WOMEN’S football is set to enter the next phase of its evolution in Powys next month.

Berriew Football Club will host the Hanratty and Co Solicitors Women’s Five-A-Side League in conjunction with the Central Wales Football Association (CWFA) which commences on Sunday, March 29.

Fixtures will take place at Berriew Football Club on April 19, May 10 and May 31 with each event starting at 2pm.

The league has been established on the back of successful festivals held at Berriew Football Club and Newtown Football Club in recent months.

Newtown, Newtown College, Welshpool, Berriew and Bishops Castle have all entered the league with organiser Paul Inns encouraging any other new sides to get in contact.

“The five a side festivals have been a great success and I am delighted the new league will commence next month with sponsorship from Hanratty and Co Solicitors with support from the CWFA and Berriew Football Club.

“The Central Wales FA are so supportive in all efforts to promote the women’s game in the region.

The opening round of the league season will be marked with a junior girls football festival and under seven and eights festival at Berriew Football Club on March 29.

Inns hopes 2020 will be the year when the game finally takes root in the region.

“I am resolved to doing all I can to get the women’s game up and running in Powys this year,” said Inns.

It is hoped on the back of this season’s five a side league the competition would expand gradually to six a side format fixtures next season.

“The aim of course is to grow the league with the participating clubs toward 11 a side fixtures,” said Inns.

Encouragingly the great strides made at several clubs across the county has led to the prospect of an 11 a side league running as early as next season.

Inns confirmed Berriew and Bishops Castle will both run 11 a side senior women’s sides next season and join Welshpool Town in establishing a side.

“The club’s will play each other in friendlies but of course with three sides already formed it would be fantastic if a few more started in the area so we could establish a competitive league.

“I would encourage interested parties to get in touch and help maintain the great strides being made in the women’s game in the area.”

For further details on the new five a side league and women’s football in the region contact Paul Inns on 07801240097.