The squad were welcomed into the Mayor’s Parlour by the Mayor of Swindon Fay Howard and Swindon Borough Council in recognition of their promotion and trophy success.
The event marked a campaign in which the team lost just two league matches, secured the FA Women’s National League South West Division title and completed a county cup double.
It also highlighted the commitment of a squad made up of players balancing football with employment and everyday life .
Manager Richard Wood said the civic recognition carried special meaning. He said:
“What’s really nice about today is that it’s not from the football community, it’s from the Swindon community.
“What the sport represents is the town, and also all of the young girls that are now starting football and picking up football in the way that they are.”
Richard, who has guided the side from fourth to third and now champions across three seasons, said the success had come through adversity as well as achievement. He said:
“People think it’s all sunshine and roses, but actually it’s a lot of suffering.
“We had injuries, difficult moments, big games where key players were missing, but we trusted the squad and stuck together as a group.”
The title race went down to the final day, with Swindon travelling to face Moneyfields knowing only a win would secure promotion .
Central Midfielder Taylor MacDonald opened the scoring in the decisive 2-1 victory. Taylor said:
“Personally, I scored the first goal in that final game, so I think that feeling in general can’t really be topped.”
Another Central Midfielder Charlie Taylor described the closing stages after Swindon conceded late. Charlie said:
“It felt like the game went on forever.”
Attacking midfielder Elise Clayton said:
“We had to win to win the league. They only needed a draw. It was first against second.”
The season also included a run to the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup, including a fixture at The Valley against Charlton Athletic.
Forward Annie Colston, who scored 51 goals during the campaign, reflected on an earlier cup comeback. Annie said:
“We went 2-0 down against Leafield, then turned it around to win 3-2 to get into the fourth round of the FA Cup. That was probably one of the biggest highlights.”
Full back Helena Diaz-Butcher, known as “Lanes”, said playing at The Valley was a significant moment. Lane said:
“That was a really cool experience to play against a team at The Valley in a stadium we’d never played at before.”
Manager Richard also pointed to the atmosphere around the women’s game. He said:
“If I go to a men’s game with my children, I’m probably on edge a little bit. If I go to a women’s game with my children, I can completely relax.
“It’s a really nice family-friendly environment.”
Promotion now means a step up in standard next season. Charlie said:
“The league we’re going into next season is very competitive, but I think that competitiveness drives us as a team.”
Elise added:
“We’re just going to enjoy it. It’s a fantastic experience, some of the teams we’re going to get to play.”
The event also carried another message, that this success has been achieved not by full-time professionals, but by women balancing football with everyday working lives.
Many of the squad juggle employment, training, study travel and match-days alongside representing the town at a high level, making the scale of the achievement even more impressive.
For many inside the room, the occasion represented more than football. It was about what the team now represents for Swindon, particularly for young girls increasingly seeing women’s football as something accessible and ambitious.
