Guernsey FC women to play in English league
Guernsey's women won back-to-back Muratti titles for the first time in 24 years in May
- Published
Guernsey FC's women's team will play in the English football league system for the first time this season.
The Green Lionesses have been accepted into the Southern Region Women's Football League Division One South - the sixth tier of the game in England.
They are the first women's side from the Channel Islands to play in an English league, following Guernsey FC's men's side, who did so in 2011.
Guernsey FC won the Jersey Football Combination last season with an unbeaten record and beat Jersey in the women's Muratti Vase in May - retaining the title for the first time in 24 years.
They made their competitive debut less than two years ago when they played in the Isthmian League Cup.
"We are delighted to have been accepted," manager Anna Gauvain said.
"This is the next step in our development, and I am thrilled to lead the girls into our next challenge."
The move to play in England caps a huge turnaround for the women's game in Guernsey.
In 2017 the island did not have enough players to field a side to play their annual game against Jersey - the fixture was restored in 2020
Guernsey will join the 12-strong league against clubs based in Dorset and Hampshire and will play home games at the newly-built Victoria Park stadium.
"Securing step six football is fantastic news and the realisation of stage three of our three-year plan," Guernsey FC's Nic Legg added.
"I'm so excited for the team, especially the young players coming through, what a platform they now have with Victoria Park to train and play locally, and 11 new teams to test themselves against in the UK."