The Lioness Unity Cup was held on Sunday 2 June at Manningham Sports Centre on Carlisle Road, and it was fantastic to have seven teams from across the County represented, including local sides Athletico, and eventual winners Bradford (Park Avenue).

Both teams will be playing under a new name next season.

Athletico Ladies are now known as Route One Rovers Women, and are expected to be playing friendlies and their West Riding County League, Second Division home games at Avenue Road, West Bowling.

And Bradford (Park Avenue) Ladies have changed their name after 17 years, as they will continue in the WRCWFL Premier Division as Wyke Wanderers Ladies. Training will commence on Thursday 4 July (7 pm) at the Wyke Sports Village on Wilson Road, where they will also play their home games.

Thackley AFC Ladies, who have struggled to retain their place in the West Riding County League’s Premier Division, have received good news and bad news.

Despite a tough transitional season, Thackley finished 9th out of 10 teams and therefore outside of the relegation places, retaining their position in the WRCWFL Premier Division.

They have appointed former Bradford City WFC manager Steve Winterburn to fill the role of outgoing manager Michelle Woollias, who has departed the Club to concentrate on her new business. Winterburn will be joined by Nick Hird as part of his backroom team, with other coaching roles to be confirmed.

Shortly after the season concluded, the Club received notification of a restructure that would see Thackley relegated to County First. Thackley AFC did request an urgent response from both the County FA and the WRCWFL given the potential for serious financial impact which the arbitrary decision may now have on the Club but there has been no further news on the matter.

Field Ladies, who are promoted to County Second for next season, were proud to announce their annual awards at their social club.

The Most Improved Player was Kath Hawley, and the Manager’s Player was goalkeeper Emily McKinley. The Players’ Player was Megan Sparkes, who was also top scorer with 25 goals in 18 games, and there was also a Special Recognition Award for Amelia Jackson.

Bradford City’s u21s will be playing in County First under the u23s banner, with their home ground being the brand-new facility adjacent to Carlton-Bolling School on Undercliffe Lane.

They have also announced their Player-of-the-Season awards.

The 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 was 𝑬𝒍𝒔𝒊𝒆 𝑱𝒐𝒚𝒄𝒆, who earned manager 𝐆𝐚𝐳 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬’ praise for 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚 throughout the season.

The 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 was forward 𝑪𝒓𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑩𝒐𝒚𝒄𝒆. Her 40-goal haul in County Second, and development throughout the season, won the praise of her peers.

Bradford City Women’s first team will continue their tenure at the Horsfall Community Stadium for the forthcoming season.

Amongst the awards, 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒎𝒔𝒅𝒆𝒏 was picked by manager 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 for her dynamism and versatility in midfield throughout the season. And m𝒊𝒅𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 earned her peers’ vote for her 𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒔 in the middle of the park.

Two people have also gained 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: the captain, 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒌𝒂 𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒃𝒆, for her consistent performances and help in 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 of 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭; and long-serving kit-man, 𝑨𝒅𝒂𝒎 𝑳𝒆𝒆 for his 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 in making the girls 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 every time they play.

Bradford City’s u12s made it to the West Riding Girls’ League Cup Final at Oakfield Park School, Ackworth, where they beat Amaranth Crossgates 6–0. They were also invited to take part in the ACES Nationals tournament, held at the University of Nottingham’s Riverside Sports complex on Lenton Lane.

The u12s qualified for the knockout stage, where they beat Salford-based Ordsall Park Sharks 4–2 in the Round-of-16, but had a narrow 1–0 loss in the quarter-finals to Wirral side Vauxhall Novae.

Looking ahead, the FA National League will recommence on 18th August.

Before that, Division 1 North side Leeds United will play Doncaster Rovers Belles for the Julie Chipchase Memorial Trophy on Sunday, August 4 (3pm) at Doncaster Rovers’ main stadium. The day will also see the official launch of the Julie Chipchase Coaching Legacy — a charity organisation that will provide financial support to aspiring female coaches pursuing their FA badges, and in turn continue the growth of the women’s game. “Chippy” was Leeds’ manager for four years, but did have three separate spells at the Belles — as player, manager, and latterly as Director of Football. One of the country’s most highly-qualified female coaches, she spent 15 years working in various roles at the FA. Unfortunately, following a battle with cancer, she died in 2021 at the age of 60.