Charlton’s women win promotion to the WSL

Almost 20 years after Richard Murray disbanded Charlton’s women’s team following relegation they are back in the big time after winning their play-off final today against Leicester at The Valley.

One of the few things Thomas Sandgaard will be remembered for is that he brought the women’s team back under the auspices of the club in 2021, although proving that he often lacked judgement he did try to change their ‘name’ to ladies from women.

The game played in sweltering conditions was hardly a spectacle, but it kind of ran as expected. Both teams short of confidence and quality in the final third with Leicester having a lot more of the ball, but the Addicks more than held their own.

Chances were few and far between though and after a goalless 120 minutes penalties was no surprise. Up stepped by a mile the Addicks best player, Sophie Whitehouse, who had already made two excellent saves during normal time.

Whitehouse was born in Enfield, lived in Africa as a child and was schooled in Washington DC before having a college career in New York and California. Sophie signed for Charlton in 2024, and I’d have her playing ahead of Thomas Kaminski on today’s performance. She saved four of Leciester’s five penalties, the last, being the match winner, was frankly brilliant.

Whitehouse was checking her notes-laden water bottle during penalties, but the Leicester ‘keeper chucked it into the Jummy Seed midway through, but it was retrieved by a member of staff!

Karen Hills has done wonders with this side low on budget, but came a whisker of blowing promotion, which had looked certain for the majority of the season. Yet her team battled through the heat and won in what is the best way possible, although I didn’t see a trophy, and now Charlton play with the big girls next season in the Women’s Super League (WSL).

From what I see of women’s football that looks a tough ask, but that is for another day. Brilliant for the team, the club and those hardy fans who watch regularly but the club’s owners will now have to fund another bank account.

I read that promotion to the WSL is worth hundreds of thousands and not millions in direct financial value and central distribution.

The WSL does bring with it a lot more exposure, TV coverage and prize money, although skewed by the bigger clubs. It should also bring bigger crowds to The Valley. They averaged 915 this season, but 3,979 watched today’s game in the heat, and there should be a lot more interest in the team next season. There’s six other London teams too in the WSL

Great day for the women, and another great day for the club.

On the other side of London the prize money was £200 million as Hull City beat Middlesbrough in Patrick Bauer time at Wembley.

It was a poor game, but as often is the case the significance of the occasion can do that. It was also extremely hot, but Hull City will take their place among the elite next season.

If the Charlton’s women’s team look to have a mountain to climb, then I’d say the mountain Hull’s men’s team sits at the bottom of looks even higher.

I have to say they looked nothing like play-off winners when we played them a month ago.

Good luck to the Tigers though, and Dean Holden. They were listed as favorites to get relegated but Sergej Jakirović has given hope to all of us in a season when two teams without parachute payments have won promotion to the Premier League.