21
Apr
Knaresborough Town Women promoted for fourth successive season
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Knaresborough Town Women have been promoted for the fourth successive season.
Second-placed Knaresborough drew 0-0 to third-placed Wyke Wanderers yesterday (April 20), knowing that a point would be enough to secure promotion to the North East Regional Women’s Football League Division One South.
It is Knaresborough’s fourth promotion in the four years since the club’s establishment in 2022 – an incredible achievement at any level.
Speaking to the Stray Ferret today (April 21), team manager Mike Bligh said:
I think it’s just about taking a bit of perspective, taking a step back and seeing how far we’ve come. We’ve achieved far more than we set out to at the start of the season when we aimed for the top four. The girls have been relentless, especially after our period of nine weeks without a game due to the great British weather.
The core group of players has been on a journey with me since we started in 2022, and we’ve filled in the gaps with real talent from the under-18s squad. The whole team has really bought into where we want to go, which has been so important for us. There have probably been plenty of players who’ve had ups and downs over the years when they’ve been in and out of the squad, but they’ve all played such a vital part in our success.
Bligh said his highlight of the season came within the first month, when The Boro beat league champions Thackley 3-2 away from home. He added that the result gave his side a massive boost and set the bar for the rest of the season.
Aiming high in a new league
Knaresborough will be promoted into the same league as Ilkley Town, Sheffield Wednesday and York City’s development squad.
The competition will be strong, but this Knaresborough Town side has consistently proven it can compete with the best.
Bligh said:
Our aim is to compete in the new league. We’re trying to lose the notion of little Knaresborough Town – we’ve got big dreams. There’s always potential to be promoted again and we’ll aim high. I think with three or four additions we can compete at the top end.
With two games to go, Knaresborough cannot finish anywhere other than second place.
But they can use those games to prepare for their upcoming league cup final against Thackley – the first in Knaresborough’s short history.
With Thackley and Harrogate Railway left to play in the league, Bligh said it would be a great way to prepare his team mentally for the occasion, while ensuring that they do not suffer any key injuries.
Knaresborough Town will face Thackley in the League Cup final on Sunday, May 3.
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