Having been crowned the 2010 South West Combination Women's Football League champions, Yeovil Town Ladies are presently playing in their inaugural season in the FA Tesco Women's Premier League. At present they are operating in the Southern Division of the Premier league, but have strong ambitions to progress to the National Division.
Previous to their present status 'The Glovers' had spent three seasons in the South West Combination Women's Football League, following the winning of the South West Women's Premier Division 2007.
Their first season in the Combination was pleasing, with the team achieving a respectable fourth place finish. This allowed them to continue to progress, and having made a number of acquisitions over the summer, they went on to finish third in their second
season, pushing the eventual champions QPR for most of the campaign.
The squad was further strengthened in the third season, and they went on to take the championship in style, winning seventeen of their twenty league games and scoring an impressive hundred and two goals in the process. The team also enjoyed a record-breaking run in the FA Cup, with a narrow defeat to Nottingham Forest the only barrier to the quarterfinals.
This was capped superbly with an equally impressive performance in the Somerset County Cup. The girls got to the final, and put in a good performance against a Keynsham team littered with international players, but unfortunately missed out in extra time.
The first team was managed by the experienced Steve Phelps, and with the help of a dedicated backroom staff, he developed a first class squad made up of a mixture of quality signings and highly promising young players who have come through the club's youth system. The squad is young and fast developing, and looks well equipped to progress in its new league.
Sarah Lawler is the club captain, and works hard with the management to gain maximum success on the field of play. Sarah also makes a massive contribution to the development of the club, both as captain and committee member.
Yeovil Town Ladies have a strong club committee, who work tirelessly to run the club on a day to day basis, as well as developing it towards a progressive future.
A Strong Collection Of Playing Squads
Yeovil Town Ladies operate a first and reserve team, as well as six youth teams, playing at Under-10, Under-11, Under-12, Under-13, Under-14 and at Under-16 levels this 2010/11 season.
The reserve team is managed by Chris White, and last season they enjoyed an impressive first campaign in the South West League, having won the Somerset County Women's League in the previous season. They have now progressed with the first team to the FA Tesco Women's Premier League, and are this season playing in their Reserve league, Southern Division Two.
Playing alongside a number of experienced players, the reserves are a hot bed for some very promising youngsters, all of who are being developed towards First team football. Playing in a higher league this season should help with their long-term development, and with it, the club's future looks to be in safe hands.
The club have a strong and well-established youth system. The new Under-Ten squad play in the Somerset Development League, and are managed by Mike Board and coached by the up and coming Michelle Yeowell.
The Under-Eleven's are managed by Mark Howard, and are in their second season together, having won the Under-Ten development league last season. The Under-Twelve's will be another newly developed squad this season, with
players and a manager soon to be recruited.
Last season's Under-Twelve squad have now progressed to Under-Thirteen level, and having finished second in the league last season, they are looking to continue their fine progress this term under the coaching of the experienced Clive Watts.
Under the stewardship of the progressive coach Andy Dickinson, the Under-Fourteen's are again looking very strong, having been league champions for the past two years.
The Under-Sixteen squad are managed by the vastly experienced coach Nigel Williams, and contain a number of very promising players, many of whom look very capable to progressing to the senior squad.
Partnerships
Yeovil Town Ladies are kindly sponsored by the Quedam Centre of Yeovil, and are most grateful for the tremendous support given in what has proved to be an invaluable partnership.
The club also have an excellent working relationship with Sherborne Town Football Club and the Somerton Sports Club, and are grateful to them for the provision of first class facilities and pitches throughout the season for the First and Reserve teams respectively.
Yeovil Town Ladies have achieved the Charter Standards Award, and also fully support the FA's 'Respect' Campaign, both on and off the pitch.
Matches
The first team play their home games at Sherborne Town's Raleigh Grove ground, with the Reserve team playing at the Somerton Sports Club. The eleven a side Under-Sixteen and Under-Fourteen teams play at the Chilthorne Domer Sports Ground, while the seven aside Under-Thirteen, Under-Twelve, Under-Eleven and Under-Ten sides operate at the Tintinhull Sports Ground near Yeovil.
The senior teams play on Sundays, with their matches kicking off at 2.00pm,and supporters are very welcome to come along and watch. The Youth teams play on Saturdays, with their matches kicking off at 10.30am, and again all supporters are welcome to come along.
First team fixture lists are available during the season from the main reception area at Huish Park, and can also be found in the "Fixtures and Results" section of this website, while Reserve and Youth Fixtures can be found in their own sections.
New Players
The club are always looking for new players at both senior and youth levels, with recruitment taking place throughout the season. Yeovil Town Ladies are part of the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust, and are committed to the promotion of football and fitness to players of all levels throughout the region.
For all enquires, please contact the club secretary Ali King at alastair.king1965@btinternet.com or call him direct on 01460 75309.
