Latest news with #Women'sNationalLeagueSouthernPremier
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ipswich Town Women exhilarated with promotion to Championship
Ipswich Town expressed their exhilaration after being promoted to the second tier of women's football. Town took an 8-0 victory against Cheltenham Town during their final game of the Women's National League Southern Premier season at their home ground in season, the Tractor Girls will compete in the Championship, which begins in September. Town captain and defender, Maria Boswell, said the success had been a whole team effort. "There is still a core group of us that have been here through all the highs, all the lows, quite a lot of lows sometimes that sometimes seemed quite hard to get out of," she said."We've had so many good people come in this year and join our team, and it's down to them, it's down to the ones who have been here so long."Midfielder Lucy O'Brien added that she could not put the promotion into words."There are so many emotions going on right now," she explained."I'm so proud to be part of this team, so happy. It's been an incredible season and it's a special day." Manager Joe Sheehan said the promotion had involved "a lot of hard work" over a long period of time."There's always been an expectation to do it, and that expectation has weighed really heavy at times," he said."[I'm] delighted that we've finally been able to achieve something that we worked so hard [on] for so long... I'm absolutely thrilled to finally get it done." Sheehan said he felt a huge amount of gratitude and appreciation for the people behind the scenes at the club who had "persevered" with the team over the years. "I'm looking forward to what the next few days will look like, really reflect, really celebrate and then prepare for what is going to be a really challenging but exciting journey next," he added. Fans were similarly left ecstatic by the Thomas, whose sister is forward Natasha Thomas, said it was "amazing" to see her sister's achievement."Seeing her do all of this is amazing, and all the girls have absolutely smashed it," she said."[Natasha] needs to keep pushing, she's not stopped, she's not going to stop."Another fan, Karin Nurdy from Ipswich, added it meant a lot to see Town "get what they finally deserve". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ipswich Women look forward to promotion party
Ipswich Town captain Maria Boswell will see a four-year dream become reality when they finally seal promotion to the second tier of women's play their final game of the Women's National League Southern Premier season against Cheltenham Town at Felixstowe on they go into it three points clear of rivals Hashtag United and with a goal difference which is superior by made the title all but certain by beating MK Dons 11-0 two weeks ago, and Boswell, 22, told BBC Radio Suffolk: "We've worked so hard throughout the season, something would have to go severely wrong for things not to go our way on Sunday."We allowed ourselves a little bit of time to take it all in - you don't get opportunities like this very often, to enjoy a promotion to the Championship, so when we realised what we'd done we took a moment to appreciate it and enjoy it."But we are very aware that we've still got one game to go and we want to win that game - we don't want to win the league on goal difference, we want to do it on points." Ipswich have won 16 of their 21 matches this season, losing only twice, and have scored 81 goals in the process, 26 more than any other season has been disrupted by a knee injury but she was able to be involved against MK Dons."The knee's feeling good, feeling strong. I've had about three weeks of training now," she said."At that moment, I thought that was it, season done. Even going into next season I was questioning that but had my scan pretty quick, got the results of that which was very good news, but it was still in question whether I'd be able to get back for the end of the season."It was upsetting at the time but I made it my mission to do everything I could to get back, and I managed to do it for the last two [games]. I'm very pleased with how the recovery and the rehab went."Sunday's match at the Martello Ground in Felixstowe is a 2,150 sellout and Ipswich are hoping for a noisy atmosphere."I've been at the club for six years, in and around the first team for about four years and every single year I've thought about what this day could be like," added Boswell."What the feeling's going to be like of arriving, seeing so many people, lifting the trophy - I've thought about it a lot and I know it's going to live up to those expectations and those dreams that I had."It's a sellout crowd - hopefully everyone brings the noise, brings the atmosphere and just has a really good day celebrating and enjoying the moment."
