CAFC Women vs Herne Bay – Preview
Carshalton Athletic Women begin a new chapter on Sunday afternoon as they travel to Herne Bay for their opening fixture of the 2026/27 London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North season.
Following promotion to Tier 6 and another productive summer both on and off the pitch, the Robins head into the new campaign looking to make a positive start under new player-manager Georgie Edwards. Standing in their way is an experienced Herne Bay side, who will provide a stern opening test on the Kent coast.
Carshalton Athletic
It has been another remarkable period of progress for Carshalton Athletic Women, with the club now preparing to embark on its first-ever season at Tier 6.
Formed in 2024, the Robins made an immediate impression during their debut campaign under Aaron Lamont. Carshalton finished second in the Surrey Premier Division in 2024/25, collecting 13 victories, one draw and just two defeats from their 16 league fixtures.
Their impressive first season was rewarded with silverware as the Robins lifted the Surrey Divisional Cup after a convincing 4-1 victory over Croydon FC in the final at Meadowbank. It was the first major trophy in the short history of the women’s team.
Carshalton built on that success during the 2025/26 season, improving once again in the league. The Robins won 16 of their 18 matches, losing only twice, while producing several emphatic victories on the way to another outstanding campaign. Despite those impressive numbers, they narrowly missed out on the Surrey Premier Division title, with Dorking Wanderers U23s finishing just above them.
The Robins did, however, retain the Surrey Divisional Cup. Victories over Sutton United Reserves and eventual league champions Dorking Wanderers U23s secured their place in the final, where a dominant display saw Carshalton defeat Milford & Witley 6-1 to retain the trophy.
That combination of league and cup success left Carshalton in contention for promotion, although there was an anxious wait for confirmation. Their reward eventually arrived in June when the club was officially promoted to the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North.
The new campaign also marks the beginning of a new era. After two highly successful seasons in charge, Aaron Lamont departed to become assistant manager at Tier 5 side Farnham Town, joining former AFC Wimbledon manager Kevin Foster.
Club captain Georgie Edwards has since taken over as first-team manager. Edwards will continue to lead the side on the pitch alongside her managerial responsibilities, becoming the Robins’ first player-manager as the club prepares for the next stage of its development.
Preparations for life at Tier 6 began with four pre-season fixtures against strong opposition. Although results were mixed, they provided valuable minutes and experience ahead of the new campaign.
The Robins opened with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to established Tier 6 side Ashmount Leigh before responding impressively with a 4-0 victory over AFC Croydon at Colston Avenue. After a goalless first half, Carshalton found another gear after the break, scoring four times, with Edwards among the goalscorers.
They followed that up with another victory against Bromley Development. Carshalton raced into a 3-0 lead through Suzanne Davies, Abz Iggy and Dee Badley before Bromley pulled two goals back in the second half. The visitors were unable to find an equaliser, allowing the Robins to claim a second pre-season win.
Their preparations concluded with a 4-1 defeat to Sutton United. Carshalton had led for much of the contest before Sutton produced a late turnaround, scoring four times in the closing stages. While the result was disappointing, the fixture provided another valuable test against higher-level opposition ahead of the start of the league campaign.
Now, after another memorable summer and promotion to the regional pyramid, the Robins’ focus turns to competitive action as they begin life at Tier 6 for the very first time.
The Season Ahead
The 2026/27 campaign represents another significant milestone for Carshalton Athletic Women as they prepare for their first season in the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North.
Promotion was confirmed in June following another outstanding campaign in the Surrey Premier Division. Carshalton’s record of 16 wins and just two defeats from 18 league matches ultimately proved enough to secure promotion to Tier 6, despite finishing runners-up to Dorking Wanderers U23s.
The Robins will now face a new set of opponents, with 11 other clubs making up the division. Alongside Carshalton, Maidstone United and Tooting Bec have also been promoted, while Ebbsfleet United and Sport London e Benfica arrive following relegation from Tier 5.
