Women’s football round-up: Charlton Women ace Graham targets promotion next season

Kit Graham reckons Charlton Athletic Women need to target promotion next season after signing off their Championship campaign with a 4-0 victory over Leicester City.

Graham bagged a hat-trick as the Addicks finished third in the table. It is their first campaign at the level after winning promotion last summer.

Striker Graham said: “This year has been a big stepping stone for the club, we’ve done so well the season after getting promoted. No-one expected big things from us and other promoted sides haven’t stepped up like we have.

“Next year the hope is promotion. We need to work hard and work together to achieve that.

“This year was a huge step up, and particularly the fitness was a big jump. If we work on that in pre-season, it’ll stand us in good stead for going up.”

Liz Ejupi was the other scorer for the Addicks.

Graham said: “We wanted to finish the season on a high and we did that, comfortably winning, so it’s a good feeling.

“We definitely didn’t want any complacency. Letting promotion slip, we could have not taken it as seriously as we did, but credit to the girls, we finished strongly.”

Millwall Football Club have expressed their disappointment that the current incarnation of Millwall Lionesses have opted to become independent.

The Lionesses finished rock bottom of the Championship and were hammered 6-0 at Sheffield United on the final day.

There will still be a Millwall Lionesses next season which is affiliated to the Championship side. It is unclear what level they will compete at.

But the current board have formed a new club called London City Lionesses.

A Millwall FC statement said: “The club is disappointed that the Lionesses’ current hierarchy have decided to become independent. Millwall have tried several times, over the course of the season, to arrive at a different outcome.

“The club attempted to reach an agreement whereby its name, Millwall, could continue to be used but this was rejected out of hand.

“As such, the club ultimately supported the name change, subject to certain conditions being met, in order for the team to complete the current season and so that management had ample time and opportunity to secure alternative funding.

“The Lionesses will always be a key part of Millwall Football Club. Their tradition and heritage is a source of immense pride and, through the Community Trust, more history can now be created. The club’s aim, as always, is to ensure that there is a pathway for girls and women to play football at as high a level as possible and this will continue to be the case with a new-look Millwall Lionesses.

“The club wishes London City Lionesses the best of luck in the future with their new venture.”

Crystal Palace Ladies finished second bottom of the table and drew 0-0 at Aston Villa.

Eagles forward Ashlee Hincks said: “We have grown into this league in our first season in the Championship and I think we can take a great deal out of it and forward when it all starts again in August.”

To follow all of the action during the season and to buy tickets, visit www.ticketstores.co.uk/fawsl/