THE PROSPECT of Barnsley Women’s FC and Barnsley FC women playing in the same division next season is now looking unlikely.
Barnsley WFC, who broke away from Barnsley FC in 2018, currently play in Division One of the National League – the fourth tier in England.
They have been asked by the FA to move into the Midlands Division from the North Division and it looks likely that they will make the move for next season, although it is yet to be confirmed.
Had they stayed in Division One North, they would have been in the same division as Barnsley FC women who have just been promoted and are based at Oakwell.
Barnsley WFC had hoped to create a permanent ground in Barnsley, with ambitious plans to play in a multi-million pound facility which would be the first exclusively for women and girls in the country.
But proposals for a new stadium at first Kingstone then Hoyland have not yet become reality and – after sharing various grounds, most recently with Wombwell Town – the team moved out of Barnsley last summer.
They played the 2023/24 season at the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield – the former Don Valley Athletics Stadium.
They still consider themselves a Barnsley club and hope to return to the town in the future, having been in discussions with Barnsley College over a possible development at the college’s Fleets site.
They looked to have a good chance of promotion to the third tier before Christmas, having won nine and drawn one of their first ten games of the season, but their form tailed off after the exit of head coach Lois Daniels and they finished fourth.
Chairman Steve Maddock said: “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster.
“Everything was pointing to us going up.
“We beat the eventual campions twice.
“But the manager had a few personal problems, and we took too long to change. I would like to thank Lois for everything she did for the club.
“She has done a great job across two years.
“We brought in a new management team who brought a bit of bite back to the team.
“We have some really good players and we’re excited to have another go next season.
“We’re all still as passionate as ever and want to get promoted.
“We can only do what we can do and focus on ourselves.”
