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Ipswich Town Women promoted to FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division for 2021/22




Ipswich Town Women will be a third tier outfit next season after learning today that their application for promotion has been accepted by the Football Association as part of a reorganisation of the pyramid.

Joe Sheehan's side have dominated the FA Women's National League Division One South East over the past two Covid-19 abandoned seasons.

But their promotion application to play in the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division ahead of 2021/22 has been granted.

Captain Eva Hubbard gets the Ipswich Town Women into a team huddle earlier this season Picture: Ross Halls
Captain Eva Hubbard gets the Ipswich Town Women into a team huddle earlier this season Picture: Ross Halls

It will see the side, who were mainly captained by Mellis-based Eva Hubbard during the last year, having away trips to the likes of Plymouth Argyle, Yeovil United, Cardiff City and Milton Keynes Dons.

Town were top of Division One South East when the season was curtailed due to the pandemic in March 2020, with 11 wins from 14 games and an impressive goal difference of +42.

On March 26, 2020 the FA announced that tiers 3-6 of the women's football pyramid would be declared null and void, which ultimately denied the Tractor Girls a possible promotion to the Southern Premier Division.

Ipswich Town Women celebrate one of Georgia Allen's (far right) three goals in the 9-2 success at Harlow Town in the Women's FA Cup Picture: Ross Halls
Ipswich Town Women celebrate one of Georgia Allen's (far right) three goals in the 9-2 success at Harlow Town in the Women's FA Cup Picture: Ross Halls

When competitive football resumed in September 2020, Sheehan's side picked up where they left off by winning all four of their league matches, scoring 18 goals.

Town were also the only side in the top four tiers of women's football not to concede a league goal before the season was halted once again due to another national lockdown.

When the third lockdown was coming to an end, the FA consulted clubs regarding the preferred way to conclude the 2020/21 season.

On March 15, tiers 3-6 of the women's football pyramid were curtailed but this time declared incomplete, with an opportunity for clubs to apply for upward movement.

Details of the criteria were released to clubs in April and were based on a number of different areas across both on and off-field requirements.

Town submitted their formal application to join the Southern Premier Division in early May and after an anxious wait, the Suffolk club learned a move up to the third tier had been approved.

Sheehan's side are set to report for pre-season training on Monday, July 5. Fixtures will be confirmed later in July.



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