Southgate W2’s have secured promotion to the National League East Conference after winning the London Premier Division.
Adam Mulholland in his 1st season coaching the team has so far enjoyed an invincible undefeated season with just one game to play on Saturday.
The W1’s on Saturday managed to secure their Division One status after Guilford’s defeat to Sevenoaks and with that Jennie Stephens and her players were able to celebrate their guaranteed promotion. It had been a nervy few weeks for the team as Southgate’s W1’s had to hold their league status to allow for the promotion due to league rules not allowing 2 teams from the same club to play in the National Leagues. The W1 have also themselves already celebrated their promotion to Division One of the EH Indoor super 6s this year.
Lorna Cruickshank and her W1 team mates after their famous victory against Teddington a few weeks ago
This means for the first time in the clubs history our W1/W2 will both be playing in the national leagues joining the M1/M2 who achieved that accolade last season. It represents a big moment for the club and is testament to a huge amount of work from the players and coaches not just from this season but from the decade that preceded it. It was ten years ago this year that our W1 secured promotion to the national league in a team which included current W1 captain Ellie Robinson and Emma Macintyre, not to mention W2 senior player Lucy Sheffield! The success this season is very much built standing on the shoulders of all the players past and present who have worked so hard to establish and grow our Women’s section.
Our W1 in 2016 celebrating promotion to the National League
Our W1 in 2019
Our W2 from 2019
Our brilliant W5 in 2016- can you spot our current players in this one?
The success doesn’t stop with the W2’s as Mandy Sterlini and her W3’s team have also secured promotion to Division One this season after an incredible season for the side which saw them win their Division 2N league in fine style. This Saturday eyes and hopes will turn to our W4’s who have worked hard all season to maintain their league status in that same league. Under coach (and club President) James Duthie the team led by c0-captains Alex Francis and Georgina Smellie will face 3rd place Harrow W1 at John Lyon School. A win should be enough to ensure they hold onto their place in Div 2N for next season.
Meanwhile our W5’s and W6’s have had a hugely improved season and are both looking to round things off this weekend with two wins as they both hold onto to they league status for next season.
Our W5 after their 2-1 win
Our W6 after their 1-1 draw against Imperial Medics
Thanks to everyone who has played across the whole section, everyone who has coached and to everyone on pitch and off who has contributed to creating a brand new and exciting chapter build on the foundations laid by all of those who have played and represented the club in the last 10 years.
Our W4 after last weeks 1-0 win against H&W