At the start of the 2014/15 season, our 2005 age group had just two girls registered within the team. As the season progressed and word spread, more girls began to join. By the end of that season, numbers had grown enough to allow us to enter a girls-only team into the IFA Girls Summer Festival in Mallusk.
In September 2015, this girls’ team began playing regular weekend matches, competing against boys within the IFA Mini Soccer Grassroots Development Programme (GDP).
In January 2016, the girls moved into the South Belfast Youth League (SBYL) for the second half of the season, and from September 2016 they joined the newly formed SBYL girls-only league. That same September, a second girls-only team was established, made up of players born in 2008, 2009 and 2010, who competed within the IFA GDP.
By September 2017, the club had three girls-only teams playing regularly. As participation continued to grow, further teams were added, strengthening and expanding our girls’ section year on year.
As of January 2026, we have almost 200 female members playing regular football across all age groups.
The club’s first-ever senior female match took place on Thursday 27 July 2023 against Ards Women FC, followed by a series of friendly fixtures over the next 18 months.
In 2025, another major milestone was achieved when our women’s senior team was accepted into the NIWFA. The team played their first competitive match in April against Castle Ladies and enjoyed an excellent debut season, finishing second in their league. Following this success, the club made the decision to enter a second women’s senior team into the NIWFA for the 2026 season.
With senior female teams now firmly established, the club offers female players the same clear development pathway as boys — from grassroots football at age five right through to senior level.
