ALTON Ladies have been promoted to the Southern Regional Division One this season – a fantastic achievement to play at such a high level of the women’s football pyramid.

The ladies now play their football from the New Forest to Banbury in north Oxfordshire, competing against formidable sides such as Andover, Ascot, Reading and Oxford City.

It is always a struggle to find sponsors for women’s football and Alton are grateful to Paul J Grace, Garden Maintenance of Alton, who has supplied the squad with tracksuits, kit and coats, and also Soccerela, a female football supplier for Alton’s current kit.

Manager Wayne Fox is proud of the ladies who turn out twice a week in all weathers to train and to play on Sunday afternoons. “They are committed and skillful and their passion for the game is second to none,” he said. “They read the game well and are always pushing themselves to improve and work harder than before.”

Fox and coach Tony Skinner have campaigned for equality in football for women over the years and are now enjoying the standard of football Alton are playing. “We have players coming from far and wide – from Southampton, Basingstoke, Berkshire and Woking,” added Wayne Fox. “They are a fantastic bunch, ranging from 16 years upwards.

“We have superb facilities, thanks to the new 3G pitch at Anstey Park, and we have a fantastic committee and chairman who are driving the club forward. We welcome any female footballers.”

Alton Ladies are currently fourth in the table and have recorded good wins over Andover, Fleet Town and Ascot United.