Division One Midland's Newcomers: Worcester City Women FC

Worcester City Women FC: FAWNL Newcomers!

This season marks Worcester City Women FC’s first season in the FAWNL Division One Midlands after having been crowned champions of West Midlands Regional Women’s Football League and promoted last season. Currently sitting one position above the drop in 10th place, City have recorded 2 wins, 1 draw and 12 defeats so far this league campaign. 

Despite a challenging start to the season, City have recorded some promising results and have been close to claiming points against some of the top teams in the league. The last two games before Christmas saw City narrowly miss out on sharing points with high-flying Northampton Town Women and Peterborough United Women, as City suffered two narrow defeats, the latter of which coming in the dying minutes

Standout Players and Key Contributions

Several players have stood out in City’s first season in Tier 4. Olivia Mitcham has been a key threat in front of goal and currently sits as the team's top scorer. Her goals will be vital if Worcester City hope to stay in the FAWNL.

Midfielder Annie Highway has repeatedly been a standout player with her creative performances in the middle of the park earning her 5 opposition player of the match awards.

Key Results so far

Worcester recorded a massive 4-0 victory against Lincoln City Women in November which helped to put more distance between them and the relegation zone. That victory, combined with a solid performance in the league which saw City holding Sutton Coldfield Town Women to a thrilling 3-3 draw, demonstrates that the team is capable of pulling off impressive results when it counts.

Cup Runs: A Bright Spot

While the first season in a higher division has been challenging, Worcester City Women FC have been successful in cup competitions. A gritty 1-0 win over Tier 3 opposition Cheltenham Town Ladies in the FA Women’s National League Cup in August showed their ability to play against and compete with higher league opposition.

They also recently recorded an impressive 7-0 win over Kingfisher FC Women in the County Cup, sending a strong message that they are fully intending to defend their county cup title this season. Their next clash will see them play Tier 5 Kidderminster Harriers Women in what is sure to be a closely contested match.

They also reached the second round proper of the FA cup before eventually being knocked out by Tier 3 side West Bromwich Albion Women.

Big Signings

City made three big signings in January clearly demonstrating their intentions for the rest of the season. One such key addition is Esme Harris who joins City after having had experience playing in Tier 3 for clubs such as Cheltenham Town Women and Stourbridge Ladies FC. City also bolstered their squad at the start of the season with the addition of several young players such as defenders Millie Robinson and Eva Flitney.

Upcoming Fixtures: Can They Turn It Around?

Looking ahead towards the end of the season, Worcester have several crucial fixtures against teams around the relegation zone. They still have to play Lincoln City Women, Solihull Moors Women FC, and Sutton Coldfield. City have already shown that they can claim points against all three of these teams and these potential points will be crucial if City are to retain their place in the Division One Midlands.

The club as a whole

Worcester City Women FC unique in the sense that they are not affiliated with a men’s team. They play in the incredible Sixways stadium which boasts a total capacity of over 12,000 people and have recorded attendances of over 500 people. One definite highlight of the Sixways experience is their mascot Pablo the Penguin. Pablo’s dance moves are enough to brighten anyone’s day!

They boast a strong pathway with an U18s side as well as a Reserve Team which compete in Tier 6. As well as that, City boast strong links to the community and have started a 'Kick and Connect’ scheme which encourages Women aged over 24 to be active and play football.

As we move towards the end of the season, make sure to keep an eye on City’s results and especially their 9th February match against Lincoln United Women.