After finishing 6th in their inaugural season competing in Tier 5 of the Women’s football pyramid last term, Lou Cooper’s Dorking Wanderers side are looking to push on and continue making progress in 24/25.
Pre-season preparations wrapped last Sunday afternoon with an emphatic win over Wycombe Wanderers on a blazing hot day at Meadowbank, the victory completing a pre-season run of friendlies which has seen Wanderers go unbeaten, winning five of their six matches played, including defeating the likes of Cray Wanderers, Dulwich Hamlet and Maidenhead United.
Rewinding the clock to this time last year, prior to their first ever season in the London & South East Regional Premier Division, a raft of new faces arrived in the close season as the complexion of the squad changed significantly from the league and cup double-winning outfit the year before, but ahead of this new campaign, many of the players on board from last term will continue in red and white for 24/25.
Longest serving players Ayla Darcy, Charlotte Crook and Olivia Stuart, the latter having been with Wanderers since formation in 2020, will remain part of the defensive unit for the season ahead, whilst 23/24 Supporters & Coaches Player of The Year, goalkeeper Tea Oldroyd, will continue between the sticks. Central midfielder and skipper Rebecca Sargent will lead the side again for the year ahead, whilst top scorer from last term, Rachael Manley, has also been retained alongside several other key players who all featured regularly in 23/24:
DWFC Women’s Retained List 24/25:
Jess Charles
Megan Clapinson
Charlotte Crook
Ayla Darcy
Abby Delves
Rachael Manley
Tea Oldroyd
Rebecca Sargent
Sarah Sparrow
Olivia Stuart
Olivia Watson
Sarah Wentworth
Ails Williams
Drawing close parallels to the men’s senior side and further harnessing a close and long standing connection between the two clubs, the DWFC Women have further strengthened their squad in recent weeks with a number of players arriving from AFC Wimbledon, adding fresh personnel to a Wanderers side which already includes former Dons players in defender Sarah Wentworth and midfielders Megan Clapinson and Rebecca Sargent.
Having won the National League South East Division (Tier 4) championship last year with AFC Wimbledon, midfielder’s Molly Childerhouse and Steph Mann, plus forward Sandra Martins, all join the Wanderers for the season ahead. In addition, midfielder’s Isata ‘Ice’ Kamara and Jade Johnson are also on board for the upcoming campaign after last featuring for AFC Whyteleafe, and former Fulham FC forward Helen Ogle also joins the Wanderers after spells with local sides Woking FC and Ashmount Leigh during 23/24.
Alongside league obligations, the DWFC Women will again play in the FA Cup and League Cup competitions in the season ahead, with their FA Cup first round tie announced just earlier this week as Pagham FC will be the visitors to Meadowbank on Sunday September 22nd.
To view all the DWFC Women fixtures and to stay tuned in for the latest updates, please visit the below link:
https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?id=717167992
With two promotions and two cup triumphs achieved so far in just their 4 season’s together, having consolidated their place in Tier 5 of the Women’s football pyramid last term, we look forward to an exciting 24/25 for the DWFC Women which gets under way this Sunday at Meadowbank with the visit of Dartford FC in a 3:30pm kick off.
