Hornby Park

There’s a new women’s football team in Hartlepool.

For the first time since 2019 the town has a development team after Liv Smith and Courtney Wilson launched Seaton Carew Ladies FC.

It means greater opportunities for women to try the game at the club’s Hornby Park home.

Around 100 spectators watched Seaton Carew Ladies win their first friendly 5-3 against Fishburn Community Ladies FC - the start of preparations for a first season in the Durham Development League in August.

Liv is the team captain and returns to Seaton’s site on Elizabeth Way where she played from the age 5-14.

And the 27-year-old said: “It’s exciting for Seaton and the whole town because girls who haven’t kicked a ball before can potentially play competitively, gain experience of playing in the Development League again.

“You have to be a certain standard to join a team any league higher up and the interest in joining us has been amazing.

“We had 30 women interested, aged 16-50, and we had to turn people away. We now have a full 19-strong squad, the youngest is 16 and our oldest is 40.

“For me personally it’s nice to be back here. I didn’t want to go anywhere else in the town and it was a nice fit. We couldn’t have been backed any more than we have been either."

Liv, a winger or full-back, and Courtney, a centre-midfielder, wanted to create a women’s team on the back of setting up an Under-9s girls side at Seaton. That stemmed from their C&L Coaching programme they launched last year.

Courtney, 24, who is also a club female liaison officer along with Liv, said: “We originally had ten little girls wanting to play in a league and we couldn’t provide the facilities.

“I asked on Facebook for help and Seaton got in touch first. Within a week we had set up the Under-9s and the women’s team followed.

“The interest is strong and the demand is there. It would be lovely to see this grow into more age ranges at the club, helping to create an environment for the girls to flourish and shine.”

Seaton Carew has female sections at Panthers (ages 4-6), Under-7s, Under-9s, Under-11s and the Ladies. The club has a partnership with HerGameToo, a campaign raising awareness of sexist abuse within the game.  

Carl Sweeting, Seaton Carew FC’s overall vice-chairman, said: “It’s fantastic to have a girls and ladies section back at Seaton Carew.

“Our girls’ section had been steadily growing with our Panthers (a result of the FA’s Wild Cats initiative to get more girls plying football) sessions with Ashleigh Olivant and Katie Blundel, this has seen new teams coming into the league.

“Since the arrival of Liv and Courtney the section has gone a step further. As a club we will do all we can to help the girls carry on in their development and hopefully we can build this fantastic section with them.”

Seaton Carew Ladies’ first victory over Fishburn on Sunday saw Liv’s hat-trick secure the win along with goals from Abby Forster and Julie Lewis.

There were mascots from the girls’ Panthers up to Under-11s and Ladies player Leanne Mills had her son, Freddie, an Under-9s player, as a mascot too

The Ladies team boss Helen Richardson, who previously played for Durham and Sunderland before coaching Spennymoor, said: “Football has been in my life for over 30 years now; in junior school I was the first and only girl to play on the football team. I played with a boys’ team in a Saturday league.

“After my two years with Spennymoor Ladies coaching I've stepped up to be part of this wonderful team.

“We have a fantastic bunch of ladies here who are already going from strength to strength, week by week, and I am so proud of what they are achieving so far.

“I'm excited to see where the season takes us and to watch the ladies grow and thrive in the beautiful game.”

The Ladies, who have secured a long list of sponsors, will have a first fundraiser this Saturday night. The race night is a sell-out and will be attended by 90 people.