MINEHEAD Association Football Club are pleased to announce they will be fielding a women’s team for the 2025/26 season.

The West Somerset club are very proud of the work done in its youth section in the last five or six years to get to this stage.

Dan Haran, the manager of the new team, said: “I’m very excited that we’ve finally reached the stage we can share this with our community. We’ve been building our youth section now for six years and we’re in a very good place with aspirations to grow further.

“We cannot wait to invite you all to be a part of the town’s new women’s team and capture the essence of the ever-growing female game. This is a landmark moment for this historical club and something everyone involved is hugely proud of.

“On the female game, we must acknowledge the great work done by Watchet in their first season and in particular Porlock, who have been flying the flag locally for women’s football for the past decade. We’re looking forward to joining you in the local women’s game.

He went on: “Looking ahead, with this side’s establishment, we hope to inspire; showing girls in our schools, football teams, or those thinking about joining the club in any capacity how much we value the female game and how ambitious we are. Our focus is very much on the here and now.

“With our talented and enthusiastic youth players coming through, we want to lay foundations with them for future generations, ensuring we have pathways from youth football into senior football for our girls.

“Our 16s have shown that it’s possible to achieve, thrive, and make wonderful memories as female footballers here in Minehead. We’re hopeful with the establishment of the women’s team that it will enable more visual representation of the growing female game, providing more opportunities for girls to play, develop, aspire, and love their football in our local community.

“I’m really pleased to say we will be playing our home matches at Minehead FC on Sunday afternoons when the new season arrives. We welcome your support with our initial steps into women’s football and hope you can join us on matchdays to cheer on our girls. This is a special moment for the club and the community. We’re all looking forward to it so much! We’ll see you in the new season. “

The formation of a women’s team locally comes after Minehead won the Somerset Under 16 Girls League title without losing a game.

Dan Haran managed the side and he said: “The season overall was a huge success after a summer of uncertainty when losing older players. When the season did arrive the girls were without a permanent GK so throughout the season they’ve been juggling each game depending on availability.

“This though showed a strong sign of their togetherness and willingness to work as a team and produce fantastic results. The side went unbeaten across the season with notably a 13-game winning streak cementing their place as champions. They scored 90 goals and only conceded 14 with the girls dominating the season throughout.”

Dan added: “I cannot emphasise enough what the girls have done. Not just this season but the past six years. They’ve totally changed the female footballing landscape and Minehead FC are firmly on the map in the female game.”