed a shot into a female player's knee causing it to break. 

Although there were no suggestion the incident was deliberate, it raised concerns about differences in size and strength between those born female and trans women who have gone through male puberty.

Around 70 transgender women have played in the grassroots game in England during the last ten years.

A fundraiser was launched to help the injured player, with a teammate commenting at the time that she is facing 'serious consequences of an unfortunate grey area in women's football which is going to be extremely detrimental to her work and personal life'. 

Needham responded to the boycott by quitting the game and threatening to sue, claiming she had abided by all FA policies on transgender players.

Commenting on her club's Facebook site at the time, she said her side has 'faced challenges from teams unwilling to play against us while I am on the field.' 

'This unfortunate circumstance has prompted me to investigate pursuing a case of discrimination, as I believe it represents a breach of a code of conduct regarding diversity and inclusion, as well as safeguarding of adults in football established by both the Football Association and the Sheffield and Hallamshire Women and Girls League.'

She said she was standing down in the best interests of the club and teammates, stating: 'It's disheartening to acknowledge that this situation contradicts everything in the diversity and inclusion policies, given that I have diligently met every single requirement set out by the Football Association to play.'

And she added 'I sincerely hope that this issue of perceived discrimination against me can be resolved peacefully and promptly.'

Needham had received full backing from her club, with the ladies' team secretary posting the message 'in unity we defeat discrimination.'

Last season she scored two goals in the only two games she played in, both in October, after apparently being given clearance by the FA.

In the first game the opponent's manager, who has asked not to be named, realised five minutes into the game that she was transgender. 

'It was obvious,' the manager said. 'Unfortunately, the FA allowed it to happen but didn't let anyone know. She's quite a big strong player. People have refused to play because they are worried about the safety of the players.

'My players were backing out of challenges as psychologically it's quite a big thing, when you are playing against a biological man it's quite scary. They were terrified.'

Rossington Main President Gerald Parsons refused to comment on the controversy at the time, apart from stating that their opponents 'couldn't raise a team' in recent weeks. 

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The manager of one of the teams that refused to play explained the boycott, commenting: 'I have 16 and 17-year-old players playing for me and their parents weren't too keen to put their welfare at risk.' 

He said it was a 'welfare' issue from the club's perspective rather than a 'transgender issue.' 

But after she quit, some of Needham's teammates rallied around her and posted encouraging messages on social media saying they 'stand by' her as she 'paves the way forward' for other trans players.

The then row took a twist after MailOnline revealed Needham had a secret past as a sex worker who dressed up as a 'mischievous schoolgirl' for paying clients.

She conceded that this had happened but, while acknowledging her colourful past, Needham insisted this should have no bearing on her eligibility to play women's football. 

And she told Mailonline her opponents were intent on forcing her out of the game by 'dragging up the past.'

Ms Needham said in November she now works full time in a regular job and is no longer engaged as a sex worker, pointing out that her profile on a sex work website is now redundant. 

She said: 'It is not an active profile, I accidentally left it up but it's something I stopped doing before I began playing football.

'It is something I have done in the past, I will agree and I am not going to lie about that. However everyone has a past and it shouldn't be brought up out of context.

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'I stopped doing this well before I joined the team and had anything to do with the FA.

'My personal life is completely separate and distinct from my football life. I have a full-time job now and that is part of my past.

'All I want to be able to do is play football or at least support the team that I played for. I have had tremendous support from my teammates and I'm grateful for that.'

It's unclear when the sex worker profile was active and Ms Needham declined to discuss further.

Her angry reaction came after thousands of likes for posts revealing how Needham had previously advertised her services as a 'Pre op trans girl to make your dreams come true.'

Posting a picture of herself in schoolgirl garb, she wrote: 'Transgender girl before surgery ready to fulfil your fantasies! She can also play the role of a mischievous and entertaining schoolgirl revealing an exciting surprise hidden under her skirt.'

She also suggests clients may wish to play the role of a 'naughty schoolgirl' who has been sent to her for 'punishment.' 

A source close to the women's football community said: 'It is clear the birth male playing on the ladies team has been a sex worker.

'This is a massive safeguarding concern.

'It's worth bearing in mind this birth male would be sharing changing rooms and single-sex spaces with young females.'

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An FA spokesperson said in a statement: 'We have a transgender policy in place that has helped to enable a very small population of transgender women to enjoy playing football in the grassroots game, and we will continue to provide this support on a case-by-case basis. 

'We understand that this issue is complex and constantly evolving, and our transgender policy for English football will remain under review to ensure it can balance safety, fairness and inclusion across the full breadth of our game.' 

FA policy is for transgender players over 16 to be approved on a 'case by case basis.'

A decision will have regard to the 'safety of the applicant and fellow players and the need to ensure fair play and fair competition.'

It states there will be a presumption of approval if the player satisfies 'hormone-based requirements.'

The FA's current transgender policy is based on a testosterone suppression model, and uses ultimate discretion as to whether a transgender woman can register or not, allowing them to manage them on a case-by-case basis 

Blood testosterone levels must be within a specified range and hormone treatment verified annually.

There are no transgender women currently playing in the professional football, or on the pathway for the professional game from any of the Home Nations. 

The FA is waiting for FIFA and UEFA to finalise their policy reviews on transgender players and will act when international policy is clarified, but English law will still take precedent.

The FA's transgender policy is similar to other big footballing nations such as the US.