West Ham’s Lucy Parker criticises own club over lack of London Stadium fixture

West Ham defender Lucy Parker has criticised her own club for failing to facilitate a match for their women’s team at the London Stadium.

Parker was responding on Twitter to the Hammers’ announcement that their men’s under-18s team will play their FA Youth Cup semi-final at the stadium next week.

West Ham are currently seventh in the Women’s Super League and reached the semi-finals of the Continental Cup earlier this season, where they were beaten 7-0 by Chelsea.

Parker wrote: “Taking nothing away from the lads because they more than deserve it after their year but when will we get a game at the stadium?

“Only WSL side not to have a game at the men’s stadium and haven’t played there since 2019. Made an FA Cup semi-final last year too so can’t be that.”

The PA news agency understands it is a key objective of West Ham’s new-look women’s team board to host a fixture at the London Stadium, a ground the club does not own.

Earlier this month West Ham announced vice-chair Karren Brady, along with fellow board member Tara Warren and director of ticketing Nicola Keye, had been appointed as directors of the women’s team.

Baroness Brady said at the time that the trio would “work tirelessly to ensure that West Ham United Women continue to go from strength to strength, on and off the field”.

The women’s team currently play their home matches at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, home to National League side Dagenham.

Parker’s social media post came on the day she was called up by England boss Sarina Wiegman for next month’s Finalissima meeting with Brazil at Wembley and friendly against Australia at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium.