Cambs & Hunts WFL

Infobox football league
name =Cambridgeshire Football League
logo =
pixels =200
country =England
founded =2004
folded =
divisions =1
teams =9
feeds =Eastern Region Womens' Football League
levels =6
website =http://full-time.thefa.com/gen/Index.do?league=2373903The Cambridgeshire County Women's Football League is a football competition based in England, covering the region administered by Cambridgeshire Football Association. Additionally the league is open to teams from neighbouring football associations who do not have a women's league of their own - notably Huntingdonshire Football Association and, previously, Suffolk Football Association.

The league sits at step 6 on the Womens' football pyramid

History

The Football Association undertook a review of the league structure of women's football in England in 2003. Prior to this time there was a haphazard arrangement of leagues - some based around county boundaries, others on regions and some on geographical grounds. There was considerable overlap between leagues. There was no formal promotion / relegation between most leagues with each existing as a standalone entity. Many of the leagues saw teams travelling large distances to play fixtures.

Eventually the FA settled on a pyramid structure similar to that for the men's game - at the pinnacle (step 1) stands the National Premier League followed by a number of steps each becoming more regionalised. The report said that all counties should set up appropriate leagues for female players within their county.

Prior to the formation of the Cambridgeshire County Football League Cambridgeshire teams were competing in the Eastern Region WFL which could see teams, even in the lowest division, travelling deep into Norfolk and Essex for fixtures.

The new league structure saw the Eastern Region WFL slimmed down to a Premier Division with a pair of regional Division 1s. All teams beneath this entered their local County League.

County Teams compete in the FA Cup.

Sponsorship

The league has been sponsored since foundation by S-Tech Insurance Group.

2004-05 season

The 2004-05 season saw 5 teams enter the league - Cambridge United A; Lakenheath Ladies; Newmarket Town Ladies; Cambridge Bluebirds and Littleport Town Ladies - competing in a league format where each team played the others twice at home and away and an additional league cup competition.

The league was dominated by Cambridge United 'A' who completed a league and cup double suffering just a single defeat over the entire season with Lakenheath finishing as runners up in both competitions.

United 'A' were unable to accept promotion due to the restructuring of the club.

2005-06 season

The 2005-06 season saw Milton join the league and the renaming of several clubs - Cambridge United A became Cambridge Rangers Reserves; Cambridge Buebirds became Fulbourn Bluebirds and Littleport Town Ladies became Haddenham Ladies.

The league once again saw a dominant force sweep all before them with Lakenheath finishing worthy champions with an undefeated league record with Newmarket finishing as well deserved runners up.

The cup format was changed to consist of 2 mini-leagues with the winners of each progressing to the final. The final pitted league winners Lakenheath against Cambridge Rangers who had finished in the lower half of the table in their first season as an independent club. Lakenheath had won the four league fixtures by an aggregate score of 19-2 and went into the game as red hot favourites. Rangers managed to turn the form book upside down and win the final in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw a.e.t

2006-07 season

The league saw Isleham Ladies and Cambrdge City reserves join for season 2006-07 and with Lakenheath having been promoted to the Eastern Region League the league began with 7 teams.

Cambridge City reserves were the dominant force in the division sweeping all aside with a 100% record in all competitions, winning the league, league cup and Junior Invitation Cup.

Newmarket, once again, finished as clear league runners up and added the title cup runners up to their name.

2007-08 season

Histon Hornets Ladies joined for the start of the 2007-08 season and with Cambridge City Reserves joining the Eastern Region League the season, once again, started with 7 teams.

Histon and Newmarket quickly established themselves as the domminant forces in the league and, for a while, it looked as if the title would be a close run competetion but, despite Newmarket inflicting Histon's first league defeat of the season they slipped up in matches against some of the mid-table teams leaving Histon to romp home to the title in their first ever season. Newmarket finsihed as league runners up for the 3rd year in a row.

In the League Cup Fulbourn put aside a disapointing league season to reach the final against Histon. Fulbourn produced an outstanding display only to be pipped by Histon 4-3 after extra time.

In the inaugral Cambs County Junior Cup the final saw Cambridge Rangers Reserves shock a depleted Histon team 5-1 on a very soggy pitch at Cambridge City FC.

2008-09 season

Histon accepted promotion into the Eastern Region Womens' Football League but the season starts with 9 clubs as Yaxley Ladies, Long Road WFC and Eynesbury Rovers WFC join the league.

References

External links

* [http://full-time.thefa.com/gen/Index.do?league=2373903 FA Full Time page]