The Sussex County Women & Girls Football League is an association football league in England. The competition covers the county of Sussex. Founded by the Sussex Football Association in 2004.
 | |
| Founded | 31 March 2004 |
|---|---|
| First season | 2004–05 |
| Country |  England |
| Divisions | Premier Division Championship Division One |
| Number of teams | 25 8 Premier Division 9 Championship 8 Division One |
| Level on pyramid | 7–9 |
| Promotion to | London and South East Women's Regional Football League Division One South |
| Domestic cup(s) | Women's FA Cup Sussex Women's Challenge Cup |
| League cup(s) | League Challenge Cup |
| Current champions | Saltdean United Development (1st title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Adur Athletic Ladies (2 titles) |
| Website | Official website |
The league consists of three divisions; Premier Championship and Division One at levels 7, 8 and 9 of the women's pyramid. It promotes to the London and South East Women's Regional Football League, and does not relegate to any league.
The League also organises its own knock-out cup competition, Sussex County Women's League Challenge Cup.
The League won the Grassroots League of the Year Award as part of England Football’s Grassroots Football Awards 2023.
History
editIn early 2004 the Sussex County Football Association (SCFA) was asked by The FA to set up a women's league for the 2004–05 season.[1] An inaugural meeting was held on 31 March 2004, chaired by the SCFA Chief Executive Ken Benham, with clubs from Brighton & Hove Albion, Crowborough Athletic, Crawley Down, Crawley Town, East Grinstead Town, Eastbourne Borough, Eastbourne Town, Hassocks, Hastings United, Haywards Heath Town, Lindfield, Seahaven Harriers and Whitehawk. A poll taken that the clubs were in favour. The league was to be managed by the SCFA council. The Sussex Girls League disbanded and the council agreed to take on the girl's section. The first Annual General Meeting of the Sussex Women & Girls Football League was held on 6 July 2004 and elected the first management committee.
On Sunday 12 September 2004 began the start of the league in Sussex with 17 adult clubs and 38 (80 teams) girl's clubs. Adults, Under 15, 14 and 13's playing as 11-a-side games also Under 14's and 13's as 9-a-side games. The Adult league originally started as two divisions, Division One and Division Two. Although just one division ran in 2005–06 before returning to two divisions for two seasons but going back to the one division in 2008. With the coronavirus pandemic disrupting sport throughout England, the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons were both abandoned. The league returned to normal for the 2021–22 season, this time running as three divisions, Premier, Division One and Division Two. Although each division had a different amount of teams, Divisions One and Two merged into Division One for the 2023–24 season, the Premier Division with eight teams and Division One with twelve. The 2024–25 season saw three divisions again, Division One renamed to Championship and Division One replacing the former Division Two.
Current member clubs
editPremier Division
edit| Club | Location | Home ground | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Preston Women | Littlehampton (East Preston) | The Lashmar | — |
| Eastbourne Borough Women | Eastbourne (Langney) | Priory Lane | 4,151 |
| Eastbourne Town Women | Eastbourne | The Saffrons | 3,000 |
| Hassocks Ladies | Hassocks | The Beacon | — |
| Horsham Sparrows Women | Slinfold | Cherry Tree Farm | — |
| Horsham Women | Horsham | Camping World Community Stadium | — |
| Pagham Ladies | Pagham | Nyetimber Lane | 1,500 |
| Worthing Town Women | Worthing | Palatine Park | — |
Championship
edit| Club | Location | Home ground | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton Seagals | Falmer | Brighton Aldridge Community Academy | — |
| Burgess Hill Town Women | Burgess Hill | The Home Call Carpets Community Stadium | 2,000 |
| Hailsham Town Women | Hailsham | The Beaconsfield | 2,000 |
| Hollingbury Hawks Women | Brighton (Hangleton) | Greenleas Football Pitches | — |
| Mile Oak Women | Brighton (Mile Oak) | Chalky Road | — |
| Oakwood Ladies | Crawley | Tinsley Lane | — |
| Whitehawk Women | Brighton (Whitehawk) | The Enclosed Ground | 3,126 |
| Woodingdean Wanderers Women | Brighton (Woodingdean) | Deans Leisure Centre | — |
| Worthing Town Development Women | Worthing | Palatine Park | — |
Division One
edit| Club | Location | Home ground | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Uckfield Town Ladies | Uckfield | The Oaks | — |
| Barnham Trojans Ladies | — | ||
| Hastings United Development | Hastings | Pilot Field | — |
| Infinity Women | — | ||
| Newhaven Ladies Development | Newhaven | The Trafalgar Ground | — |
| Ringmer AFC Ladies | Ringmer | The Caburn Community Ground | — |
| Seaford Town Ladies | Seaford | The Crouch | — |
| The View Ladies | Brighton | — |
Past League Champions
edit2004–2021
editFrom its formation in 2004, the league ran as just one division, apart from three seasons where a Division Two ran.
