Sussex County Women and Girls Football League

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Sussex County Women & Girls Football League
Founded31 March 2004; 19 years ago (2004-03-31)
First season2004–05
Country England
DivisionsPremier Division
Division One
Number of teams22
9 Premier Division
13 Division One
Level on pyramid7–8
Promotion toLondon 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 championsHassocks Ladies (1st title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsAdur Athletic Ladies (2 titles)
WebsiteOfficial website

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.

The league consists of two divisions; Premier and Division One at levels 7 and 8 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[edit]

In 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.

Current member clubs[edit]

Sussex County Women and Girls Football League is located in East Sussex
Eastbourne Borough & DS
Eastbourne Borough & DS
Saltdean United DS
Saltdean United DS
Whitehawk
Whitehawk
AFC Uckfield Town
AFC Uckfield Town
Brighton Seagals
Brighton Seagals
Hawks
Hawks
Mile Oak
Mile Oak
Newhaven DS
Newhaven DS
Ringmer AFC
Ringmer AFC
Woodingdean Wanderers
Woodingdean Wanderers
Location of teams in East Sussex
– Premier Division - Division 1
Sussex County Women and Girls Football League is located in West Sussex
Horsham Sparrows
Horsham Sparrows
Horsham
Horsham
Pagham
Pagham
Shoreham
Shoreham
Bognor Regis Town Reserves
Bognor Regis Town Reserves
East Preston
East Preston
Worthing Town
Worthing Town
Map showing the location of teams in West Sussex
– Premier Division - Division 1

Clubs competing in the 2023–24 season are:[2][3]

Premier Division[edit]

Club Location Home ground Capacity
Eastbourne Borough Women Eastbourne (Langney) Priory Lane 4,151
Eastbourne Town Women Eastbourne The Saffrons 3,000
Horsham Sparrows Women Slinfold Cherry Tree Farm
Horsham Women Horsham Camping World Community Stadium
Pagham Ladies Pagham Nyetimber Lane 1,500
Saltdean United Women's Development Brighton (Saltdean) Hill Park
Shoreham Women Shoreham-by-Sea Middle Road 2,000
Whitehawk Women Brighton (Whitehawk) The Enclosed Ground 3,126

Division One[edit]

Club Location Home ground Capacity
AFC Uckfield Town Ladies Uckfield The Oaks
Bognor Regis Town Women Reserves Bognor Regis Nyewood Lane 4,500
Brighton Seagals Falmer Brighton Aldridge Community Academy
East Preston Women Littlehampton (East Preston) The Lashmar
Eastbourne Borough Women Development Eastbourne (Langney) Priory Lane 4,151
Eastbourne Town Women Development Eastbourne Eastbourne Sports Park
Hawks Women Brighton (Hangleton) Greenleas Football Pitches
Mile Oak Women Brighton (Mile Oak) Chalky Road
Newhaven Ladies Development Newhaven The Trafalgar Ground
Ringmer AFC Ladies Ringmer The Caburn Community Ground
Woodingdean Wanderers Women Brighton (Woodingdean) Deans Leisure Centre
Worthing Town Women Worthing Palatine Park

Past League Champions[edit]

2004–2021[edit]

From 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[edit]

In 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 No competition

League Challenge Cup[edit]

Challenge Cup winners
Season Winners Score Runners–up Venue Attendance Notes
2005–06 Whitehawk Ladies Reserves 3–2 Rottingdean Village Ladies Culver Road N/A [4]
2006–07 Brighton & Hove Albion Women II 4–1 Hailsham Town Ladies Middle Road N/A [5]
2007–08 Adur Athletic Ladies 6–1 Langton Green Tunbridge Wells Ladies Haven Field N/A [6]
2008–09 Adur Athletic Ladies 1–0 Rottingdean Village Ladies Haven Field N/A [7]
2009–10 Rottingdean Village Ladies 2–1 Chichester City Ladies Haven Field N/A [8]
2010–11 Eastbourne Ladies 2–1 Maresfield Village Ladies Haven Field N/A [9]
2011–12 Eastbourne Ladies 1–1 (4–3 pens) Worthing Town Ladies Centenary Park N/A [10]
2012–13 Bexhill United Ladies Reserves 1–1 (4–1 pens) Worthing Ladies Culver Road N/A [11]
2013–14 Rottingdean Village 2–1 Horsham Sparrows Women Culver Road N/A [12]
2014–15 Lewes (Foundation) Ladies 4–1 Hurstpierpoint Ladies Haven Field N/A [13]
2015–16 Lewes (Foundation) Ladies 4–1 Burgess Hill Town Ladies Culver Road N/A [14]
2016–17 Oakwood Ladies 2–0 Montpelier Villa Culver Road N/A [15]
2017–18 Newhaven Ladies 3–2 Saltdean United Ladies Culver Road 140 [16]
2018–19 Barnham Trojans 4–3 Roffey Woodside Road N/A [17]
2021–22 Montpelier Villa 4–2 Seaford Town Ladies Culver Road N/A [18]
2022–23 Shoreham Women 3–1 Saltdean United Women's Development Culver Road N/A [19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About". Sussex County Women & Girls Football League. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Premier Division - 2023/24". Sussex County Women & Girls League. The FA. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Division One - 2023/24". Sussex County Women & Girls League. The FA. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2005–06".
  5. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2006–07".
  6. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2007–08".
  7. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2008–19".
  8. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2009–10".
  9. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2010–11".
  10. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2011–12".
  11. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2012–13".
  12. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2013–14".
  13. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2014–15".
  14. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2015–16".
  15. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2016–17".
  16. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2017-18".
  17. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2018–19".
  18. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2021–22".
  19. ^ "Sussex County Women's Football League Cup 2022–23".

External links[edit]