Women and GirlsCity Women Gain Promotion
Thursday, 01 May 2008.
Leicester City Women's Football Club made history on Sunday after gaining their 4th successive promotion and entering the FA Women's Tesco Premier- Northern Division.
After topping the league for the majority of the season City needed to take a point out of their final game of the season versus second placed Coventry City who could have stolen the league if they had won the game. The pressure on both teams was showing and a scrappy game saw it all, City's goalkeeper Laura Niblett saved a penalty, City had a Zira Handley goal disallowed and several goal mouth scrambles led to nothing for both teams. In the dying minutes of the second half a City corner by Natalie Reay found Courtney Sweetman-Kirk near post to head home the winner and confirm the League title. The game was missing City's captain Remi Allen who was away helping England U19 secure qualification for the Euro's in the summer which they achieved meaning successes all round for City's players.
City Manager Rehanne Skinner said, "Obviously I am very pleased for the players who have worked extremely hard this year to get the club where it is, it is without a doubt the most satisfying achievement gaining promotion into the top flight of women's football. The season has been a long one with a lot of league fixtures put back due to our FA Cup run into the 4th round plus League and County Cups, so it has been brilliant to get to the end of the league and finish on top after all the hard work. Coventry City have kept the pressure on all year to their credit and were just awaiting a slip up from us but fortunately that didn't happen. The players have worked extremely hard and injuries have crept in over the last 3 weeks allowing some of the youngsters the opportunity to come in and take their chance which I have been impressed with. The depth of our squad has definitely helped us and should we win the treble again this year it will be the hardest fought one so far. The players have certainly done themselves proud and earnt this promotion and we are all looking forward to the challenge next year once we have these 2 Cup Finals out of the way."
Leicestershire has never had a female team in the top flight of women's football until now and next season will see some of the top names in women's football visiting their home ground at Blaby. However, the season isn't quite over with City still having the chance to win the treble again for the third year running. The County Cup final will be taking place on Wednesday 30th April @ Hinckley United versus Loughborough Students 7.30pm KO, then on Thursday 15th May the League Cup Final will take place @ Holmes Park, Whetstone versus Derby County 7.45pm KO. Any supporters will be welcome!