Gillingham_L.F.C.
Chatham Town WFC
Football club
Chatham Town Women, previously known as Gillingham Women's Football Club, is an English women's football club. The club compete in the and stage home matches at the Bauvill Stadium in Chatham, Kent.
| Full name | Chatham WFC |
|---|---|
| Founded | as Borstal '88 |
| Ground | Bauvil Stadium, Chatham |
| Chairman | Kevin Hake |
| Manager | Vicky Ashton-Jones (Interim Manager) |
| League | FA Women's National League Division One South East |
| 2023–24 | FA Women's National League South, 11th of 12 (relegated) |
In 1995, Gillingham F.C. owner Paul Scally co-opted a local women's football team called Borstal '88.[1]
In June 2014, the team was brought back under the banner of the men's football club, Gillingham F.C., after a period as an independent outfit.[2] Following this takeover, the club became known as Gillingham Ladies and played home games at Priestfield Stadium. Simon Ratcliffe was appointed as manager, but the club was relegated after the 2014–15 season and Ratcliffe subsequently departed.[3]
In June 2020, Gillingham F.C. announced that, as a result of restructuring necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, they would no longer operate Gillingham Ladies with immediate effect.[4] The club, sanctioned by the FA Women's National League, simultaneously announced a rebrand as Gillingham Women and would continue competing as an independent entity.[5]
In October 2022 Kevin Hake, the manager-chairman of Chatham Town, was announced as owner-chairman of the side, succeeding Josh Oatham.[6]
The FA has approved a name change to Chatham Town Women from the 2023–24 season.[7]
- "Gillingham Ladies / Girls Football Club". femaleSOCCER.net. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
- "Gillingham FC proud to announce that Ladies Football is to be played at Priestfield". Gillingham F.C. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
- "Darren Hare and Jack Wheeler replace Simon Ratcliffe as manager of Gillingham Ladies". Kent Online. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
- "Club Statement: Gillingham Ladies Senior Team". Gillingham FC. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- "Gillingham: League One side drop support for ladies team". BBC Sport. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- Reeves, Thomas (27 October 2022). "New era starts for Gillingham Women". Kent Online. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- Cawdell, Luke (22 May 2023). "Permission granted for Gillingham Women to become Chatham Town Women, playing in the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division". kentonline.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2023.