| No. | Season | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004–05 | Eastbourne Borough Ladies | Bognor Regis Town Ladies |
| 2 | 2005–06 | Rottingdean Village Ladies | No competition |
| 3 | 2006–07 | Brighton & Hove Women's II | Adur Athletic Ladies |
| 4 | 2007–08 | Langton Green Tunbridge Wells Ladies | Phoenix Ladies |
| 5 | 2008–09 | Adur Athletic Ladies | No competition |
| 6 | 2009–10 | Burgess Hill Town Ladies | No competition |
| 7 | 2010–11 | Hassocks Ladies Reserves | No competition |
| 8 | 2011–12 | Eastbourne Ladies | No competition |
| 9 | 2012–13 | Marle Place Wanderers Ladies | No competition |
| 10 | 2013–14 | Adur Athletic Ladies | No competition |
| 11 | 2014–15 | Lancing Ladies | No competition |
| 12 | 2015–16 | Lewes (Foundation) Ladies | No competition |
| 13 | 2016–17 | Oakwood Ladies | No competition |
| 14 | 2017–18 | Newhaven Ladies | No competition |
| 15 | 2018–19 | AFC Littlehampton | No competition |
| — | 2019–20 1 | No champions. Season abandoned | |
| — | 2020–21 2 | ||
1 The 2019–20 season was terminated on 26 March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic
2 The 2020-21 was curtailed on 24 February 2021 again to the coronavirus pandemic.
2021–Present
editIn 2021, Division One was renamed to Premier Division and Divisions One and Two were created. In 2023 Division Two was discontinued with all teams joining Division One.
| No. | Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 2021–22 | Pagham Ladies | AFC Acorns Women Development | Eastbourne Borough Women |
| 17 | 2022–23 | Hassocks Ladies | Eastbourne Town Women | AFC Uckfield Town Ladies |
| 18 | 2023–24 | Saltdean United Women's Development | Worthing Town Women | No competition |
League Challenge Cup
edit| Season | Winners | Score | Runners–up | Venue | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Whitehawk Ladies Reserves | 3–2 | Rottingdean Village Ladies | Culver Road | N/A | [2] |
| 2006–07 | Brighton & Hove Albion Women II | 4–1 | Hailsham Town Ladies | Middle Road | N/A | [3] |
| 2007–08 | Adur Athletic Ladies | 6–1 | Langton Green Tunbridge Wells Ladies | Haven Field | N/A | [4] |
| 2008–09 | Adur Athletic Ladies | 1–0 | Rottingdean Village Ladies | Haven Field | N/A | [5] |
| 2009–10 | Rottingdean Village Ladies | 2–1 | Chichester City Ladies | Haven Field | N/A | [6] |
| 2010–11 | Eastbourne Ladies | 2–1 | Maresfield Village Ladies | Haven Field | N/A | [7] |
| 2011–12 | Eastbourne Ladies | 1–1 (4–3 pens) | Worthing Town Ladies | Centenary Park | N/A | [8] |
| 2012–13 | Bexhill United Ladies Reserves | 1–1 (4–1 pens) | Worthing Ladies | Culver Road | N/A | [9] |
| 2013–14 | Rottingdean Village | 2–1 | Horsham Sparrows Women | Culver Road | N/A | [10] |
| 2014–15 | Lewes (Foundation) Ladies | 4–1 | Hurstpierpoint Ladies | Haven Field | N/A | [11] |
| 2015–16 | Lewes (Foundation) Ladies | 4–1 | Burgess Hill Town Ladies | Culver Road | N/A | [12] |
| 2016–17 | Oakwood Ladies | 2–0 | Montpelier Villa | Culver Road | N/A | [13] |
| 2017–18 | Newhaven Ladies | 3–2 | Saltdean United Ladies | Culver Road | 140 | [14] |
| 2018–19 | Barnham Trojans | 4–3 | Roffey | Woodside Road | N/A | [15] |
| 2021–22 | Montpelier Villa | 4–2 | Seaford Town Ladies | Culver Road | N/A | [16] |
| 2022–23 | Shoreham Women | 3–1 | Saltdean United Women's Development | Culver Road | N/A | [17] |
References
edit- ^ "About". Sussex County Women & Girls Football League. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2005–06".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2006–07".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2007–08".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2008–19".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2009–10".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2010–11".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2011–12".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2012–13".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2013–14".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2014–15".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2015–16".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2016–17".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2017-18".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2018–19".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2021–22".
- ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2022–23".