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Promotion-chasing Ipswich delay 'extra bit of elation'
When Ipswich Town boss Joe Sheehan speaks of his team putting themselves "in a good position", it is surely one of the under-statements of the Sunday's 11-0 win at MK Dons - when Sophie Peskett scored six of their goals - it would be impossible for Town to be any closer to winning the Women's National League Southern Premier title and are three points clear of Hashtag United with both teams having one game left to play and their goal difference is +36 superior to their rivals."It's a big win for us and one we needed, but nothing's done yet or confirmed so there's maybe a little bit of mixed feelings," Sheehan told BBC Radio Suffolk."I'm feeling really pleased that we managed to win the game convincingly and put ourselves in a good position going into our final game but until it is mathematically confirmed, I will hold off that extra bit of elation until we get over the line."Ipswich have won 16 of their 21 games, losing only twice, and have scored 81 goals in the process, conceding only now has 20 goals during the campaign and Jamaica international Natasha Thomas has 16 following a brace against the Dons. "It was a really composed, committed, professional performance, some really well worked goals, six for 'Pesk' which is remarkable, and a collective team effort that has put us in a really strong position," said Sheehan."We have to enjoy the feeling that we have currently but we still have one game to go and want to make sure we end the season with a convincing performance that hopefully results in a final-day win. "The message (to the players) will be to enjoy the result but nothing is official, nothing is confirmed."Ipswich have to wait until 27 April for the chance to round things off in style when they take on Cheltenham Town on their home ground in will be the climax of a season which began with a total commitment to following the example of the Ipswich men's team, who won back-to-back promotions in 2023 and 2024, and reaching the second tier of the women's game, the said: "They are a joy to work with. There's a special connection with staff and players. Togetherness is a huge pillar in our environment, it underpins everything we do each day. Hopefully in a couple of weeks' time we'll get our just rewards."It's been a long process, lots of years of laying the groundwork and foundations. We'd like to think we're in a really strong position, we've really attacked it, we've conducted ourselves impeccably, we've established some really strong momentum, won some important games and responded well when things haven't gone our way."So how will he approach what is sure to be a memorable day against Cheltenham?"Going to celebrate won't be my particular focus, it will be about preparing to perform and try and win the game and do ourselves proud," he added. "We've been really consistent all season and won't be stopping now. It'll be a big occasion and a big crowd but one we're determined to give a really strong performance for."
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ipswich must keep 'foot on gas' in title race
Ipswich Town boss Joe Sheehan has urged his team not to regard their superior goal difference as a buffer as they look to seal promotion to the are three points clear at the top of Women's National League Southern Premier with two games to play and their goal difference of plus 60 is 27 better than rivals Hashtag side were beaten 1-0 at Watford last weekend, only their second league defeat of the campaign, but travel to bottom club MK Dons on Sunday - a team that have only managed one point from 20 games and let in 106 goals."With the goal difference, we probably need to win one more game and we don't circle what game we think that's going to happen (in)," he told BBC Radio Suffolk."I don't think we're seeing a team at the moment that is conscious of the position and therefore hiding within themselves." Hashtag are the only other team, apart from Watford, to beat Ipswich this term but they have the harder run-in - and only the champions will go up to the women's second tier for next the game at MK Dons, Town will be at home to eighth-placed Cheltenham Town on 27 April, while Hashtag must take on Exeter City and Oxford United in their final two matches, who are third and fifth."We've almost earned the opportunity to get beat but that doesn't give us any reason to be complacent or take our foot off the gas. We want to try and perform and win all of our games that we play," said Sheehan. "We will prepare to face the best possible version of MK Dons and I won't have anyone tell me their league position or how they've been getting on because our focus will be on giving them the respect they absolutely deserve. It's up to us to perform and do all we can to try and win that game."Without emphasising what might be at stake or what we're trying to do, it's just about preparing to try and be good on that day. Hopefully with that kind of process, the players are calm and prepared and consistent and our ability and preparation will shine through when it matters on game day."
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ipswich Women's first league defeat must be 'blip'
Ipswich Town boss Joe Sheehan has urged his team to treat their first league defeat of the season as a "blip" as they look to secure promotion this Town lost 1-0 to leaders Hashtag United in Women's National League Southern Premier - but although they are now six points behind, they do have three games in hand. The club made a series of signings last summer with the aim of taking the first step towards the Women's National League, promotion to the second-tier one side will go up from their division and Ipswich have seven games remaining to try and overhaul Hashtag, starting with a trip to AFC Wimbledon on are, though, waiting for a fitness report on captain Maria Boswell, who was stretchered off in the second half against Hashtag at Canvey Island FC."The outcome of the season wasn't determined by this, it was just another game to try and pick up points," Sheehan told BBC Radio Suffolk."We just have to keep our focus, accept that we were beaten, stick together, reflect really well as we always try and do, and come back in for a good week of work that will help us try and beat Sunday's opponents."If we want to achieve something, we have to ensure that it's only a blip and we respond really well to it."He added: "The possibility of being without Bos would be quite damaging, she plays such an important role for us. We hope it's not too serious, but we shall see."With four games left to play, the maximum number of points Hashtag can achieve is they do so, Ipswich would need 19 from their final seven to be certain of promotion, although they have a superior goal their final seven games, only three are at home, including the final fixture of the season, against Cheltenham Town.
