Last updated : Tuesday, 04 March 2025
The Derbyshire Girls & Ladies League stands as a cornerstone of women's football in the East Midlands, providing competitive opportunities for female players across various age groups. As an England Accredited League, it maintains high standards of organization and player development that align with national football initiatives. The league currently features multiple divisions including Ladies Division 1, offering structured competition with regular fixtures, comprehensive results tracking, and official league tables.
Since its establishment, the league has grown substantially in participation and reach, becoming an essential pathway for female footballers in Derbyshire. The league's website serves as a central hub for teams, players, and supporters, offering access to upcoming fixtures, match results, team statistics, and referee information. With over 1.4 million hits on their counter, the digital presence demonstrates the strong community interest in women's football across the region.
The organized structure of the Derbyshire Girls & Ladies League provides valuable competitive experiences while fostering skill development and sportsmanship among participants. Teams compete throughout the season with the goal of promotion, creating meaningful sporting opportunities that continue to strengthen the foundation of women's football in England.
History
The Derbyshire Girls & Ladies League (DGL) was founded in 1997, creating new opportunities for female footballers in the region. Since its inaugural season, the league has grown steadily, providing structured competition for girls and women across Derbyshire.
The league operates with full accreditation from England Football, previously known as the Football Association (FA). This accreditation recognizes the DGL's commitment to maintaining high standards of organization and development.
As a Charter Standard League, the DGL demonstrates its dedication to quality coaching, administration, and child protection. This status requires meeting specific criteria established by England Football to ensure proper governance and player welfare.
The league covers the entirety of Derbyshire county, creating a competitive framework for teams of various age groups. From its modest beginnings, the DGL has expanded to include multiple divisions and age categories.
Several clubs have achieved notable success after developing through the league system. Teams like Derby County Women, who now compete in the FA Women's National League, have historical connections to the Derbyshire football pyramid.
The league structure currently features teams such as Draycott Victoria LFC, Borrowash Victoria Ladies, Wirksworth Colts Ladies, and Pride Park FC Women among its competitive participants.
Age Groups and Divisions
The Derbyshire Girls & Ladies League offers competition across multiple age categories, creating opportunities for female footballers throughout their development journey. The league structure includes both youth divisions and adult competition.
For adult players, the league features Ladies Division 1 and Ladies Division 2, providing appropriate competitive levels for women's teams across Derbyshire. These divisions include established clubs like Borrowash Victoria Ladies, Pride Park FC Ladies, and Buxton FC Women.
Youth age groups span from U8 through U18, with specific divisions for U18, U16, U15, U14, U13, U12, U11, U10, U9, and U8. Some age groups, like U14, feature multiple divisions to accommodate different skill levels.
The league also organizes various cup competitions across all age ranges. For senior teams, these include the Ladies Division 1 League Cup, Ladies Division 2 League Cup, and Ladies Plate competition.
Youth teams compete in the Youth Challenge Cup and Youth League Cup across all age groups. Mini Soccer teams (younger age groups) have their own Challenge Plate and Secondary Cup competitions.
This comprehensive structure ensures players of all ages have appropriate competition opportunities as they progress through their football development pathway in Derbyshire.
Committee/Staff/Contacts
The Derbyshire Girls & Ladies Football League is managed by a dedicated Management Committee that oversees all day-to-day operations. This committee ensures the smooth running of the league and handles all administrative matters related to the competitions.
The current leadership team includes David Haywood who serves as the Chair of the league. Julie Severn holds the position of Vice Chair and can be contacted via email at sifcladies@gmail.com.
Alan Dawson fulfills two crucial roles within the league's administration. He acts as both the League Secretary and Treasurer, managing correspondence and finances. His contact email for league matters is secretarydgll@gmail.com.
League members can reach out to these officials regarding any questions, concerns, or administrative requirements. The Management Committee is responsible for enforcing league rules and making decisions on matters affecting the competition.
All clubs participating in the league are expected to follow the established rules and abide by the decisions made by the Management Committee. This structure helps maintain organization and consistency throughout the league's operations.
Teams
The Derbyshire Girls & Ladies League features multiple teams across various age groups. Teams like AFC Chellaston U12 Dream Team Girls, Little Eaton Diamonds U12 Sapphires Girls, Pride Park FC U12 Phoenix Girls, and Shardlow participate in the league structure.
The competition is organized into several divisions to accommodate different skill levels and age groups. Division Two includes clubs like Belper Town FC, which maintains proper affiliations with football governing bodies.
Many teams in the league operate through partnerships with sports organizations. For example, some newer girls' football teams have formed through collaborations with KO Sports and She Kixx to expand participation opportunities.
Forest teams are also represented in the league, creating a diverse competitive environment across Derbyshire county. The league provides structured competition for female footballers of various ages throughout the region.
Teams typically have sponsors that support their activities. For instance, Belper Town FC's U14 team is sponsored by Vaillant, while their club receives support from Derbyshire Fire & Safety.
Registration for new teams and players is typically handled through official channels, with forms available online for interested participants. This organized approach helps maintain the league's accredited status.
Players
The Derbyshire Girls & Ladies League features talented players from across the county who participate in various age groups and divisions. The league follows The FA's player registration system to ensure all participants are properly documented.
Registration is a key component of the league's structure, allowing teams to field eligible players in official matches. This system helps maintain fair competition while providing a framework for player development.
Age categories in the league range from youth divisions to adult women's teams. Each category has specific rules regarding player eligibility and transfer regulations.
Teams can register new players throughout the season, subject to league deadlines and regulations. This flexibility allows clubs to strengthen their squads as needed while maintaining competitive balance.
Many players progress through the league's age groups, developing their skills from junior levels to senior women's football. This pathway has helped nurture local talent, with some players moving on to higher leagues.
The league celebrates individual achievements through various statistical tracking. Top scorers and standout performers are often recognized for their contributions to their teams.
Player welfare remains a priority, with the league implementing safeguarding policies in accordance with FA guidelines. These measures ensure participants can enjoy their football in a safe, supportive environment.
