Exeter City Ladies' player-manager Abbie Britton says the lessons her young side learned from defeats early in the season was one of the main reasons behind their title success in the South West Women’s Football League Premier Division.

City achieved promotion with a home win over Keynsham Town Development on Sunday thanks to two goals from leading scorer Sophie Gillies and one from Dani Skinner.  

However, despite 16 wins from 18 games and over 100 goals scored, it has not been all plain sailing for the Grecians as defeats to Callington Town, in late September, and Keynsham Town Development, in mid-November, had put their aims of promotion in jeopardy as the campaign reached the halfway stage. Since then though, the ladies have won 12 league games on the spin.

“It is an amazing achievement for us as a football club, amazing for the girls because we have got such a young squad and hopefully, it will the first of many good experiences they can have throughout their careers,” said player-manager Abbie who shares her coaching role with joint-manager Clive Watts.  

“We had some defeats early on in the season but those loses really taught us a lot about ourselves and as a collective we regrouped and we knew what we needed to work on and we knuckled down and thankfully got that promotion.” 

During the course of the season, Exeter, led by captain Emily Toogood, had some cracking statistics: won 17, drew 1 and lost 2; scoring 110 goals and conceding just 23. Georgie Barbour-Gresham found the net 13 times and Sian Chapman added a further 16, but leading scorer was 16-year-old Sophie Gillies who scored a magnificent 43 goals in her first season in senior football.

It means City will move up to the FA Women’s National League Division One South West where they will play the likes of Buckland Athletic, Southampton Women and Cheltenham Town.  

“It has not quite sunk in, to be honest with you,” admitted Abbie, whose side have celebrations planned this week before completing their final match of the campaign away at Ilminster.  

“Yesterday we had the celebratory party in the changing room, which was great but it is one of our girls’ birthdays later on this week so we are going to go out and enjoy ourselves then. 

Speaking about stepping up to a higher league and the challenges that will pose, Abbie added: “It is a big step up for these young girls but I am confident that we will be okay. We played Buckland here at SJP and we did well against them and we played Cheltenham in the FA Cup and took them all the way.  

“So yes, we are confident we can compete and our aim next season would probably to say safe, maybe mid-table something like that, and then build upon that the year after.

“Myself and Clive (Watts) have already had a conversation about what we would be looking for (in terms of new players) and we need some experience to help those young girls, players who have been there and done it. Exeter City is certainly the club to be at. The ladies are moving in the right direction, on and off the pitch, and I think that will help us attract that quality that we need.” 

Appearances and goals 

Exeter City Women's retained list announced

Exeter City Women thank seven players who depart ahead of the 2019/20 season.

Exeter City Women have announced their retained list ahead of the 2019/20 campaign with seven players set to depart the side which won promotion as champions from the South West Women’s Football League Premier Division last season.

The side will bid farewell to Kelsie Miller, Kate Finch, Jazz Hervin, Lannece Hole, Hanna Bennett, Erin Romanowski and Danni Skinner.

Exeter City Women would like to thank the players for their hard work and dedication which helped the club to secure promotion last season and wish them the very best for the future.

Manager Clive Watts has confirmed which players will be remaining at the club for the new season as they go into the FA Women’s National League Division One South West:

Jazz Pearce
Georgie Barbour-Gresham
Kat Mundy
Elena Pearce
Carmen Morrison
Becca Wakley
Manfy Sharpe
Emily Toogood
Zoe Watkins
Daniella Tyson
Sophie Gillies
Lou Ilsley
Ella Mae Miller
Rhi Dumper
Abbie Britton
Sian Chapman
Jess Freeman-Roach
Shannon Watts

With 18 players confirmed for next season, the women’s side will continue to look to recruit players over the summer with signings expected in the near future.

Last season’s player-manager Abbie Britton, who will remain a key member of the women’s side going into the new season, said: “Myself and Clive would like to thank all of the girls who are departing the club.

“Last season was a fantastic achievement for all involved and it was pleasing to see the players conduct themselves with a determination and team spirit which ultimately led to our success.

“All eyes now turn to the new season and what will be a tough division for us, but if we continue to recruit well then I see no reason why the Exeter City Women’s side can’t continue to grow from strength to strength."

Exeter City Women would also like to place on record its thanks to Barbara Skinner who will be stepping down from the role as welfare officer at the club. As well as that, the women’s side can confirm that Aaron Wakley and Craig Butler have been added to the management team and will work with the development side.

As the side look to plan for the new campaign, they are holding open trials on Thursday, July 11 at the Cliff Hill training ground from 6pm-8pm.