Weston Football Club is recruiting for a women’s side that will play home matches at the Woodspring Stadium.

With the women’s game on the rise, the club’s coach administrator, Stacie Morrissey, has committed to creating the team herself.

She has experience in this field, having co-founded Bristol United ladies last year.

They now play in the Gloucestershire County Womens Football League – and Weston is hoping to join the Somerset County League next season.

Stacie told the Mercury she is already confident about attracting players, and is now working on gaining sponsorship for the new side.

She said: “There is a lot of work to be done. We have to apply for FA funding and sort out partnerships and sponsorships.

“The good thing is the club is already stable and we have the branding – it is just about putting together the team.

“We will be playing all home games at the Woodspring. Whether or not we can always play on the first team pitch, I don’t know, but the plan is to play here, which should help with the publicity.

“I am not worried about attracting players. When I set up Bristol United I had too many players. What we do need to focus on is the advertising of the whole club.”

Weston’s men side average an attendance of approximately 395 in the National League South while the top level of the women’s game averaged an attendance of 1,076 in 2015 – a 48 per cent increase on 2014.

This surge in popularity prompted Weston to take notice and Stacie revealed she was asked by the club to help establish the team in the hope it will attract more fans to the Woodspring.

She said: “I think this will promote the men’s team even more. To be honest, there is not enough support for the men’s team so if we can get people to support the women’s team, it can only be a positive.”

Stacie has gained her FA level one and two coaching badges and is in the process of earning her UEFA B badge. She is also hoping she will be able to take to the pitch next season, setting herself the target of having the team together by May.

She said: “I want to have players signed up by the end of April and then start training in May, June time. Within a year, I want to have a reserve team in place – that is the long-term plan.”

Weston is now recruiting for players, anyone interested should contact Stacie on stacie.morrissey@wsmafc.co.uk

Training is set to begin in the first week of May.