Sussex County Women and Girls Football League

Last updated
Sussex County Women & Girls Football League
SussexWomenGirlsFootballLeague.jpeg
Founded31 March 2004;20 years ago (2004-03-31)
First season2004–05
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
DivisionsPremier Division
Championship
Division One
Number of teams25
8 Premier Division
9 Championship
8 Division One
Level on pyramid7–9
Promotion to London and South East Women's Regional Football League Division One South
Domestic cup(s) Women's FA Cup
Sussex Women's Challenge Cup
League cup(s)League Challenge Cup
Current championsSaltdean United Development (1st title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsAdur Athletic Ladies (2 titles)
Website Official website

The Sussex County Women & Girls Football League is an association football league in England. The competition covers the county of Sussex. Founded by the Sussex Football Association in 2004.

Contents

The league consists of three divisions; Premier Championship and Division One at levels 7, 8 and 9 of the women's pyramid. It promotes to the London and South East Women's Regional Football League, and does not relegate to any league.

The League also organises its own knock-out cup competition, Sussex County Women's League Challenge Cup.

The League won the Grassroots League of the Year Award as part of England Football’s Grassroots Football Awards 2023 .

History

In early 2004 the Sussex County Football Association (SCFA) was asked by The FA to set up a women's league for the 2004–05 season. [1] An inaugural meeting was held on 31 March 2004, chaired by the SCFA Chief Executive Ken Benham, with clubs from Brighton & Hove Albion, Crowborough Athletic, Crawley Down, Crawley Town, East Grinstead Town, Eastbourne Borough, Eastbourne Town, Hassocks, Hastings United, Haywards Heath Town, Lindfield, Seahaven Harriers and Whitehawk. A poll taken that the clubs were in favour. The league was to be managed by the SCFA council. The Sussex Girls League disbanded and the council agreed to take on the girl's section. The first Annual General Meeting of the Sussex Women & Girls Football League was held on 6 July 2004 and elected the first management committee.

On Sunday 12 September 2004 began the start of the league in Sussex with 17 adult clubs and 38 (80 teams) girl's clubs. Adults, Under 15, 14 and 13's playing as 11-a-side games also Under 14's and 13's as 9-a-side games. The Adult league originally started as two divisions, Division One and Division Two. Although just one division ran in 2005–06 before returning to two divisions for two seasons but going back to the one division in 2008. With the coronavirus pandemic disrupting sport throughout England, the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons were both abandoned. The league returned to normal for the 2021–22 season, this time running as three divisions, Premier, Division One and Division Two. Although each division had a different amount of teams, Divisions One and Two merged into Division One for the 2023–24 season, the Premier Division with eight teams and Division One with twelve. The 2024–25 season saw three divisions again, Division One renamed to Championship and Division One replacing the former Division Two.

Current member clubs

Premier Division

ClubLocationHome groundCapacity
East Preston Women Littlehampton (East Preston)The Lashmar—
Eastbourne Borough Women Eastbourne (Langney) Priory Lane 4,151
Eastbourne Town Women Eastbourne The Saffrons 3,000
Hassocks Ladies Hassocks The Beacon—
Horsham Sparrows Women Slinfold Cherry Tree Farm—
Horsham Women Horsham Camping World Community Stadium—
Pagham Ladies Pagham Nyetimber Lane1,500
Worthing Town Women Worthing Palatine Park—

Championship

ClubLocationHome groundCapacity
Brighton Seagals Falmer Brighton Aldridge Community Academy—
Burgess Hill Town Women Burgess Hill Laylands Park—
Hailsham Town Women Hailsham The Beaconsfield—
Hollingbury Hawks Women Brighton (Hangleton)Greenleas Football Pitches—
Mile Oak Women Brighton (Mile Oak)Chalky Road—
Oakwood Ladies Crawley Tinsley Lane—
Whitehawk Women Brighton (Whitehawk)The Enclosed Ground3,126
Woodingdean Wanderers Women Brighton (Woodingdean)Deans Leisure Centre—
Worthing Town Development Women Worthing Palatine Park—

Division One

ClubLocationHome groundCapacity
AFC Uckfield Town Ladies Uckfield The Oaks—
Barnham Trojans Ladies—
Hastings United Development Hastings Pilot Field—
Infinity Women—
Newhaven Ladies Development Newhaven The Trafalgar Ground—
Ringmer AFC Ladies Ringmer The Caburn Community Ground—
Seaford Town Ladies Seaford The Crouch—
The View Ladies Brighton —

Past League Champions

2004–2021

From its formation in 2004, the league ran as just one division, apart from three seasons where a Division Two ran.

