Introducing… Hythe & Dibden Womens Football Club!

We’re delighted to announce that our adult women’s partner club, Eling Ladies FC will now be known as Hythe & Dibden Womens Football Club!

Incredible news, that we now have the pathway to adult football for females in the area. Over the last 5 years we have seen the growth of girls football skyrocket, to the point where in the last few seasons we’ve been able to offer football to girls from the ages 5 to 18, with a girls only soccer school for year R and 1 girls, and a team at every age group from U7’s right through to U18’s. Several age groups now have multiple girls teams, including 3 girls teams at U10s!

Making our partnership with Eling Ladies FC more official, and bringing them under the Hythe & Dibden umbrella is an amazing milestone, and really puts Hythe & Dibden on the map as one of the leading providers of female football in Hampshire, and will soon be featuring in a female football case study for Hampshire FA!

Luke Smith has been passionate about womens football since he started Eling Ladies, and has been a driving force behind the development. As current Eling Ladies chairman, shall remain in control of the Women’s section as the new ‘Head of Womens Football’ and shall still remain as manager of the team.

Home games on the main pitch on the main pitch at the Hythe Garage Stadium, have access to the changing rooms, physio room, access to the clubhouse on Sundays for after match socialising and hosting of away teams, whilst also having access to the side pitch for Summer training.

Training will be at Applemore school, alongside the U18 girls, to create a close link and relationship between those looking to make the next step into adult football. We are really excited to be able to offer young girls the opportunity to train alongside the women, and be inspired by them!

And similarly, we are excited to get the Hythe & Dibden FC mens team training at Applemore next season, where we will be looking to do that same thing in terms of creating a pathway and giving U18s the opportunity and visibility on what the next step looks like.

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“We’ve been working with Eling Ladies for over a year now to create a pathway for girls into adult football, and couldn’t be happier with the result. The U18 girls that have played adult football with Eling this season have found a positive, nurturing, enjoyable and well run environment that aligns perfectly with our values as a Youth Football Club. To make this partnership official and connect with the mens team at the same time is fantastic for everyone involved, and for the community. With 170+ girls at Hythe & Dibden YFC currently and growing fast, it’s amazing to know that all the young girls coming through have an opportunity in the area to continue playing football, and enjoy all the benefits that it brings. A massive thanks to Luke Smith, Neil Wright, Steve Norris, Dave & Vanessa Cox, and everyone involved in making this happen. This is a huge step forward!”

James Golding

Hythe & Dibden YFC Chairman

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The future’s bright in green and white!