Reinstated women's football team wins league

Thornaby FC Women have won their league with three games still left to play

A football team has defied the odds to win their league - nine months after the team was nearly scrapped.

Thornaby FC were named champions of the North-East Regional Women's League on Sunday after a 1-0 victory over i2i International Soccer Academy.

The promotion is extra special for the players who fought to keep their team alive after the club's previous board attempted to axe its entire women's section.

Captain Shauna Gatley said the player's were "absolutely buzzing" after working hard all year on the pitch.

"It's been hard at times but to beat one of the next best teams in the league to win it makes it that bit better," she said.

"They deserve the celebrations and we've got three games still to enjoy of the season. I can't wait to get promoted now."

The team beat i2i International Soccer Academy at home on Sunday

In June 2024, first team manager Abbey Lyle said the players had been floored by the news Thornaby FC was planning to drop its female section, a move which would have left 100 players without a club.

But after backlash from its players, Thornaby established a new board of directors which immediately reinstated the women's team.

Following Sunday's win, coach Claire Streeter said it was phenomenal to see the team promoted to Tier 5 - the highest the club has ever been.

"I am just glad that everything got resolved last summer and we were able to play our football. It has been a huge success," she said.

"We had a team last year who finished third in the league, so after what happened last summer we have strengthened even further and had more support than ever. I always believed we would do it this year."

Thornaby's football director, Andy Campbell, said the promotion had "proved a lot of people wrong".

"Doing it at home against the team who were second in the league, on Mother's Day, for women's football was an amazing opportunity," he said.