Club News
Womens Pyramid Structure
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on August 26, 2009
It’s the Holy Grail of Womens Football – The FA Womens Premier League.
One of the most common questions recently is, where do Gillingham Ladies fit into the structure of women’s football?
Let us explain the structure of the womens game so you can judge for yourself where Gillingham Ladies FC are hopefully heading and what it will take to get there.
Gillingham Ladies currently play in “Step 3″ of the women’s football pyramid. Comparing this to the mens game we are at the equivalent level to the Gills men’s team in League One.
Our next promotion will take us up to the Southern Premiership. Then above that its the National Premiership, the top division in women’s football.
So as it stands here is a quick overview :-
National Prem
Northern Prem / Southern Prem
Northern Combi / Midlands Combi / South West Combi / South East Combi
Gillingham Ladies are in the South East Combination League..
So what teams are in what division:-
National Premiership
Arsenal
Birmingham City
Blackburn Rovers
Bristol Academy
Chelsea
Doncaster Rovers Belles
Everton
Leeds Carnagie
Millwall Lionessess
Nottingham Forest
Sunderland
Watford
Southern Premiership
Barnet
Brighton & Hove Albion
Cardiff City
Charlton Athletic
Colchester United
Crystal Palace
Keynsham Town
Queens Park Rangers
Reading
Portsmouth
West Ham United
WFC Fulham
Gillingham Ladies have already beaten Charlton (6-1) Brighton (6-2) and narrowly lost to Fulham (3-2) they have also signed Premiership experienced players, and Ashlee Hincks has spent most of her career in the National Premiership.
So ambitions are high to push on this season and gain promotion into the Premiership. Which could be as soon as next season.
However to add to the twist The FA have delayed the introduction of The Super League, which will hopefully push womens football nearer to a professional sport.
Maybe just maybe Gillingham Ladies could be considered as serious contenders to break into that elite.