Club History 6 of 6

6. Ladies Team History


LADIES HISTORY

Last year was the first season for over a decade that the Town of Hemel Hempstead has had a Ladies football team. Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies FC formed this season from Hemel Hempstead Girls FC. Hemel Girls FC were founded in 1999/00 season and spent the next five seasons in the Hertfordshire Girls League. Five of the original players (Tash Townsend, Steph Cripps, Eloise Baker, Olivia Smith and Gemma Darvill) still form the backbone of the current ladies team today.

Season 2002/03 saw Hemel gain their first trophy by winning the League Cup. An early round win against Spurs and semi-final winner by Tash Townsend against Harpenden saw a final showdown with season undefeated QPR. Two stunning strikes by top scorer Steph Cripps in the final saw Hemel claim silverware with a 2:0 win. Hemel league form fluctuated and the club finally finished 6 th .

Season 2003/04 was undoubtedly Hemel's finest season in football terms so far, reaching the League Cup final again after four tough qualifying rounds and then a 5:2 extra time win against Denham Utd in the semi-final. Hemel were up against QPR again this time losing 1:0 in the final. The team also progressed through to the under 14s Herts County Cup Final and on a snowy day at the County Ground losing 2:0 to Hitchin in a game which on paper should have been won. The League form saw Hemel challenge the leaders throughout the season and finish in their highest position of 3 rd .

Season 2004/05. Five straight wins at the start of the season saw Hemel top the league by mid October. This followed back to back defeats and a final league position of 3 rd . A first round cup defeat saw ambitions of silver ware end at the first hurdle.

Season 2005/06. The Birth of Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies FC and the re-appointment of Manager Dean Cripps produce's a stunning introduction to Ladies football and life in the Greater London's Women's Football League. The Ladies stormed to the League Title by a massive 15 points scoring 148 goals and only conceding 10.

The Ladies also reached the Hertfordshire County Cup final, early round wins against Hoddesdon and Stevenage gave the Ladies a semi-final against neighbours Tring Town Ladies. Hemel trail twice in the match before strikes by Nashina Mohamed and Steph Cripps gave the Ladies a 4:2 win. Cup Final day at the County Ground paired Hemel with Hertfordshire's top Ladies Team Watford. After holding Watford for the first 35 minuets and going in at half time only one goal down the Ladies finally lost the match by a respectable 4:0.

In the Russell Cup the Ladies reached the Quarter-Final before losing 2:1at home to Staines Town . In the League Cup Hemel went one better this time reaching the semi-final before losing by 4:3 away after extra time to Surbiton Town Ladies, a game which will be long remembered after a fantastic comeback by the Ladies.

And so on to Season 06/07 With matches to be played on Sunday afternoons at the Vauxhall Road Stadium (kick-off's 2pm) 12 Players from last years squad being resigned, one new signing already made by Manager Dean Cripps the Ladies are eagerly awaiting the challenge of the new season.