A WOMEN’S football team is celebrating after progressing to the next round of the sport’s biggest national knockout competition.

Lawford Ladies Football Club is excelling in this year’s Women’s FA Cup.

A 4-0 victory against Bungay Town in the second round, which saw players Charlotte Bryant, Nancy Butler, and Jessica Gill score for Lawford, saw the team progress to the tournament’s next qualifying round.

Assistant team secretary Dan Sage shares the excitement of the players who are feeling hopeful ahead of meeting Thetford Town in the third round match on October 22.

He said: “They’re really excited but it’s a big thing for the players. It’s a really good achievement and hopefully they can make it through the qualifying rounds to play professional teams like Ipswich Town.”

The team has grown in the ten years since it was formed and now boasts a roster of 18 players from a range of backgrounds, including players who have come through the Ipswich Town Foundation and even the daughter of ex-professional midfielder Steve Foley.

Dan has noticed an increase in younger players wanting to take up the sport following the success of England’s Lionesses, which has led to the side launching a “fun football” initiative.

“We’ve managed to get three all girls sides at Lawford now,” he explained. “It’s really good for the future of the ladies’ team and hopefully in the next three or four years we might even have a development side full of young players.”

The latest win came after a 6-1 win against Cambridgeshire-based Histon Ladies FC in the first qualifying round.