Manchester City Ladies’ Football Club under-15s have won 32 trophies over the past six years. But their impressive run could be about to come to an end.
They were offered the chance to play in the Lancashire FA’s next league up – the under-18s West Lancashire League.
But that would mean losing three star players as they would be too young to play in that competition. It would also mean having to play away games as far afield as Preston and Blackpool – at a time when many of the girls will have GCSE examinations.
The team – which won the under-16s Lancashire League and Cup double last season despite most of their opponents being older – wanted to join the South Manchester Girls’ U16s for the new season.
But league organisers say there are already two Manchester City-affiliated clubs in the division – and three would be one too many. Concerns have also been expressed that the girls would be too good for their rivals.
Right winger Sophie Atkinson, 15, from Cheadle, said the situation was unfair. And Sophie’s dad Peter, 46, said:"These girls have been playing together since they were 10 and 11. They’re very good and they just want to stay together."
Colin Bridgeford from the Manchester FA said: "If Manchester City Ladies’ FC feel like they are being inappropriately treated, they can appeal to the FA."
Peter Dyer, from the South Manchester Girls’ Football League, said: "We’re always concerned when teams are very good because we are about development – if teams turn up every week and get beaten 25-0 they aren’t going to continue. In my opinion I think they found an appropriate league and chose not to join it."
