Issuu

2 SUND@Y

EDITORIAL

The 2024-25 season was a transitional one for many of the local women’s teams playing in the North East Regional Women’s Football League (NERWFL) and the West Riding County Women’s Football League (WRCWFL).

As a two year spell of dry summers and winters came to an end, winter 2025/26 has seen prolonged spells of rain, storms, and latterly snow and ice. This has had the unfortunate effect of disrupting league campaigns for those teams playing mainly on grass.

Add in the usual cup competitions, that seem to be mainly played from November through to February...and many clubs have found themselves playing only one or two league games in two months.

There is, due to climate change, an argument for a longer winter break, perhaps playing fixtures from September to November and then restarting in March. Writing that...I don’t like the idea of a three month break, but something has to be done due to teams finding themselves struggling to get games on during the winter. Maybe the answer is to play as a summer league? But that creates a whole set of new problems.

What is good to see, is that the women’s game is growing year by year; however, it is clear that there is a need for more support from higher in the league pyramid and specifically the FA.

There must be more money filtered down to the grassroots

clubs in the way of help to purchase kits, ground rental costs, and perhaps a bonus for clubs that fulfil all their fixtures within a season...but that is probably a discussion for another time.

Turning our attention to local clubs; the stand-out team in 24/25 had to be Knaresborough Town Women’s first team, who won their third straight promotion in the WRCWFL.

The job that manager Mike Bligh has done since the team was created in the summer of 2022, is nothing short of phenomenal. Having played 65 league games, Boro’ have won 58 of them, drawn four and lost just three -giving them a win rate just shy of 90%

Looking specifically at this season, Harrogate Railway’s three teams have had a mixed campaign so far, but it is clear that they have had quite a few issues with injuries and players rising through the teams [disruption to squads is never good].

Harrogate Town’s teams have progressed really well during this campaign, with the reserves, in particular, looking formidable in the WRCWFL Division Three.

Tadcaster Albion’s two women’s teams are also having a wonderful campaign, with the first team looking to gain promotion from WRCWFL Division Four - putting in some superb performances.

Let’s look at each team a little more.

ETAGORRAH R A I L WAY WOMEN

FIRSTS

Manager Richard Burn’s Harrogate Railway First Team have been struggling in the league this campaign - mainly due to injuries to key players.

The team currently sit in eighth place in the WRCWFL Premier League, but with a few games in hand against the teams in and around them. With two wins, two draws, and four losses...Richard will be the first to admit that the team have struggled for consistency.

With ten games still to play, a single point will ensure Premier League football at Station View in 2026/27, and with the exciting crop of talented young players coming through...they will be a team to watch.

RESERVES

The reserves are currently placed fourth in the WRCWFL Division Two. Guiseley Lionesses sit top of the league with a flawless 12 wins, and have practically already earned promotion.

Five points separate Brighouse Town (in second), Leeds City in third, and Railway in fourth. If they win their remaining five games, then they may be in with a shout of that second promotion spot.

That maybe a tough call - but Alan and Andy’s team have shown in previous seasons that they are capable of putting together an impressive run-in.

...and since they have all three teams above them still to play...you do the math!

DEVS

Railway’s Development team sit in fifth place in the Harrogate & Craven Development Division with a record of three wins and five losses.

The league format has changed a little this season, and it is fair to say that all the teams are still finding their feet.

With seven games still to play this season and only nine points separating the Devs from the top spot... there is a lot to play for still!

OPINION

Harrogate Railway Women have a superb pool of players to select from, however, are still struggling due to long term injuries and players progressing through the different squads.

Next season, the firsts will be a team challenging for promotion; however, keep an eye on the reserves now as they are still in with a shout of league glory in April.

FIRSTS

Last season’s review highlighted that Harrogate Town’s first team had struggled in previous seasons. However, their [then] new manager Kate Donnan had steadied the ship and that they would be looking up rather than down this season.

At first glance, sitting in ninth place of the NERWFL Premier League at the half-way point of the campaign may not seem like much improvement... but that would be the completely wrong conclusion to make.

There is a new spine to this team, one that means they are difficult opponents and whereas in previous seasons, heads would drop when they conceded goals, this season they go hunting to get a result.

I expect the first team to progress to mid-table by the end of this season...which will be remarkable given the pedigree of some of the teams in the league.

