Football / Bristol Rovers Women
Bristol Rovers Women secure promotion to national league
Bristol Rovers Women will lift the South West Regional Women’s Football League trophy at the Memorial Stadium after the only team that could catch them at the top of the league drew on Sunday.
It means that the Gas Girls will be playing in the fourth tier of the women’s football pyramid next season.
Sherborne Town’s 3-3 draw with Bishop’s Lydeard finally dashed Sherborne’s slim hopes of catching Rovers, who will be crowned champions when they face Liskeard Athletic at the Mem on March 24.
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Rovers have 37 points after 14 games, with only two matches of the season remaining. They have won 12, drawn one and only lost once, away at Forest Green Rovers back in September.
“A season amassed into one picture,” said Gas Girls manager Nathan Hallett-Young as Rovers shared a photo of their full squad and backroom staff.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without a highly passionate & driven group of players, with an unbelievable support network behind them to push them to new heights! Buzzing to get to the Mem & celebrate.”
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Rovers CEO Tom Gorringe tweeted: “Congratulations to everyone involved! A great achievement another big step forward on the journey! Bring on the National League! #UTGG”
“Lost for words,” said Gas Girls captain Libby Bell, who has been at the reformed club since day one.
Helena Costa, who was part of the club’s development side before moving up to the first team, said: “So proud of my team! National League here we come!”
League top scorer Laura Curnock added: “So many people doubted us this year. Here we are, league champions with 2 games to go. So proud of my team. WE ARE NATIONAL LEAGUE.”
Promotion for Rovers into the national league continues an incredible journey for the team who were re-founded in 2019 by the club’s Community Trust.
The original Gas Girls founded in 1998 became Bristol Academy that later morphed into Bristol City, who this season – unless a miracle happens – will be relegated from the Women’s Super League.
The reformed Rovers Women started out in the Gloucestershire County Women’s Football League and would likely have made it to the national league even sooner if not for one season being declared null and void due to the pandemic.
Main photo: Bristol Rovers Women
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