Redlands United Football Club is excited to have been selected as one of only 12 clubs in Queensland that will compete in the inaugural 2015 PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Girls' and Women's competition, which is the elite player pathway for women's football in Queensland, sitting one tier below the Westfield W League.
The Cleveland-based club will field teams in the Under 13 and Under 15 Girls' divisions, as well as Youth Women's and Senior Women's competition next season.
The announcement brings the female game into line with the male structure on a national level.
A total of 22 expressions of interest and 15 formal applications were received from clubs in South East Queensland and the Red Devils emerged as the Redlands' only WNPL franchise.
Other selected clubs cover a range of major population centres in South East Queensland, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.
Senior first team player and Under 13 Girls' coach Jo Buckley said the announcement was a fantastic result for both the club and the Redlands.
"It ensures that there is a pathway in the Redlands for women and girls to progress on to state, Queensland Academy of Sport and Brisbane Roar W-League teams," she said.
The club's technical director Matt Chandler said with the club having held the licence for the girls programs in the Under 13 and Under 15 age groups over the past two years, the alignment of the Under 20s and Senior Women's programs would "make sure that our girls have the best possible opportunity to develop and progress their football careers".
"Our Player Identification Program commences on November 3 and we're really excited to be able offer an opportunity for the best local players to play together against the best players in the region," he said.
Any player interested in playing in the Under 12-13, Under 14-15 or Under 16-20 teams can contact Matt Chandler at td@redlandsunited.com.au.