TONI DUGGAN is set to become the first English player in the WSL to take maternity leave following the introduction of new rules this season.
Top-tier and Women’s Championship players will receive full salaries for the first 14 weeks of maternity leave.
In September this year, Toni Duggan announced her pregnancy
This is according to new legislation agreed on by the FA and Professional Football Association earlier this year.
After the 14-week period, maternity leave pay for players will then be followed by statutory wages after this period.
In a BBC Sport interview Duggan, who is currently four months pregnant, revealed she had to inform her club coach of her baby news before telling her parents.
The Everton forward, 31, who has enjoyed a trophy-winning career, says it was a relief to eventually be able to share her pregnancy news with her Toffees team-mates.
Duggan told BBC Sport: “It’s not so common in our environment for this to happen so that was quite tough initially.
“I was probably more shocked, and it was more difficult to deal with.
“I had to tell the coach before I told my mum. That was different and new.
“It was something I wouldn’t have wanted to do, but as a professional footballer, I had to.
“Now I’m starting to feel the baby kick a bit more so that makes it feel more real.”
Duggan, who began her senior playing career at Everton in 2007, has won 10 major trophies during stints with the Toffees, Manchester City, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.
The WSL ace, who netted 22 times in 76 senior England appearances, has always wanted to become a mother, but wasn’t sure at what stage of her life “that would happen”.
Before the start of this season, it was not compulsory for WSL and Women’s Championship clubs to offer players full paid maternity leave for 14 weeks.
The measure was put in place as part of contract reforms agreed upon by the FA and PFA in February.
Changes also included enhanced injury and sick pay for professional female players.
In February Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said she hoped to see contract reforms introduced in England replicated in other parts of the world.
And Duggan hopes to see more analysis of how professional female players in other nations are helped when they hope to become parents.
The Walton Hall Park forward added: “Just because it’s not common doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be guidelines and protocols in place.
“I want to know how other countries and players go about it.
“The ones that I do know of are such powerful, strong women and they have come back from it and are doing so well in football.
“That obviously gives me inspiration that I can do it.”
Earlier this year Emma Hayes said changes made to maternity leave pay for WSL and Women’s Championship players were “massively needed”
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