Hopes and Expectations
1997/98
Elmore Eagles
HISTORY OF THE SOUTH WEST WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
The first women's match in the area was held at Chelwood Horse Show in 1971 which led to the formation of the Western League. Warminster LFC were founder members with Bath and several Bristol clubs and by 1974 the league also included Eastville, Brislington, Devizes, Bluebirds. Bristol City and Chippenham. By the 1976/77 season the league was divided into two divisions, Warminster, Bath, Brislington, Chard, Newport, Plymouth, Bristol Avon and Bristol City in Division One and Chippenham, Corsham, Wanedeyrn, Cardiff, Dursley, Bristol Bluebirds and Top Rank in Division Two necessitating a lot more travelling, something that clubs would have to get used to as the years went by.
By 1980 the league had reverted to one division. Warminster were again champions ahead of Twerton. St. Catherine's, Wanedeyrn, Frome, Exeter, Noel Trigg, Barry and Top Rank. Warminster were still unbeaten in the Western League when they joined the Home Counties League. Their departure along with Twerton, Plymouth and Top Rank left just Cardiff, Newport, Barry, Copechat, Frome Town, St Catherine's and Exeter in the league in 1982. In 1986 Taunton had their first spell in league football whilst Keynsham were the form team for the next few years, changing their name from St Catherine's and building a strong squad which included several ex-Warminster players. The Western League were strengthened in 1988 when Plymouth rejoined with Truro from Cornwall and Talbot Green from South Wales.
In 1990 the Women's Football Association regionalised women's football forming the South West Region Women's Football League which incorporated the South West and Western Leagues in two divisions, covering an area from Cornwall to South Wales. The first season saw Bristol (formerly Keynsham) win the League, the Pat Sowden Trophy and Division 1 Cup. Cardiff were league runner's-up with Torquay United winning Division Two. The following season Bristol won the league again and joined the National League in 1992. Following the demise of the WFA, the Football Association took over the running of women's football in 1993, and it is now on a par with the men's game, with a common set of rules and regulations. In 1994 the league regionalised its lowest division and with more teams formed the current structureDivision 1, 2 and 3 North and South, the following season. This mini-pyramid structure encouraged new clubs by reducing travelling expenses.
In 1995 Bristol City were the first south west club to reach the semi-finals of the FA Women's Challenge Cup where they lost to LiverpoolThey won the Division One Championship the Division One Cup and the Pat Sowden Trophy that season, but narrowly missed promotion to the FA Women's Premier League (the former National League)Last season Barry Town completed the league and cup double, with Bristol City retaining the Pat Sowden Trophy. Division 2 Champions were Frome whilst Barnstaple Town and Cam Bulldogs were Division 3 (North) and (South) Champions respectively. This season the league has 31 teams, the highest number ever.
The FA are set to restructure women's football again for next season. Division One may have to run with 12 teams necessitating midweek matches and other changes to cope with 22 league fixtures. The top clubs will have the opportunity to join a newly formed South West Combination League in 1998/99 leaving clubs to travel to London for some matches. The FA Women's Premier League will still be the top of the pyramid whilst below the 10 reduced regional leagues such as ours, County Leagues will be encouraged for new clubs to join.
The first women's match in the area was held at Chelwood Horse Show in 1971 which led to the formation of the Western League. Warminster LFC were founder members with Bath and several Bristol clubs and by 1974 the league also included Eastville, Brislington, Devizes, Bluebirds. Bristol City and Chippenham. By the 1976/77 season the league was divided into two divisions, Warminster, Bath, Brislington, Chard, Newport, Plymouth, Bristol Avon and Bristol City in Division One and Chippenham, Corsham, Wanedeyrn, Cardiff, Dursley, Bristol Bluebirds and Top Rank in Division Two necessitating a lot more travelling, something that clubs would have to get used to as the years went by.
By 1980 the league had reverted to one division. Warminster were again champions ahead of Twerton. St. Catherine's, Wanedeyrn, Frome, Exeter, Noel Trigg, Barry and Top Rank. Warminster were still unbeaten in the Western League when they joined the Home Counties League. Their departure along with Twerton, Plymouth and Top Rank left just Cardiff, Newport, Barry, Copechat, Frome Town, St Catherine's and Exeter in the league in 1982. In 1986 Taunton had their first spell in league football whilst Keynsham were the form team for the next few years, changing their name from St Catherine's and building a strong squad which included several ex-Warminster players. The Western League were strengthened in 1988 when Plymouth rejoined with Truro from Cornwall and Talbot Green from South Wales.
In 1990 the Women's Football Association regionalised women's football forming the South West Region Women's Football League which incorporated the South West and Western Leagues in two divisions, covering an area from Cornwall to South Wales. The first season saw Bristol (formerly Keynsham) win the League, the Pat Sowden Trophy and Division 1 Cup. Cardiff were league runner's-up with Torquay United winning Division Two. The following season Bristol won the league again and joined the National League in 1992. Following the demise of the WFA, the Football Association took over the running of women's football in 1993, and it is now on a par with the men's game, with a common set of rules and regulations. In 1994 the league regionalised its lowest division and with more teams formed the current structureDivision 1, 2 and 3 North and South, the following season. This mini-pyramid structure encouraged new clubs by reducing travelling expenses.
In 1995 Bristol City were the first south west club to reach the semi-finals of the FA Women's Challenge Cup where they lost to LiverpoolThey won the Division One Championship the Division One Cup and the Pat Sowden Trophy that season, but narrowly missed promotion to the FA Women's Premier League (the former National League)Last season Barry Town completed the league and cup double, with Bristol City retaining the Pat Sowden Trophy. Division 2 Champions were Frome whilst Barnstaple Town and Cam Bulldogs were Division 3 (North) and (South) Champions respectively. This season the league has 31 teams, the highest number ever.
The FA are set to restructure women's football again for next season. Division One may have to run with 12 teams necessitating midweek matches and other changes to cope with 22 league fixtures. The top clubs will have the opportunity to join a newly formed South West Combination League in 1998/99 leaving clubs to travel to London for some matches. The FA Women's Premier League will still be the top of the pyramid whilst below the 10 reduced regional leagues such as ours, County Leagues will be encouraged for new clubs to join.
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