Merstham Football Club is delighted to announce that a new women’s team will be playing at the Hybrid Fitness Stadium in the coming season, competing in the South East Counties Women’s Football League.

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The team is a result of conversations between Merstham’s Director of Women’s football, Sarah Collett and AFC Whyteleafe’s chairman Kelly Waters.

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"One of our challenges was the lack of a girls’ player pathway to have enough players at the right standard,” said Kelly. “Knowing Merstham had a girls’ pathway but no senior team at that level, Sarah and I wondered if a merger might be the perfect way to strengthen the women's team and help the women to succeed. Whyteleafe's players, staff and league place merging with Merstham's pathway, infrastructure and director seemed like a perfect match".

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“Whyteleafe and Kelly in particular knew about our plans to launch our own 11-a- side league team this season,” explained Sarah. “It was a ready-made solution for both clubs and ensures that the girls have an opportunity to carry on playing, and provides us with a strong nucleus of players to build a new squad for the season. It also offers the increasing number of girls playing at Merstham a clear pathway for their continued development in the game which has always been our ambition.”

 

Merstham has had successful women’s teams playing for a number of years, and last year won the Surrey Flexi League 11’s, as well as the Surrey Flexi League One South and League One North titles, although the focus was more on recreational football.

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Former Whyteleafe manager Isata Kamara, has agreed to move with the team and become manager of the new Merstham team. “As we begin this exciting new chapter, I feel incredibly proud to support a transition that brings not only structure and support, but real ambition for the future of women’s football at Merstham. This move creates the kind of sustainable, positive environment where players can grow, thrive, and truly enjoy the game. I believe this merger marks the start of something special—a future where our women’s team is fully embedded within a club that values its players and provides the tools and belief needed to reach the next level. This new vision will create a clear pathway for young girls to dream big, and for women to play the game they love in a place where they’ll be supported, challenged, and celebrated.”

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The club is also pleased to announce that global brand Ann Summers, who sponsored the team last season, has agreed to continue their sponsorship of the new side.