COLWYN Bay FC has submitted a bid to grant its women’s team tier two status as part of plans to build the club following its return to the Welsh league system.

An application for the newly formed women’s senior team to become the eighth team in the Tier 2 North Women’s League next season was submitted to the Football Association of Wales (FAW) on Friday, March 26.

Tier two status would provide a firm footing in the Welsh women’s league system under new manager Louisha Doran, who represented Wales at under-17 level and will begin her FAW A licence qualification over the coming months.

The new team, which could be followed by women’s under-19s and academy levels, is in part a response to a surge in popularity of women’s football and an increase in the number of women attending Colwyn Bay FC matches. The club is also planning to extend its community ties since leaving the English football structure in 2019.

Neil Coverley, director of football for Colwyn Bay FC, said: “We’re very excited about the application as a women’s team is something we have talked about for a number of years, but it hadn’t received the help or funding needed.

“We have 15 or 16 girls signed up at the moment and we will be looking at having 18 or 20 players in total once restrictions allow trials to go ahead.

“We want to encourage women and girls to play football and we will look at forming an under-19s team and then incorporating all age groups over the coming seasons. The under-19s team will help those who are young or inexperienced before they can join the first team."

The floodlights at the Four Crosses Arena were turned on for the first time on Monday, March 29 as the Seagulls’ academy teams from under-8s to under-11s returned to action.

Mr Coverley said he hopes the coming season will see the stands filled once again, but with a more diverse audience.

“The interest is there and there are a lot more women and girls involved with the club and coming to watch in recent years, so there is a real community vibe," he said.

"We don’t just want success on the pitch; we want crowds to come and watch these girls play and we want the senior team to generate interest.”