The Sussex County Women & Girls Football League is an association football league in England. The competition covers the county of Sussex. The league was founded by the Sussex Football Association in 2004.
The League is divided into three divisions for adult players: Premier, Championship, and Division One at level 7 of the women's football pyramid. Child players are divided into age groups. It promotes to the London and South East Women's Regional Football League, and does not relegate to any league.
The League also organises its own knock-out cup competition, the Sussex County Women's League Challenge Cup.
The League won the Grassroots League of the Year Award as part of England Football’s Grassroots Football Awards 2023.
History In early 2004 the Sussex County Football Association (SCFA) was asked by The FA to set up a women's league for the 2004–05 season. An inaugural meeting was held on 31 March 2004, chaired by the SCFA Chief Executive Ken Benham, with clubs from Brighton & Hove Albion, Crowborough Athletic, Crawley Down, Crawley Town, East Grinstead Town, Eastbourne Borough, Eastbourne Town, Hassocks, Hastings United, Haywards Heath Town, Lindfield, Seahaven Harriers and Whitehawk. A poll taken at that meeting determined the clubs were in favour of the League's creation. The League was to be managed by the SCFA council. In summer of 2004, The Sussex Girls League disbanded and in response, the SCFA council agreed to add a girl's section. The first Annual General Meeting of the Sussex Women & Girls Football League was held on 6 July 2004, where they elected the first management committee.
On 12 September 2004, the League began in Sussex with 17 adult clubs and 38 (80 teams) girl's clubs. Adults, Under 15, 14 and 13's played 11-a-side games while Under 14's and 13's played 9-a-side games. The Adult league originally started as two divisions, Division One and Division Two. Although just one division ran in 2005–06 before returning to two divisions for two seasons but going back to the one division in 2008. With the coronavirus pandemic disrupting sport throughout England, the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons were both abandoned. The league returned to normal for the 2021–22 season, this time running as three divisions, Premier, Division One and Division Two. Although each division had a different number of teams, Divisions One and Two merged into Division One for the 2023–24 season, the Premier Division with eight teams and Division One with twelve. The 2024–25 season saw three divisions again, Division One renamed to Championship and Division One replacing the former Division Two.
Current member clubs The league's 2026–27 constitution is as follows:
Premier Division Broadbridge Heath Women Burgess Hill Town Women Crowborough Athletic Ladies Eastbourne Town Women Hailsham Town Women Hassocks Ladies Horsham Women Pagham Women TD Shipley Ladies The View Ladies
Championship Bexhill United Ladies Brighton Seagals Chichester City Women Ringmer AFC Ladies Under 23's Slindon Women Three Bridges Women Development Westfield Women Whitehawk Women Worthing Town Women
Division One Barnham Trojans Ladies Cuckfield Ladies Hellingly Link Mile Oak Sunday Ladies Newhaven Ladies Reserves Ringmer AFC Ladies Seaford Town Women
Past League Champions 2004–2008 No.SeasonDivision OneDivision Two 12004–05Eastbourne Borough LadiesBognor Regis Town Ladies 22005–06Rottingdean Village LadiesNo competition 32006–07Brighton & Hove Women's IIAdur Athletic Ladies 42007–08Langton Green Tunbridge Wells LadiesPhoenix Ladies 2008–2021 From 2008 until 2021 the league ran with just one division. No.SeasonDivision One 52008–09Adur Athletic Ladies 62009–10Burgess Hill Town Ladies 72010–11Hassocks Ladies Reserves 82011–12Eastbourne Ladies 92012–13Marle Place Wanderers Ladies 102013–14Adur Athletic Ladies 112014–15Lancing Ladies 122015–16Lewes (Foundation) Ladies 132016–17Oakwood Ladies 142017–18Newhaven Ladies 152018–19AFC Littlehampton —2019–20 1 No champions. Season abandoned —2020–21 2
2021–Present In 2021, Division One was renamed to Premier Division, and Divisions One and Two were created. In 2023 Division Two was discontinued for just one season, with all teams joining Division One. In 2024 Division One was renamed Championship and Division Two was renamed to Division One.
No.SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two 162021–22Pagham LadiesAFC Acorns Women DevelopmentEastbourne Borough Women 172022–23Hassocks LadiesEastbourne Town WomenAFC Uckfield Town Ladies 182023–24Saltdean United Women's Development Worthing Town WomenNo competitionPremier DivisionChampionshipDivision One 192024–25Eastbourne Borough WomenBurgess Hill Town WomenThe View Ladies 202025–25Three Bridges WomenTD Shipley LadiesWhitehawk Women
League Challenge Cup
+Challenge Cup winnersSeasonWinnersScoreRunners–upVenueAttendanceNotes 2005–06Whitehawk Ladies Reserves3–2Rottingdean Village LadiesCulver Road N/A2006–07Brighton & Hove Albion Women II4–1Hailsham Town LadiesMiddle Road N/A2007–08Adur Athletic Ladies6–1Langton Green Tunbridge Wells LadiesHaven Field N/A2008–09Adur Athletic Ladies1–0Rottingdean Village LadiesHaven Field N/A2009–10Rottingdean Village Ladies2–1Chichester City LadiesHaven Field N/A2010–11Eastbourne Ladies2–1Maresfield Village LadiesHaven Field N/A2011–12Eastbourne Ladies1–1 (4–3 pens)Worthing Town LadiesCentenary Park N/A2012–13Bexhill United Ladies Reserves1–1 (4–1 pens)Worthing LadiesCulver Road N/A2013–14Rottingdean Village2–1 Horsham Sparrows WomenCulver Road N/A2014–15Lewes (Foundation) Ladies4–1 Hurstpierpoint LadiesHaven Field N/A2015–16Lewes (Foundation) Ladies4–1 Burgess Hill Town LadiesCulver Road N/A2016–17Oakwood Ladies2–0 Montpelier Villa Culver Road N/A2017–18Newhaven Ladies3–2 Saltdean United Ladies Culver Road 1402018–19Barnham Trojans4–3 Roffey Woodside Road N/A2021–22Montpelier Villa4–2 Seaford Town Ladies Culver Road N/A2022–23Shoreham Women3–1Saltdean United Women's DevelopmentCulver Road N/A2023–24Saltdean United Women's Development4–1Horsham WomenCulver Road N/A2024–25Eastbourne Borough Women5–0Hailsham Town WomenCulver Road N/A2025–26Three Bridges Women3–2Horsham WomenCulver Road N/A
References
External links Sussex County Women & Girl's League: The FA Full-Time SCWGFL official website