WELSHPOOL Town Football Club will be competing in the North Wales Women’s League next season.

The elevation of the side to the top league in north Wales represents another major milestone for the club as it strives to regain its status as one of the top women’s sides in the region.

The Lilywhites will join local rivals Llanfair United in the 14 club league with the Mount Field side going into the campaign as defending champions.

Airbus UK Broughton, Amlwch Town, Bethel, Connahs Quay Nomads, Corwen, Holywell Town, Llandudno, NFA, Northop Hall, Penrhyn Bay, Denbigh Town and Wrexham complete a strong line up.

While a starting date for the new season remains to be confirmed the club is now pressing ahead with preparations for the challenge ahead.

The club have previously played friendly matches against local sides and competed in a midweek Shropshire League.

Manager Paul Chilton said: “The club is looking forward to the challenge of a season of competitive football in the North Wales Women’s League.

“Like every other team in the region our plans have been hit hard by the pandemic so we are on the lookout for girls of all abilities to join us for a season of fun.

“We are also encouraging girls from school years nine and upwards to join us as we will be looking at start up a development and feeder team.”

Anyone interested in joining the club is invited to contact 07522228840 or 07852976500.

The latest development is another boost for women’s football in the region with Llanfair United previously the sole representatives in the North Wales League after Llanidloes Town folded two years ago.

More emphasis has been placed on the development of the women’s game with sides formed at Bishop’s Castle and Berriew while last year saw a number of junior festivals take place.

For the first time senior festivals also took place between sides from the region with events taking place at Berriew and Newtown.

Organiser Paul Inns hopes the interest in the festivals and increase in popularity in the women’s game will lead to the development of a women’s league in the region in coming years.

North Powys was previously home to a thriving women’s football league which at its height included two divisions and promotion and relegation.

Clubs also competed for the County Times Cup alongside league honours.

However the league became defunct after several years with efforts to revive the league now being led by Beriew coach Inns.