HOWAY THE LASSES

A return to league football this past weekend for the FA WNL teams after the midweek cup matches. Mixed fortunes for the team's of the Northeast although some impressive winning streaks are being put together and a controversial first managerial departure of the season.  Tier 5 Northwest Regional Football League - Premier Division A third league match in 7 days saw Mancunian Unity travel to Tameside Stadium looking to make it 3 wins from 3 to start the season as they took on Curzon Ashton.  After a nervy finish in midweek, being pegged back from 3-0 to 3-2, Sunday's match was far less stressful for the travelling fans with the half time whistle seeing Unity going into the break with a 0-4 lead. A further 3 second half goals and comfortable 0-7 win took Unity to second in their league, only behind AFC Fylde on goal difference.  Congratulations to new signing Emily Owens on being named player of the match.  Curzon Ashton 0 - 7 Mancunian Unity Unity were on their travel...

An expanded FA WNL Cup got underway this week. The inclusion of Professional Game Academy teams from WSL 1 & WSL 2, a decision for universally welcomed by fans of tier 3 and tier 4 teams, takes the total number of entrants up to 88 from last season's 72. A new format for the competition this season sees the determining round replaced by a group stage. From the 22 groups of four, the 22 group winners and 10 best runners up will advance to the knockout stages whilst  the other 12 runners up and 20 best third placed sides will contest the FA WNL Plate. Both competitions will have two knockout stages prior to the quarter finals.  Defending Cup Champions Nottingham Forest are not in this year's tournament due to winning promotion to WSL 2. The first round of group stage matches took place across 3 nights this week. Tuesday 19th August Group A Bristol Rovers vs Bridgwater United* Group E Ascot United 0 - 0 Moneyfields Group G AFC Sudbury 3 - 1 Billericay Town Group L Norwich Cit...

Not the most successful of Sunday's for the teams of the Northeast but on the plus side club football and the nine months of highs, lows and everything in between the season brings with it got back underway today so, without further ado, the highlights of opening day.  Tier 5 North West Regional Football League - Premier Division Mancunian Unity got their season underway with a trip to Poolfoot Farm to face Fleetwood Town Wrens, a team who took 4 points off Unity last season.  New signings Izzy Kershaw and Libby Taylor make the Unity starting 11 with fellow new signings Emily Owens and Harriet Purslow named as substitutes.  And it was Purslow on her debut who secured 3 points for Unity with an 82nd minute strike finding the bottom corner.  Fleetwood Town Wrens 0 - 1 Mancunian Unity Tier 4 FA Women's National League Division 1 Southeast A winning start for Norwich City Women, managed by former Newcastle United Women assistant head coach Andy Cook.  A highlight re...

Whilst the Women's Championship and the WSL, or WSL 1 & 2 if you prefer, are still 3 weeks away from getting their season's underway, for those teams in the FA Women's National League pre-season is finished and it's back to competitive league football this season so here is a short overview of what's happened over the summer in Division One North and the Northern Premier Division. Northern Premier Division Middlesbrough left it till the very last day of the season to secure the 2024/25 Division One North title. Starting the day level on points but 1 goal better off than second placed Cheadle Town Stingers, a 0-3 away win to Barnsley was enough to secure the title for Michael Mulhern's side as Cheadle were only able to manage a 2-1 win against bottom side and already relegated AFC Fylde.  Departing Teeside this summer were former Newcastle United Women goal keeper Laura Wareham who has joined Thornaby FC Women, a great signing for Thornaby, defender Jane Harl...

 I'm not sure many, including myself, expected the Spanish acquisition of the Sela Cup but based on yesterday's 90 minutes perhaps more of us should have done. Atlético Madrid Femenino are by far the strongest opposition Becky Langley's team have come up against so far, a level above both FA Cup & Subway Cup opponents Manchester United and last season's Sela cup opponents AC Milan. But as Langley and multiple players have said in match programmes or interviews on the official club site, this is the level of opponent they want to be playing regularly as soon as possible.  All good things must come to an end and yesterday's result sees Newcastle United Women's unbeaten run at St. James' Park come to an end after a draw last season against Southampton and wins against Alnwick Town Ladies, Barnsley, Bradford City, West Brom (2023 Sela Cup), Portsmouth, AC Milan (penalties, 2024 Sela Cup) and most recently Sunderland.  Las Colchoneras, who were formed in 2001...

The draw for the 2025/26 Subway Cup group stage took place this past Thursday with former Everton, Manchester City and England winger Toni Duggan picking the team's out the hat. Newcastle United Women were drawn in Group A alongside Duggan's previous teams, both WSL 1, and newcomers to WSL 2 Nottingham Forest.  The complete* group stage: Group A - Everton, Manchester City, Newcastle United , Nottingham Forest Group B - Sheffield United, Sunderland, Durham, Liverpool. Group C - Brighton & Hove Albion, Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth, Southampton, West Ham United. Group D - Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, London City Lionesses Group E - Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Bristol City, Tottenham Hotspur *Manchester United will join either Group A or Group B if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.  Everton With Everton (men) moving from the famous old ground to the Hill Dickinson Stadium from the start of this coming seaso, Goodison Park is now officially the ...