England striker Beth Mead appears to have helped force a reversal of a decision taken by grass-roots football club Thornaby FC to scrap all of its female teams after expressing her disgust at the move.

The controversy sparked widespread anger on social media after the board voted on Sunday to get rid of every women’s team, including its youth sides.

That backlash has seen six members of the board step down after chairman Gary Morris also publicly attacked his fellow committee members.

More than 100 players had been told they would have to find a new club, although Mead’s intervention appears to have led to a U-turn with the club announcing on Monday it was forming a new board which would include representatives of the women’s team.

Mead, who grew up nearby in North Yorkshire, had earlier expressed her anger on social media:

The news broke when the Thornaby FC Women’s account on X said: “AND THAT’S (A) WRAP...

“Yesterday we found out that a majority on the Thornaby FC committee, led by Trevor Wing, voted to remove the entire female section from the club. Under 7, Under 8, Under 10, Under 11, Under 15 Women’s.

“This leaves over 100 girls without a club. We would like to thank all of our coaches, volunteers, players, supporters and sponsors for their dedication over the last three years, you are all AMAZING. We are all devastated to hear of the (sic) Thornaby FC.”

Thornaby FC have been the victim of vandalism this summer, including a devastating arson attack that has destroyed facilities which they are now struggling to find the money to repair, but getting rid of all the women’s teams and keeping the men’s has sparked outrage.

The decision angered Morris, who made it clear he had fought to keep the women’s teams, and he will now form a new board with another ally Phil Genery.

He said in a statement: “In light of the recent actions taken by the board of Thornaby FC, of which I am chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my thoughts at an extremely difficult time for the club, and more importantly the female players effected [sic] by these actions.

“The decision to withdraw support for the women’s team is one that I do not agree with and along with another member of the committee voted against it at yesterday’s emergency meeting.

“I have made my feelings known to the board, have asked them to reconsider their decision, and also to consider their positions on the board as patrons and trustees of the football club.

“We are empowered by the fans of the club to make the right decisions for the future of the club, and all those who show their unwavering support to both the male and female teams of all age groups deserve better.

“I firmly believe this decision made yesterday does not do that, and will make this clear to the remaining members of the board.”

Parents of the devastated girls have also spoken out. Michelle Burrell’s 11-year-old daughter Alice plays for Thornaby FC Under-11s Girls.

“We are absolutely devastated by the decision of Thornaby FC to end all girls teams,” she said. “Alice joined Thornaby just a year ago but in that year a passion for football has been truly ignited.

“She loves it all – the training, the matches, the new friends – everything about the game.

“These girls deserve so much more and have had the opportunity to play snatched away from them. What happened to This Girl Can? Clearly not in Thornaby.”

Thornaby FC have been approached for a response.

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