No.SeasonDivision OneDivision Two
12004–05Eastbourne Borough LadiesBognor Regis Town Ladies
22005–06Rottingdean Village LadiesNo competition
32006–07 Brighton & Hove Women's II Adur Athletic Ladies
42007–08Langton Green Tunbridge Wells LadiesPhoenix Ladies
52008–09Adur Athletic LadiesNo competition
62009–10Burgess Hill Town LadiesNo competition
72010–11Hassocks Ladies ReservesNo competition
82011–12Eastbourne LadiesNo competition
92012–13Marle Place Wanderers LadiesNo competition
102013–14Adur Athletic LadiesNo competition
112014–15Lancing LadiesNo competition
122015–16 Lewes (Foundation) Ladies No competition
132016–17Oakwood LadiesNo competition
142017–18Newhaven LadiesNo competition
152018–19AFC LittlehamptonNo competition
—2019–20 1No champions. Season abandoned
—2020–21 2

1 The 2019–20 season was terminated on 26 March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic
2 The 2020-21 was curtailed on 24 February 2021 again to the coronavirus pandemic.

2021–Present

In 2021, Division One was renamed to Premier Division and Divisions One and Two were created. In 2023 Division Two was discontinued with all teams joining Division One.

No.SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
162021–22Pagham LadiesAFC Acorns Women DevelopmentEastbourne Borough Women
172022–23Hassocks Ladies Eastbourne Town Women AFC Uckfield Town Ladies
182023–24Saltdean United Women's DevelopmentWorthing Town WomenNo competition

League Challenge Cup

Challenge Cup winners
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners–upVenueAttendanceNotes
2005–06Whitehawk Ladies Reserves3–2Rottingdean Village Ladies Culver Road N/A [2]
2006–07Brighton & Hove Albion Women II4–1Hailsham Town Ladies Middle Road N/A [3]
2007–08Adur Athletic Ladies6–1Langton Green Tunbridge Wells Ladies Haven Field N/A [4]
2008–09Adur Athletic Ladies1–0Rottingdean Village Ladies Haven Field N/A [5]
2009–10Rottingdean Village Ladies2–1Chichester City Ladies Haven Field N/A [6]
2010–11Eastbourne Ladies2–1Maresfield Village Ladies Haven Field N/A [7]
2011–12Eastbourne Ladies1–1 (4–3 pens)Worthing Town Ladies Centenary Park N/A [8]
2012–13Bexhill United Ladies Reserves1–1 (4–1 pens) Worthing Ladies Culver Road N/A [9]
2013–14Rottingdean Village2–1Horsham Sparrows Women Culver Road N/A [10]
2014–15 Lewes (Foundation) Ladies 4–1Hurstpierpoint Ladies Haven Field N/A [11]
2015–16 Lewes (Foundation) Ladies 4–1Burgess Hill Town Ladies Culver Road N/A [12]
2016–17Oakwood Ladies2–0Montpelier Villa Culver Road N/A [13]
2017–18Newhaven Ladies3–2Saltdean United Ladies Culver Road 140 [14]
2018–19Barnham Trojans4–3Roffey Woodside Road N/A [15]
2021–22Montpelier Villa4–2Seaford Town Ladies Culver Road N/A [16]
2022–23Shoreham Women3–1Saltdean United Women's Development Culver Road N/A [17]

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References

  1. ↑ "About". Sussex County Women & Girls Football League. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2005–06".
  3. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2006–07".
  4. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2007–08".
  5. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2008–19".
  6. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2009–10".
  7. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2010–11".
  8. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2011–12".
  9. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2012–13".
  10. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2013–14".
  11. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2014–15".
  12. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2015–16".
  13. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2016–17".
  14. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2017-18".
  15. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2018–19".
  16. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2021–22".
  17. ↑ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2022–23".
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