FOR the first time in its 40 year history, Lithgow Workmen's Senior Football Club is looking to field a ladies team in 2021.
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The idea is to promote women's football and give ladies in the local area someone to play for, according to club president Mark Fordham.
"Most women have to travel to find someone to play for and somewhere to train.
"If we can get enough numbers we will enter one or two sides into the Bathurst District Football Association Competition (BDFA), and train local," he said.
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Fordham said depending on skill level, he hoped to put the ladies into a competitive grade whether that be second or first.
"We will see how they go and hopefully in the years to come we can develop their skills and provide a good environment for the ladies to play," he said.
Players Jade Cameron and Tiah Gibbs-Minner are the first of hopefully many, to join the squad and looked forward to representing Lithgow.
Gibbs-Minner said previously she had to travel out of town to find a team to play for.
"I've got to thank the men from Workies for putting this together and giving us an opportunity support our local area and do something we enjoy," she said.
Fordham hoped in the years to come there would be an opportunity for a women's Western Premier League (WPL) to run alongside the existing men's WPL.
"I think a women's WPL comp would really promote competitive women's football and representing your local area," he said.
"There's a lot of healthy rivalry between us, Bathurst and Dubbo to name a few, which makes for a good competition," Fordham said.
The club is still looking for coaches for all squads this season but WPL players Martin Hunter and Brad Luka have stepped up to guide the ladies until the position is filled.
Fordham encouraged women in the area who were interested in playing football to come to a muster day at Marjorie Jackson sporting complex on Sunday, January 31 at 2pm.
"We're not just looking for players, but also coaches and supporters to come down and enjoy football," he said.
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