Midway through last season, Sadie Blakely‘s Chichester City Ladies side announced they would be moving from Oaklands to play their home games at Selsey’s Bunn Leisure Stadium. At the end of April when Chichester City‘s men’s team announced the creation of Chichester City Women it was clear that something more was going on behind the scenes. It then came as little surprise when it was announced that Chichester City Ladies as we knew them will now become Chichester & Selsey Ladies.
Hopefully you’re still with me?
On the name change, Chairwoman Sam Ashton said, “We are looking forward to continuing to provide football at a high level with the First Team remaining in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Premier Division and the Development Squad will continue in the FA Women’s Reserves South Division.”
The team that started the 2019/20 season under Blakely was much changed from Aaron Smith‘s side that finished the 2018/19 season in third place, just behind Coventry United and Cardiff City. With many of that squad departing, Blakely opted to show faith in youth.
It was a real baptism of fire for the former Portsmouth keeper. Over the season her side showed signs that there was a good team developing, however, too often there were moments of naivety going forward and at the back which proved decisive and cost them points.
At the point that the National League South was cancelled due to Covid-19 Blakely’s side were flirting with relegation but due to the voiding, they will return to have another bite of the cherry. I believe that the future is bright for this new team and look forward to seeing what their future holds.
