I was involved in the running of Chester City Ladies for about 9 years. 3 of those years was as Secretary. When I first started watching. They were bottom of North West Divsion 2 with only 1 point. They won 10 of their last 12 games to stay up that season. The club progressed by winning 3 promotions to reach the 3rd tier of the Women's pyramid( Northern Womens Combination), which included winning the North West Premier League title after 15 wins and 3 draws and including 15 clean sheets(which cost me a lot of money after I sponsored the club £10 a clean sheet).
At that time we had a good set up. We travelled by coach to the likes of Newcastle, Middlesboro and SC**thorpe. We produced our own programme and had regular reports in the local paper, plus a regular attendance of about 50 people which about 20 people would travel to away games. Also a few games were played at the Deva Stadium including a F.A. Womens Cup 1st Round tie against SC**thorpe which attracted 200 people paying a pound to get in.
Unfortunately the club are now struggling in the Northern Combination and they struggling for cash as politics has played a major part in the club not progressing plus the lack of involvement by Chester City Football Club.
The top 2 tiers of the Women's pyramid seem to be reasonable organised but lower down it is a bit Sunday league. I think it is too much to expect amater clubs to be expect to travel from Caenarfon to SC**thorpe or to Middlesboro or West Auckland in Durham.
If Alty did start up a Ladies team they would start in the Cheshire and Manchester league. I think there is a Broadheath Central team that plays in the Chester Girls League which has a U12's, a U14's and U16's league.
Yes Cestrian I remember that Chester City Ladies team very well indeed. As I recall you had two very good midfielders, one with blonde hair and a little 'snapper' together with another couple of decent players too.
Were you involved when they played Tranmere in the County Final at Christleton and lost the keeper to injury very early on? I think it was the last season that Sue Smith played at Tranmere - I was on the line.
The one with Blonde hair was called Lisa Pritchard. She retired from playing, became a level 5 referee and now is manager of Chester City Ladies. The other one was Michelle Brady who despite being only 5 foot won a lot of headers against taller players. She rejoined the club this season but a rare illness has meant she has had to stop playing.
I remember that Cheshire Cup Final. Laura Edwards got injured in a 50-50 challenge and outfield Jo Reynolds took over and also got injured but she finished the game. Which probably why they got beat 7-0, though they would have a lost anyway. Chester played Tranmere a couple of years later and were a little unfortunate to lose 3-1.
I remember you refing the game at Trafford when Chester won 4-0 in their North West Premier League Championship season. I was pleased to see a fair and experienced ref after the previous season's game ended with a 22 player brawl and the Trafford Manager, I think his name was Cliff Andrew, going across the pitch threatening me, and asking for a fight.