Workington Town Women Football Club have confirmed that their newly formed Pathway Team has been accepted in to the Lancashire County Women’s Football League for the upcoming season.
The team is a collection of some of the finest young female footballers that are leaving the junior football structure this summer.
The concept of the club’s third football team has been focused on offering a phased introduction in to adult football.
This development will allow the club to provide an incremental route to regional level football for those players that are ambitious and are willing to push themselves to compete at the highest level locally for female football players.
The vast majority of the team will be made up of players that have represented Workington Reds RiTC in the North West Girls Super League. This has given the players a great foundation to build from as they set off on their journeys in the adult game.
The Pathway Team will be headed up by Adam Smith and Scott Walker, both of whom have been with the majority of the players throughout significant periods of the players junior careers.
Adam said: “With the lasses time in the junior ranks coming to an end, it was important for us to look at what opportunities were open to them.
“We were really keen to keep the team together and give them a supportive route in to their first season in open age football. Discussions were held with members of the Town Women’s committee and an immediate commitment to push on with plans was eagerly agreed by all.”
Scott added: “It’s really important that this opportunity is established for future generations to come. The concept is that the Pathway Team will feed players into the other two senior teams and this will allow a backfill of players from the junior ranks season on season.
“It’s important for us to say that we would warmly welcome new players to the team, especially those that are leaving or have recently left junior football and are looking to further their development in football.”
Workington Town Women’s chairwoman, Laura Miller added: “This development is equal in importance for the club to that of the launching of the Reserve Team two seasons ago. It signifies the commitment we have to provide footballing opportunities to as many women as we can.”
“Everyone connected to the club is extremely proud to say that we are a self sufficient Women’s Football Club. We exist solely for the development of female footballers and we have our sole autonomy on decision making that we believe are in the best interests of our players.
“We are committed to continuing development and are willing to adapt to future provisions as or when the opportunity presents itself.”
More information about the newly formed team will be released in the coming weeks.
However, the club was keen to stress that opportunities to join this new team still existed and encouraged all interested parties to contact the club to find out more information.
