From no kit to champions – the rise and rise of Eastbourne Town Women

A game at home against eighth-placed Denne Park was called off by the away team and the league awarded three points to Eastbourne Town Women, crowning them champions and an automatic promotion into the SCWGL Premier Division next season.

Rick Tate, women’s manager since the beginning of 2022, said: “For my first full season in charge of the ladies, I’m very proud of the whole squad.

"When we realised a little way into the season that we could win the league, we focused on each game. We showed great character and determination in certain games by coming from a goal down to win some games.

"Now we look forward to next season and look to add to the squad over the summer.”

Team captain Dani Parfitt said: “This squad has shown what determination and team spirit can do. We started this season off the back of relegation, with no training kit, no winter training facilities, barely 11 players, and we have turned it around to be league champions.

"We have worked so hard this season to define our identity. The attitude on the pitch, the style of football, the ‘family’ spirit of the squad. We made it hard at times, going behind too many times to remember and having to claw the game back.

“I am so proud of the girls, Rick the manager, John our lino, Theo the guy who sits on the committee and fights our corner, our many supporters.

"For me, completing my ninth season at the club, honoured to wear the captain’s armband, I can’t tell you how much this means to me.

"I’m gutted not to have won the title on the pitch, with muddy knees and my team around me, but it is what it is and I’m glad we’ve still got one last game to come off that pitch smiling. We have a lot of work to do over the summer ready for next season, but bring it on!”

Eastbourne Town Women last won a league title back in 2011 in the South East Counties Premier Division, earning themselves promotion into the London & South East regional league, the fifth tier of the women’s football pyramid.

They nearly earned promotion the following season into the Women’s National League losing out by just four points. Their last notable achievement was in 2015 when they reached the third round of the Women’s FA Cup, losing 4-2 in extra time to Derby County Women.

Club chairman Dave Shearing told how pleased and proud they were as a club of the achievements and said he hoped it was the start of a bright future for the women’s team.

They have one more game left this Sunday, April 2, at home to mid-table Brighton Seagals who have four games left and will be looking to secure a top three finish over Eastbourne Borough Women and Seaford-based Premier United.

Kick-off is at 2pm and its free admission.