Forest Green Rovers disbands women's team to focus on men's promotion
Forest Green Rovers, a Gloucestershire football club, disbanded its women's team for the 2026-27 season to concentrate resources on returning the men's side to the English Football League after relegation in 2024. The women's team had finished second in the fifth-tier regional division, missing promotion by one point. The decision followed a failed partnership with Hartpury University. Former captain Hattie Jones criticized the move, saying it devalues women's football. Local clubs have offered opportunities to displaced players.
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Forest Green Rovers women's team closure suggests female football 'not valued', says former captain
Forest Green Rovers have closed their women's football team for the 2026-27 season, a decision the former captain Hattie Jones says sends a message that women's football is not valued. The team finished second in the South West Regional Women's Premier Division, missing promotion by one point. The club's ownership stated it needs to concentrate resources on getting the men's side back into the English Football League after relegation to the National League in 2024. Jones, who joined in 2021 and became captain in 2023, called the news a shock and noted the impact on young girls. The closure also ends a partnership with Hartpury University's elite training centre for girls aged nine to 16. Jones acknowledged football is a business but said the decision came at the women's team's expense. Several local clubs have reached out to offer opportunities to the displaced players.
BBC SportForest Green Rovers Women's Team Closure Sends Message Women's Football Not Valued
Forest Green Rovers have decided to close their women's football team for the 2026-27 season, a move that former captain Hattie Jones says sends a message that women's football is not valued. The club finished second in the South West Regional Women's Premier Division last season, missing promotion by one point. The closure is due to the club's ownership wanting to concentrate resources on the men's side after their relegation to the National League in 2024. Jones expressed shock at the decision, noting it undermines the progress made by the England women's national team. The closure also ends a partnership with Hartpury University's elite training centre for girls aged nine to 16. Jones said some players are seeking ways to continue playing together, and local clubs have already reached out offering opportunities.
BBC SportForest Green Rovers scrap women’s team to concentrate resources on men’s side
Forest Green Rovers have disbanded their women's team for the 2026-27 season, citing a need to concentrate resources on returning their men's team to the English Football League (EFL). The men's side was relegated to the National League in 2024 and finished seventh last season under manager Robbie Savage, losing in the playoffs. The women's team had a strong season, finishing second in their regional fifth-tier division by just one point, losing only one league match. The club stated that a planned partnership with Hartpury University fell through, leading to the decision. Forest Green expressed hope that women's football would return to the club in the future when a sustainable programme can be built. Hartpury University confirmed it will explore continuing the girls' Emerging Talent Centre through its own women's team.
Football | The GuardianForest Green Rovers scrap women's team to concentrate resources on men's side
Forest Green Rovers have disbanded their women's team for the 2026-27 season to focus resources on returning their men's team to the English Football League. The women's side finished second in the fifth-tier regional division last season, narrowly missing promotion by one point behind Torquay, and lost only one league match. The club's men's team was relegated to the National League in 2024 and finished seventh last term, losing in the playoffs. A planned partnership with Hartpury University for a joint women's team fell through, leading to the decision. The club stated it is committed to returning to the EFL as quickly as possible and hopes to revive women's football in the future when a sustainable programme can be built. The announcement came nearly four weeks after the FA confirmed the women's team's allocation into tier five for the upcoming season.
Football | The GuardianForest Green Rovers disband women's team to focus on men's promotion push
Forest Green Rovers have announced the disbandment of their women's team for the 2026-27 season in order to concentrate resources on returning their men's team to the English Football League (EFL). The Gloucestershire club's women's side narrowly missed promotion last season, finishing second in the fifth-tier regional division with just one loss. In a statement, the club cited the failure of a proposed partnership with Hartpury University and emphasized a strategic focus on the men's team, which was relegated to the National League in 2024 and lost in the playoffs last season under manager Robbie Savage. The club expressed hope to reinstate women's football in the future when it can be sustainable and successful, and pledged continued support for Hartpury Women FC. The decision was made weeks after the FA confirmed the women's team's placement in tier five.
Football | The Guardian