Published: 7 March, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

WOMEN’S football has been given a massive boast with the news that two giants of NW3 are joining forces.

The move unites one of the largest youth football clubs in north London with one of the most successful senior women’s teams in the borough under the name Hampstead FC.

The merger will see well-established youth club Hampstead FC and Hampstead Women FC combine their efforts in a bid to become the best community-based female club in the capital.

The timing couldn’t have been better for Hampstead Women. Despite being the highest ranked women’s team in the borough, they decided not to compete in competitive football this season as a biting recession together with the spiralling cost of pitch hire in Camden left the club unable to afford their running costs.

Chairman John Baker was delighted by the new merger. “The strong youth set-up will provide a consistent pool of developing talent to feed into the women’s team,” he said.

“It guarantees a long-term future for the club and allows us to compete off the field with established rivals such as Tottenham and Luton Town who already benefit from these advantages.”

Chair of the youth team, Diane Culligan, added: “Hampstead FC has always focused foremost on player development. Adding an adult ladies team has been a club ambition for some time and this merger offers our girls a clear exit route and the opportunity to aspire to represent the club as adults.”

The union seemed a natural progression for these two NW3 clubs, who share many parallels aside from geography.

Both have been awarded the prestigious Charter Standard by the FA in recognition of their excellent set-ups. And both compete proudly under the same club motto non sibi sed toti, which translates to ‘not for oneself but for all’.

• If you are interested in joining the Hampstead ranks, as either a player or a coach, email info@hampsteadfc.org or visit www.hampsteadfc.org for further details.