Gillingham femminile
Wikipedia - Chatham Town WFC
Chatham Town Women, previously known as Gillingham Women's Football Club, is an English women's football club. The club compete in the FA Women's National League South and stage home matches at the Bauvill Stadium in Chatham, Kent.
History
In 1995, Gillingham F.C. owner Paul Scally co-opted a local women's football team called Borstal '88.
In June 2014, the team was brought back under the banner of the men's football club, Gillingham F.C., after a period as an independent outfit. Following this takeover, the club became known as Gillingham Ladies and played home games at Priestfield Stadium. Simon Ratcliffe was appointed as manager, but the club was relegated after the 2014–15 season and Ratcliffe subsequently departed.
In June 2020, Gillingham F.C. announced that, as a result of restructuring necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, they would no longer operate Gillingham Ladies with immediate effect. The club, sanctioned by the FA Women's National League, simultaneously announced a rebrand as Gillingham Women and would continue competing as an independent entity.
In October 2022 Kevin Hake, the manager-chairman of Chatham Town, was announced as owner-chairman of the side, succeeding Josh Oatham.
The FA has approved a name change to Chatham Town Women from the 2023–24 season.
La squadra fu fondata nel 1998 e negli anni successivi scalò le categorie del campionato femminile inglese fino a raggiungere la Premier League National Division, il massimo livello dell'epoca, nella stagione 2007-2008. Rimase in Premier League per una sola stagione, retrocedendo in National Division al termine della stagione 2008-2009.
Il Gillingham femminile tornò in Premier League National Division nella stagione 2018-2019, ma retrocesse nuovamente in National League South al termine della stagione 2019-2020.
La squadra gioca le partite casalinghe al Priestfield Stadium, lo stesso stadio della squadra maschile del Gillingham.
Il Gillingham femminile ha vinto una sola volta la FA Women's Cup, nella stagione 2004-2005, e ha disputato la finale della competizione altre due volte, nel 2003-2004 e nel 2006-2007.
Le giocatrici più note ad aver militato nel Gillingham femminile sono Fara Williams, Rachel Yankey e Katie Chapman.