Last updated : Tuesday, 04 March 2025
The West Riding Girls Football League stands as one of the largest girls' football organizations in Yorkshire and indeed across the country. Providing opportunities for young female players from ages 6 through to teenage years, the league has become a cornerstone of grassroots football development in the region. The league primarily serves clubs within a 20-mile radius of the West Riding County FA, creating a focused community of teams that fosters both competition and camaraderie.
The league is structured to accommodate various age groups and skill levels, with dedicated divisions such as Under 7 Division 1 and Under 13 Division 1 (11v11), ensuring appropriate playing environments for girls at different developmental stages. This systematic approach allows young players to progress through age-appropriate formats of the game, building their skills and confidence as they grow.
History
The West Riding Girls Football League has established itself as a significant platform for girls' football in Yorkshire. Founded with the aim of promoting and developing girls' football in the West Riding area, the league has grown substantially over the years.
The league provides competitive opportunities for girls aged 6 through to 18, creating a structured pathway for young female footballers to develop their skills and passion for the game.
In recent years, the league has seen notable developments. During the 2015/16 season, teams like Altofts and Tingley Athletic Firsts featured prominently in the competition structure.
The 2016/17 season saw Leeds Medics & Dentists, Hepworth United, Tingley Athletic Reserves, and Yorkshire Amateur as key participants in the league. This demonstrates the diverse range of clubs involved in the competition.
The league operates both regular season matches and Cup/Shield Competitions, providing varied competitive experiences for participating teams.
In 2020, the league faced disruption due to external circumstances, with many regular fixtures being canceled while Cup/Shield Competitions were preserved for potential play in September 2020.
By 2025, the league had established specific divisions including an Under 7 Division 1, showing ongoing development and organization to accommodate different age groups and skill levels.
Age Groups and Divisions
The West Riding Girls Football League offers football opportunities for girls across multiple age groups, ranging from U7 (Under 7) to U18 (Under 18). This comprehensive structure ensures that girls of all ages have access to competitive football within Yorkshire.
For the youngest participants, the league provides divisions for U7, U8, U9, and U10 age groups. These divisions focus on skill development and introduction to competitive play while following age-appropriate formats such as 5v5 matches.
The middle age range includes U11, U12, U13, and U14 divisions. These groups represent a critical developmental stage where players build on fundamental skills and advance their tactical understanding of the game.
The older age groups comprise U15, U16, U17, and U18 divisions. These divisions feature more advanced play as players refine their skills and tactical awareness. The U18 division serves as a bridge to adult women's football.
Each age group typically contains multiple divisions (Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, etc.) to accommodate different skill levels and ensure competitive balance. For example, the 2025 season includes separate divisions for U7 players.
The league structure is designed to create a clear pathway for female players, ultimately connecting to the West Riding County Women's League with its 34 teams across 4 divisions. This progression path helps develop talent for adult women's football.
Committee/Staff/Contacts
The West Riding Girls Football League is managed by a dedicated committee of volunteers who oversee all aspects of league operations. Key leadership positions include Craig Webb, who serves as both Chairperson and Assistant Secretary. He can be reached at 07789220950 or via email at chair@wrgfl.uk.
Russ Clarke holds the position of League Secretary and can be contacted at 07715991665 or secretary@wrgfl.uk. The league also has a designated Fixtures Secretary who handles all scheduling matters.
For teams and club officials needing to contact committee members, the WRGFL maintains a comprehensive "Contact Us" page on their website. This resource lists all committee members, their roles, and contact details.
The league works closely with the West Riding County Football Association, which provides additional support through staff members like Hannah Simpson, who manages the West Riding Women's Beginners League. She can be reached at 0113 282 1222 or hannah.simpson@westridingfa.com.
The committee maintains a manager contact list to facilitate communication between teams. This resource is essential for arranging fixtures and addressing any match-related queries.
Clubs participating in the league should ensure they have current contact information for all relevant committee members to streamline communication regarding competitions, rules, and other important matters.
Teams
The West Riding Girls Football League (WRGFL) features numerous registered clubs for the 2024/2025 playing season. Among these are Ackworth Girls FC, Altofts Juniors FC, Amaranth Crossgates FC, AYD JFC, and Battyeford Sporting Club.
The league organizes teams into various age groups, creating a structured competitive environment for female players of different skill levels. These age categories include U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, and U15 squads.
For those looking to join a team, the West Riding FA provides an interactive resource to help find clubs in your vicinity. This tool makes it easier for young players to connect with local opportunities.
The league also offers a mapping feature that displays team ground locations on Google Maps. This practical tool allows players and parents to find the nearest team based on their GPS position.
In addition to the main WRGFL, the Harrogate & Craven Junior Girls League operates in the region. Established in 2002, this league was specifically formed to develop girls football in the Harrogate area.
Teams in the West Riding Girls Football League represent various communities across Yorkshire, providing accessible football opportunities for girls throughout the region.
Players
The West Riding Girls Football League features talented players across various age divisions, from Under 7s through to Under 15s. These young athletes represent numerous clubs throughout Yorkshire, developing their skills while enjoying competitive matches.
Player development is a core focus of the league, with particular attention paid to age-appropriate coaching and competition. The FA Future Lionesses Goalkeeper Camp program specifically supports promising goalkeepers within the league structure.
Girls between the ages of 12-14 benefit from recreational programs designed to be fun, relevant, and engaging. These initiatives allow players to develop at their own pace while maintaining their enjoyment of the game.
The league also maintains County League squads that represent the best talent from across the region. These representative teams provide additional opportunities for standout players to showcase their abilities at a higher level of competition.
Many clubs within the West Riding FA territory actively recruit new players. The West Riding FA offers interactive resources to help potential players find clubs in their local area, making it easier for girls to get involved in football regardless of their previous experience.
The Under 15 Division 1 represents one of the league's most competitive levels, featuring players who have often progressed through the younger age groups and developed significant technical and tactical abilities.
