Waterford FC set to have Women’s Premier team
The RSC looks set to play host to Women's Premier Division games in the not too distant future. Photo: Waterford FC.
Waterford FC are expected to partake in the 2025 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division after the club confirmed that they’ll be applying for a license to play at the top level of Women’s football next season following an invite from the FAI.
With the Blues having teams at Academy level at Under 17 and 19 level, this will be a new challenge for the club to a Premier side competing in the National League with the club stating that they are “extremely committed” to delivering Women’s football to Waterford.
It would seem a formality that Waterford will be successful in the club licensing process considering the fact that they are competing on similar lines of licensing in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division and the club have obtained a top-flight license for many years.
Confirming the invite to join the process, a FAI statement read: “The League of Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland can confirm that Waterford FC have been invited to enter the Club Licensing process for the 2025 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
“The National League Committee have determined that 12 teams will be invited to compete in next season’s SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division and all clubs will now enter the process for the three League of Ireland senior Divisions with final Licences to be confirmed in November.”
This was followed by the news that Waterford FC fans were hoping to hear that the club would be accepting the invitation of the FAI. In a statement the club said: “Waterford FC can confirm that the club will be applying for a licence to compete in the 2025 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division following an invite from the FAI.
“Waterford FC is extremely committed to bring senior women’s football to the city & county of Waterford, and is a central vision off the club’s long-term plans. After introducing a WU17 academy side in 2021, as well as a WU19 side at the beginning of 2023, we are focused on continuing to grow all aspects of our club.
“With our women’s academy structure now strongly in-place, the club is hopeful of entering a senior women’s team into the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division next season, subject to a successful licencing application to the FAI over the coming months.”
Commenting on the news, Waterford FC CEO Steve Curwood added: “It’s very important we continue to grow the club across all fronts, so we are delighted to now be in a position to apply for a licence for a senior women’s team complementing the existing structure. We will have more information on this particular project in the coming weeks.” The club has also confirmed that no formal interviewing process had started to select a team manager or coach with that set to begin in the near future.
