We are delighted to announce that the Sussex County Women & Girls League has won the Grassroots League of the Year Award as part of England Football’s Grassroots Football Awards.

This Award looks to recognise a league that thinks outside the box to make football more accessible for more people.

Established back in early 2004, the Sussex County Women & Girls Football League (SCWGFL) was established following a request from The FA to the Sussex County FA to set up a Women’s League for the 2004/05 season.

With clubs such as Brighton & Hove Albion and Crawley Town in attendance at an inaugural meeting, a straw poll was taken, with clubs being in favour of its establishment.

In the nearly 20 years since that meeting, the league has grown from strength to strength.

Now consisting of over 300 teams and just over 4000 players, The SCWGFL has become a driving force for developing football in all its forms for women and girls, irrespective of their ability.

Alongside their work with players and clubs, the league has made a real effort to help support and help young referees working in the league.

Referee Ian Wilkins said: “From a personal point my progress as a referee has been made possible by support of appointments officer Russell Brooks and others working at the league.”

Of course, the success of the League has been helped by the remarkable performances of the Lionesses over the past two years.

“The Lionesses have without a doubt helped in bringing about the remarkable growth we’re seeing today, and have been seeing recently,” said Gary Crane, Chair of the SCWGFL.

“The League itself has been going from strength to strength as a result, and the support we are able to offer our teams, players and referees, would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers behind the scenes!”

To find out more about the England Football Grassroots Awards please contact:

Awards
E: Awards@SussexFA.com