Essex Women’s Clubs Learn 2025/26 League Fate

The women’s football pyramid has taken shape ahead of the 2025/26 season, with 12 clubs across Essex discovering their league allocations. Among the headline news is Billericay Town’s reprieve at Step 3, ensuring a fourth consecutive campaign at that level for The Blues.

While there will be no Essex representation at Step 4 this season, movement elsewhere in the pyramid includes promotions for Hutton, Brentwood Town, Colchester United, Hashtag United Reserves and She Can Play Panthers, who all rise into the league structure at Step 5 or 6.

Step 3 - Women's National League Southern Premier Division

Essex will once again be represented by Hashtag United and Billericay Town in the third tier of women’s football, with both clubs heading into 2025/26 under new management.

Billericay Town have been handed a reprieve after finishing 11th in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division last time out. The FA confirmed the decision under Regulation 6.4, citing Blackburn Rovers’ allocation to Women's National League Division 1 North, with Billericay Town, Halifax Town, Doncaster Rovers Belles, and Portishead Town all spared relegation to Step 4 as a result.

The Blues will look to improve under new manager Nick Sheldrick, who steps into the dugout after six years in various roles at the club.

Meanwhile, Hashtag United begin a new chapter of their own following the departure of manager Jason Stephens to Leyton Orient after four years with The Tags. Dom Edwards now take charge of a side that pushed eventual champions Ipswich Town all the way last season, and they will no doubt be hoping to go one better this time around.

They’ll both face strong new competition in the form of AFC Bournemouth, who earned promotion after an extraordinary, unbeaten title-winning campaign at Step 4.

Real Bedford also arrive in the division after back-to-back promotions, fuelled by significant financial backing from American cryptocurrency investors Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. The Bedfordshire club lost just once in 22 league games last season, scoring 66 goals and finishing two points clear at the top of the Women’s National League Division One South East.

Step 4 - Women's National League Division One South East

There will be no Essex representation at Step 4 in 2025/26, following Billericay Town’s reprieve, leaving the Women’s National League Division One South East without a club from the county for the coming season.

Step 5 - Eastern Region Football League Premier Division

Bowers & Pitsea and Hutton will represent Essex in the Eastern Region Football League Premier Division in 2025/26.

Bowers & Pitsea remain in the division after finishing 9th last season and will hope for improvement under new manager Alex Russell. The club has been a consistent Step 5 presence since earning promotion in 2018/19, though they are yet to break beyond mid-table.

Hutton are the division’s upward movers after a dominant treble-winning campaign last season, claiming the league title, Essex Women’s Trophy and ERWFL League Plate. Managed by Darren Stacey, they arrive at Step 5 with serious momentum and could be ones to watch at the top end of the table.

Also entering the division are Harpenden Town, promoted as champions of Division One North.

Step 6 - Eastern Region Football League Division One South

The Eastern Region Football League Division One South boasts the highest concentration of Essex-based clubs in the women’s pyramid this season, with no fewer than eight teams flying the county’s flag in 2025/26, including a host of newly promoted sides and a number of familiar names.

Brentwood Town are one of the most intriguing entrants, stepping up after finishing 4th in the ECWFL Premier Division last season. They’ve recently hit the ground running, claiming the Essex Women’s Trophy in 2023/24 and now earning a place at Step 6 following a successful 2024/25. Coached by Steve Hunt, Nick Stagg, and Michael Sadler, the club is focused on long-term development and stability with a young, ambitious squad.

Chelmsford City remain in the division after an impressive debut season, finishing runners-up to Hutton in 2024/25. They’ll be hoping to challenge for promotion again with a squad full of experience at higher levels.

Colchester United step up after finishing 2nd in the ECWFL Premier Division, bringing a renewed sense of ambition to a historic name within Essex football. Club chair Dani Warnes was quick to praise the team, stating, “We’re immensely proud of the ongoing commitment and dedication shown by our players and on-field team... their hard work has truly paid off.”

Hashtag United Reserves, another of the league’s most eye-catching newcomers, join the division after a dominant double-winning campaign. Following the trajectory of their senior counterparts, the Reserves side, led by Declan Murphy, are now competing at Step 6 for the first time.

She Can Play Panthers, based in Noak Hill, are another new name at this level. After finishing 3rd in the ECWFL Premier Division, they’ve been rewarded with promotion. The club, founded in 2016 by former pro Kat Clifton, has grand ambitions, aiming to reach the WSL within eight years of 2024/25. With full-time professional female coaches and a structured player development system, they could be a serious force in the years to come.

Returning clubs include Southend United, who finished 4th last term and continue to build under Lewis Dodds at Garon Park. They enter their fourth season at Step 6.

Stanway Pegasus, managed by Luke Worley, will be hoping to improve on back-to-back 9th place finishes as they enter their third season in the division.

Toby, based in Billericay and led by Donna Fletcher, made a strong impression in their first season at this level last year, finishing 7th and showing they can compete with some of Essex’s more established names.

Joining the division alongside the Essex contingent are the promoted Brantham Athletic, and Needham Market, who drop down from Step 5.

Summary

With representation across three of the six national and regional tiers, Essex remains a competitive county within women’s football. From Hashtag United’s promotion ambitions at Step 3 to a thriving pool of ambitious and growing clubs at Steps 5/6, the 2025/26 season promises to be another exciting chapter for the women’s game in the region.

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