Inequality or maybe something different.

My daughter first kicked a football at a very young age, friends of ours bought her first soccer kit when she was 3, from then onward she was hooked.

She started playing competitively from the age 5, playing in an all boys team, at that point seeing other girls playing was incredibly rare, still remember hearing many times "look they have a girl, this will be easy"...LOL it rarely was!

As my daughter progressed, it became clear that she was a very gifted soccer talent which required many hours of support through training and travel. She won soccer awards from fellow players and also a succession of managers. It was at this point as parents we wondered whether there would be a career for a female footballer. She moved on to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers. The standard of female players and the proliferation of players was increasing steadily.

From Wolves she moved on to Stoke City being awarded a contract up to and including under 15's. She played some fantastic matches against all the household names, Liverpool, Man Utd, Everton etc. One game in the South West almost singularly dismantled the team she played against, Stoke won 16 - 1 [a very rare score in all honesty when you got to centre of excellence standard].

The family moved over to Australia, here our daughter continued playing taking a place at an NPL team in Queensland. Most recently she was offered a trial with one of the leading 'A' league squads. This weekend following much soul-searching our daughter decided to progress no further with her football. She has for many years loved playing, loved the fitness, the butterflies, the challenge but she cannot see a route to any form of financial benefit. The hours required when moving through NPL to "A" League essentially mean't that schooling could suffer.

Over the 13 years we thought we would see a change, a real change where girls would if they so wished be able to make a living from a profession and sport they loved. 13 years later this has not materialised [we have been told about contracts in the US but really a second move would not be helpful]. I am trying to understand whether there is inequality here or something different at play. I very much understand the concept of where money in football is generated following the Championship and Premiership for many years as I do. I am however sadden that after all these years football is not a tangible career goal for females who wish to follow this route.

I am wondering if others have experienced similar journeys and how they have come to terms with this?