CAFC Women vs Bromley Development – Preview
Carshalton Athletic Women continue their preparations for the new season on Sunday as they welcome Bromley Development to Colston Avenue for their latest pre-season test.
After an encouraging start to pre-season, the Robins will be looking to continue building momentum, sharpen their match fitness and further integrate new and returning players ahead of their first campaign at Tier 6.
Supporters are encouraged to come along and get behind the team as preparations for the new season gather pace.
Carshalton Athletic
Sunday’s fixture comes ahead of what promises to be a landmark campaign for Carshalton Athletic Women, who are preparing for their third season since the team’s formation in 2024.
The Robins have enjoyed remarkable success in a short space of time. Under the guidance of Aaron Lamont, Carshalton enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in 2024/25, finishing second in the Surrey Premier Division after recording 13 wins, one draw and just two defeats.
That outstanding first season was capped by the club’s first piece of silverware, as the Robins defeated Croydon FC 4-1 in the Surrey Divisional Cup Final at Meadowbank.
The following season saw Carshalton raise the bar once again. The Robins won 16 of their 18 league fixtures, suffering just two defeats while producing a number of emphatic double-digit victories along the way. Despite another exceptional campaign, they narrowly missed out on the league title to Dorking Wanderers U23s.
Success in the cup followed once again, however, as Carshalton retained the Surrey Divisional Cup. Victories over Sutton United Reserves and eventual league champions Dorking Wanderers U23s booked their place in the final, where they produced a dominant display to defeat Milford & Witley 6-1 and successfully defend the trophy.
With additional promotion places potentially available, the Robins then faced an anxious wait at the end of the campaign. Their patience was rewarded in June when promotion was officially confirmed, meaning Carshalton Athletic Women will compete at Tier 6 for the first time in the club’s history after earning a place in the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North.
There has also been a change in the dugout ahead of the new season. After two hugely successful years in charge, Aaron Lamont stepped down as first-team manager to become assistant manager at Tier 5 side Farnham Town, linking up with former AFC Wimbledon manager Kevin Foster following his appointment earlier this summer.
Lamont’s departure opened the door for club captain Georgie Edwards to step into the role of first-team manager. Edwards is expected to continue playing while combining her on-field responsibilities with her new position in the dugout as the Robins prepare for another exciting chapter in the club’s history.
Pre-season began with a trip to established Tier 6 outfit Ashmount Leigh. Despite an encouraging performance, Carshalton fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat.
The Robins responded in impressive fashion last time out, however, with a convincing 4-0 victory over AFC Croydon at Colston Avenue. After a goalless opening 45 minutes, Edwards’ side found their rhythm after the break, scoring four unanswered goals, with player-manager Georgie Edwards among the scorers.
The Season Ahead
After finishing runners-up in the Surrey Premier Division last season, the Robins faced an anxious wait to discover whether they had done enough to earn promotion to Tier 6 of the English football pyramid.
The league allocations were released in June, and a superb record of 16 wins and just two defeats from 18 league games proved enough to secure promotion to the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North.
The Robins will compete alongside 11 other clubs. Maidstone, Tooting Bec and Carshalton are the three promoted sides. Ebbsfleet United and Sport London e Benfica join the division following relegation from Tier 5, while Actonians Reserves, Camden Town, Clapton Community, Dulwich Hamlet Reserves, Hackney, Herne Bay and AFC Greenwich Borough remain from last season.
The new league season gets underway on Sunday 16th August with a trip to Herne Bay, before attention turns to the FA Cup.
The draws for the first two rounds have already been made. The Robins will enter the competition at the Preliminary Round stage, travelling to Hollands & Blair on Sunday 23rd August. The winners of that tie will host Tonbridge Angels in the First Qualifying Round, scheduled for Sunday 6th September.
With a host of new opponents to face and new grounds to visit, the 2026/27 campaign promises to be an exciting one as the Robins look to establish themselves at Tier 6 and continue their impressive progress.
Bromley Development
Last season, Bromley Development enjoyed a strong campaign in the Kent Division One West. The Ravens finished third, winning eight, drawing one and losing five of their 14 league fixtures, while scoring an impressive 37 goals.
There were several standout results throughout the campaign, including 7-1 victories over Petts Wood and Bromleians, 4-1 and 4-0 wins against Baldon Sports, and a stunning 12-1 League Cup victory over Faversham Town.
That third-place finish sets up another season in the Kent Division One West, where Bromley will once again compete in what promises to be a highly competitive division alongside the likes of Welling United, Dartford Development and the newly formed SE Dons.
Sunday’s test against the Robins will provide a good indicator of the season ahead as the Ravens look to improve on last year’s showing and mount a promotion challenge.
Team News
The summer has been a busy one at Colston Avenue, with new first-team manager Georgie Edwards working hard to shape her squad ahead of the club’s first season at Tier 6. A showcase fixture was held at Colston Avenue in June, while pre-season preparations have continued to gather momentum on the training pitch.
Defenders Maisie Ward and Morgan Parnell both featured in Carshalton’s opening pre-season friendly away to Ashmount Leigh and are expected to play important roles in Edwards’ plans this season. Parnell was also confirmed as the club’s new captain ahead of the Robins’ 4-0 victory over AFC Croydon.
Further forward, Taylor McCrea returns to bolster the attacking options alongside last season’s leading goalscorer, Dee Badley. At the other end of the pitch, Demi Allen is back in defence, while player-manager Georgie Edwards is also expected to feature as she combines her responsibilities on and off the field.
There have also been a number of departures during the summer. After an impressive campaign at Colston Avenue, Kenza Gueriani has completed a move to fellow Tier 6 side Leatherhead.
Midfielder Xaidan Gooding, who spent last season on loan with the Robins, has stepped up to Tier 5 after joining Farnham Town. She is joined by Leanne Bell, with the pair linking up once again with former Carshalton manager Aaron Lamont, who was appointed assistant manager at the Hampshire club earlier this summer.
Pre-Match Analysis
Sunday’s fixture presents another valuable opportunity for the Robins to continue their preparations before the competitive action begins later this month.
While results remain secondary during pre-season, Georgie Edwards will be looking for another positive performance after her side’s convincing 4-0 victory over AFC Croydon last time out. The focus will again be on improving fitness, building partnerships across the pitch and continuing to implement the team’s style of play.
With competition for places increasing and the start of the league campaign fast approaching, every minute on the pitch becomes more important. A strong display against Bromley Development would provide another confidence boost as the Robins edge closer to their historic first season at Tier 6.
Match Details
Date: Sunday 2nd August 2026
Opposition: Bromley Development
Competition: Friendly
Venue: Colston Avenue, SM5 2PW
Kickoff: 2:30pm
Admission: FREE ENTRY
