Nottingham Forest Women have been back in action, put through their pre-season paces by Head Coach Andy Cook and with a couple of friendly matches under their belt already, the Reds are gaining momentum ahead of their National League North season start on August 21st.
Forest opened up their friendly fixture take-off a week last Sunday against Sheffield United, one tier above the Reds in the football spectrum, with the Blades narrowly winning 2-1. Charlotte Greengrass opening the scoring ahead of the break for Forest before a second half comeback gave victory to the Barclay’s Women’s Championship side.
A week later, at Birmingham City, again of the women’s championship, Forest drew 2-2 on Sunday afternoon gone with an opening goal from Mai Moncaster in the first half.
The Reds doubled their advantage early in the second half through a trialist before Birmingham hit back late to share the spoils with goals from Christie Murray and Abie Cowie.
Next up for the Reds is a match against Lincoln City on Thursday night before some big-name tests away against Liverpool (31st July) at home against Newcastle (7th August) and up at Sunderland (14th August).
Forest start their season the week after their last friendly with an away match at West Bromwich Albion. All the clubs fixtures for the upcoming campaign are here.
Elsewhere in the ladies football spectrum, the East Midlands Women’s Football League have announced their constitution for the upcoming season.
In the Premier Division, which is level five on the pyramid (two tiers lower than the National League North, where Nottingham Forest play their football). Newly formed Basford United Ladies (who will replace Rise Park FC) will enter a club for the first time having opened up their friendly fixtures with a first-ever match and 4-1 defeat against Lincoln United Development on July 17th followed by an impressive 4-2 win over Anstey Nomads at the weekend.
Basford, who are captained by Keeley Sanderson and coached by Paul Adams, with Stephen Rooth as their Director of Football, will be joined by regular Notts based attendees in the division, Arnold Eagles, Mansfield Town and Notts County.
The Division One Central will house the Notts County Development team, as well as Nottingham Trent University Women, Sherwood Women, Mansfield Hosiery Mills and West Bridgford Colts Women, whilst the First Division North will include one other Nottinghamshire based outfit in St Joseph of Rockware Worksop Women.
The full 2022/23 league structure including all our counties top sides are as follows…
The FA Women’s National League North
Boldmere St Michaels, Brighouse Town, Burnley, Derby County, Fylde, Huddersfield Town, Liverpool Feds, Loughborough Lightning, Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
East Midlands Women’s Football League Premier Division
Arnold Eagles, Anstey Nomads, Basford United, Chesterfield, Leicester City, Lincoln United, Mansfield Town, Notts County, Oughtibridge War Memorial Women, Rotherham United.
East Midlands Women’s Football League Division One Central
Asfordby Amateurs, Dronfield Town, Ilkeston Town, Mansfield Hosiery Mills, Notts County Development, Nottingham Trent University, Sherwood, West Bridgford Colts.
East Midlands Women’s Football League Division One North
Gainsborough Trinity, Grimsby Borough Ladies, Grimsby Town Women, Lincoln United Development, St Joseph of Rockware Worksop, Ruston Sports, Sleaford Town Ladies.
*Main image @BCFCWomen recent friendly action between Birmingham and Forest which ended 2-2.