Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes has called for the introduction of undersoil heating at all WSL grounds after the game on Sunday between Liverpool and the Blues was abandoned due to a frozen pitch six minutes after kick-off.

The match was being played at Kingsmeadow, the stadium which hosts most of the Blues’ home fixtures, but Hayes believes improvements must be made to ensure the Women’s game is not blighted by such problems in the future:

“We have to say to ourselves that it’s time for undersoil heating. We’ve got to take our game seriously. Yes, we can have our blowers and pitch tents but it’s not enough.”

Liverpool’s game was not the only fixture in the Women’s Super League that was called off at the weekend, with Brighton’s match versus Arsenal, as well as Tottenham’s clash versus Leicester also being postponed.

Improving the infrastructure in Women’s football is something that needs to be considered as interest in the game increases in England. Having matches abandoned because of weather conditions will hinder progress so Hayes is correct to highlight such important issues.