BARNSLEY FC Ladies celebrated their league title win this week and believe it is the start of a ‘great journey’.

Having won the North East League Southern Division title last week, they completed their season with a 6-2 win at home to York Railway Institute on Sunday. Sadie Hooper bagged a brace with the other scorers being Lynn Goodman, Anabelle Medley, Louisa Barraclough and Rebecca Wilson who was playing her final game after 19 years with the club.

That left them 12 points clear at the top with 61 points from their 22 games.

After losing their opening game, they have won 20 and drawn one of the next 21 to earn promotion to the Premier Division – the fifth tier in England.

Barnsley FC board member Julie Anne Quay was in attendance as the club looks to strengthen its support for the women’s team.

Manager Jess Horsley said: “It’s been a fantastic season for everyone involved with the club.

“When we sat down in the summer, we targeted a top two finish.

“Following the opening day 3-0 home defeat against Altofts, a team who we had identified as probably our biggest threat, you’d have expected the players to be a bit down. But that wasn’t the case, we spoke after the game and we were pretty upbeat.

“We then went on an amazing run and momentum just built and built. We’ve swept teams aside, we’ve had last-minute equalizers and injury-time winners.

“Everyone involved in the team deserves credit – the players have trained and played extremely hard all season, the coaches have planned for each game with great detail and, behind-the-scenes, there’s been a lot going on to ensure our future has no limits. I’m very excited for what next season and beyond can bring for us. To think we didn’t have a team four years ago to now be moving into tier five is testament to everyone at the club. It’s going to be a great journey, and we hope the town will join us and be part of it.”