U23S

Harrogate Town U23S play in the WRCWFL Division three and are currently second in the table. Building on last season’s great run of form, the Town reserve team are promising something special this time out.

Leeds Modernians lead the way at the top of the table, ahead of Town by four points...but critically having played two more games. Goole sit in third just a couple of points behind...but again having played one more game than the U23S.

With eight games remaining, winning six of them will see Town claim one of those top two spots for promotion. Win eight and they will claim the title.

I don’t want to put a jinx on them...but with the manner in which they have been winning games in the league, I certainly expect to see them gain promotion in April.

OPINION

There has been great progress at Harrogate Town Women this season, with the firsts showing huge improvements, and are certainly no longer the easy three points they once were - anything but!

I said that the U23S would be challenging for promotion this season, and I am pleased to see that they are certainly on track to do that. Destiny is in their own hands, and the added bonus is that they are also potential champions elect.

TOWN WOMEN

FIRSTS

It is difficult to write something other than has already been written about them. To date their record in the league reads played 65, won 58, drawn four, and lost just three in just over three and a half seasons.

Manager Mike Bligh operates with a small squad of players, and given their top scorer Ellis Baxter left in the summer, you may have been forgiven thinking that their WRCWFL Premier League campaign this time out would see them struggle.

But knowing that they still retain the services of Cass Lane and Lorna Wilkinson up front...should give you an idea of the formidable strike force available.

In fact, the goal contribution of all the players has meant that Boro’ are sitting second in the league. It is way too early to predict that they will be gaining promotion via one of the two top spots...but given that they have two or three games in hand against the teams in and around them, means that their fate is in their own hands.

Seven wins, one draw, and a single loss (due to an injury crisis at the club) means that their impressive league form continues. There are some tough games still to play - but they have proved that they don’t fear anyone.

U18S

Knaresborough Town U18 Girls team play in the York Football League Under 18 Girls Division 1.

They have struggled to play games given the weather and have only managed to get six fixtures completed so farmeaning that they are three or four fixtures behind most of the teams in the league.

They currently sit in fifth place [out of ten] and have a record of three wins and three losses, having played four of their six games away from home. If they can win their games in hand, then they will be challenging for one of the top two spots in the league.

This team is comprised of an exceptional group of talented players that will progress, in the years to come, into the senior squad.

OPINION

Although the top of the Premier League is tight, with five teams in the hunt for those two precious promotion spots, Knaresborough Town Women don’t have to look for favours from other teams at this point.

The equation is simple, win their remaining nine games and they will be promoted. A strong Thackley team still sit top, but Knaresborough Town have beaten them this season already, and put in another performance like they did against the Denny Girls and maybe they could snatch that top spot?

FIRSTS

Tadcaster Albion AFC Women Firsts play in WRCWFL Division Four.

Eldwick Lionesses Firsts lead the way in the division, sitting top having played 14 games; winning 10, drawing one and having lost three. Kellingley Welfare Firsts are in second having played thirteen games and a record of won ten, drawn one, and lost two.

Tadcaster Albion Firsts currently sit in third place having played 12 games with a record of nine wins, one draw, and two losses.

With one or two games in hand and just three points separating all three teams...Tadcaster are well placed to end the season in one of the top two promotion spots.

Albion have an impressive attack, with Edie Sanderson in particular impressing up front...indeed Edie is the club’s top scorer this season having netted 12 goals in just 13 appearances.

RESERVES

Tadcaster Albion Reserves play in WRCWFL Division Five (A) and have just completed their league campaign.

Finishing sixth in a league of eight, they played 14 games and had a record of three wins, and 11 losses; finishing the season on ten points.

Durkar Devils and Dewsbury Rangers dominated the league, probably skewing the final standings a little - with only one loss between them.

As this is the first season with a Division Five A and B; these lower divisions tend to end up with one or two very strong teams that are on a fast-track to the divisions above.

Having looked at the results this season and heard about their performances over the league campaign, I expect the reserves to go from strength to strength next season.

OPINION

With six games remaining, Tadcaster Albion First team appear to be on the brink of winning promotion.

Having said that, it is difficult to separate the top three teams as they currently have a pretty identical league record. It may even come down to goal difference in April, so it is important that Albion are ruthless in front of goal in their remaining fixtures.

The first team play some lovely football, willing to mix pass and move with long ball, and with their skilful forwards capable of scoring from outside the box as well as working the ball into the area...I believe that they will be playing in a higher division next August.