CAFC Women vs Haywards Heath Town Women- Preview
Carshalton Athletic welcome Haywards Heath Town Women to Colston Avenue for their second pre-season friendly of the summer.
Haywards Heath Town Women
Previously known as Crawley Wasps Ladies FC, Haywards Heath Town Women now compete in the London & South East Regional Women’s Premier Division. The club has a long-standing presence in the women’s game and underwent major changes in 2023, including a merger with Haywards Heath Town F.C. and a move to Hanbury Park Stadium for the 2023–24 season. In May 2023, the rebrand was made official, marking a new chapter for the team under their current name.
However, the transition has coincided with a difficult period on the pitch. In 2023–24, the side finished bottom of the FA Women’s National League Division One South East, earning just one win and five points across 22 games. Relegated into the Regional Premier Division for 2024–25, their struggles sadly continued. They once again finished bottom—this time with just one point, 21 losses, and no wins from 22 matches.
After back-to-back relegation-level seasons, the team will be aiming to reset and regroup in what is a fiercely competitive league. The goal now is to stabilise and push for a return to higher levels of the women’s football pyramid.
Team News
As part of their rebuilding process, Haywards Heath Women have opened up Monday evening training sessions for players seeking a new club or looking to test themselves at a higher level. Expect a mix of trialists and returning first-team regulars as the club works to strengthen its squad for the new campaign.
Pre-Match Analysis
In front of goal, 2024–25 was a tough season for the team. They scored just 10 goals, the fewest in the division—15 fewer than the next-lowest scorers, Ashcroft United Ladies, who had 25. Every other team in the league netted 40 or more.
Defensively, it was a similar story: 98 goals conceded, also the worst in the division. That left them bottom of the table at both ends of the pitch. The previous season (2023–24) wasn’t much better either, with 16 goals scored and 63 conceded.
With fresh faces likely to be brought in and a renewed focus on both ends of the pitch, Haywards Heath Women will be hoping for a stronger showing in the upcoming campaign.
Key Player: Lucy Groves
Despite a difficult season defensively, Lucy Groves stood out as a key figure for Haywards Heath Women. The goalkeeper was frequently called into action and remained a consistently composed presence between the sticks. While the team conceded heavily, Groves earned praise for a number of standout performances, often keeping scorelines more respectable with sharp reflex saves and excellent shot-stopping. Her resilience and leadership from the back made her one of the bright spots in an otherwise challenging campaign.
The Gaffer: Ross Pizzey
Haywards Heath Women have appointed Ross Pizzey as their new manager ahead of the 2025–26 season. Following a competitive application process, the club felt Ross was the standout candidate, with a clear vision that aligned closely with theirs.
Pizzey joins after a successful spell in charge of Beecholme Belles, where he led the team through a tough league campaign with notable progress. He implemented a new playing style, brought in fresh talent, and built a positive, unified dressing room—factors that contributed to an impressive second half of the season. Under his leadership, Beecholme secured results such as 1–0 victories over Croydon and Dorking Wanderers Development, along with wins over Tiffinians and Sutton United. They finished sixth, earning 17 points from 15 games, with six wins and nine losses.
Despite Beecholme’s strong finish and the attractive football on display, the club chose to move in a different direction for 2025–26. That opened the door for Pizzey to pursue a new challenge, targeting a Tier 6/7 side in the Surrey/Sussex area—and landing the Haywards Heath role.
“I’m truly honoured to become the manager of Haywards Heath Town Women ahead of the 2025–26 season,” said Ross.
“To be leading a club of Haywards Heath’s size and reputation is a tremendous achievement for me, and I can’t wait to get started.
We’ll work hard over the next few months to build a team capable of competing in Division 1 and bouncing back from the challenges of last season.
I’d like to thank everyone who supported me on the journey to this new role, and a special thanks to Steve Duncan and the rest of the management at Haywards Heath for entrusting me with this opportunity.”
With Pizzey at the helm, the club will be hoping to bring renewed energy and resilience to the pitch in the season ahead.
Match Details
Date: Sunday, 20 July 2025
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kickoff: 2:30 pm
Admission: Free