Actonians Reserves, Camden Town, Clapton Community, Dulwich Hamlet Reserves, Hackney, Herne Bay and AFC Greenwich Borough all remain in the division from last season, giving the Robins a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar opposition throughout the campaign.
The league season gets underway on Sunday afternoon as Carshalton travel to Herne Bay for their first-ever fixture at Tier 6. Attention will then quickly turn to the Women’s FA Cup, with the Robins already knowing the route they must navigate in the opening rounds.
Carshalton begin their FA Cup campaign with a trip to Hollands & Blair in the Preliminary Round on Sunday 23rd August. Victory would set up a home tie in the First Qualifying Round against Tier 6 side Tonbridge Angels on Sunday 6th September.
The step up to Tier 6 presents a fresh challenge for Georgie Edwards and her squad, with stronger opposition, unfamiliar grounds and a demanding fixture list all awaiting them. However, after the remarkable progress made since the team was formed in 2024, there is every reason to believe the Robins can make a positive impression at their new level.
Following back-to-back Surrey Divisional Cup triumphs, two consecutive outstanding league campaigns and promotion to the regional pyramid, Carshalton will now be aiming to establish themselves at Tier 6 while continuing the momentum that has driven the club’s rapid rise.
Herne Bay
After finishing eighth in Division One North last season, Herne Bay retained their place in the league for the 2026/27 campaign.
The Bay won seven, drew two and lost 11 of their 20 league matches, finishing comfortably clear of the relegation places while ending the season just three points behind fifth-placed AFC Greenwich Borough in what proved to be a highly competitive division.
Herne Bay recorded several impressive victories during the campaign, including 5-0 wins over Dulwich Hamlet Reserves and AFC Greenwich Borough, as well as a 5-2 success against Ashford United. They also picked up victories over Hackney and Clapton Community, while completing a league double over Soccer Elite Academy.
Having already established themselves at this level, Herne Bay will provide a stern opening test for Georgie Edwards’ side as both teams look to begin the new league campaign with three points.
Team News
There has been plenty of activity behind the scenes during the summer as Georgie Edwards has assembled her squad for the club’s first season at Tier 6.
The new player-manager has worked to retain the core of the side that has enjoyed so much success over the past two seasons, while also strengthening the squad ahead of the step up. A showcase fixture in June was followed by a productive pre-season programme, with the Robins completing four competitive friendlies in preparation for the new campaign.
Defensive duo Maisie Ward and Morgan Parnell both featured in the opening pre-season fixture against Ashmount Leigh and are expected to play key roles throughout the season. Parnell has also taken over the captaincy, being confirmed as the club’s new skipper ahead of the 4-0 victory over AFC Croydon.
There are also familiar attacking options available. Taylor McCrea returns to provide another threat in the final third, while Dee Badley remains one of Carshalton’s key players after finishing last season as the club’s leading goalscorer. Honey Dulley also returns for her third successive season with the Robins.
Demi Allen strengthens the defensive options, Beth Yarrow returns between the posts, while Edwards herself is expected to continue playing despite taking on the responsibilities of first-team manager.
The summer has also seen several departures. Kenza Gueriani has moved on after an impressive spell with the Robins, joining fellow Tier 6 side Leatherhead.
Xaiden Gooding, meanwhile, has stepped up to Tier 5 after signing for Farnham Town. Gooding spent last season on loan at Carshalton and will once again link up with former Robins manager Aaron Lamont.
Leanne Bell has also joined Farnham Town, meaning she too reunites with Lamont following his appointment as assistant manager.
With a blend of experienced players, returning faces and new additions, Edwards will hope her squad can adapt quickly to the demands of Tier 6 as they begin what promises to be another exciting chapter in the club’s history.
Pre-Match Analysis
Carshalton Athletic Women begin life at Tier 6 on Sunday knowing they face an immediate test against an established side in the division.
Promotion has been earned after two outstanding seasons in the Surrey Premier Division, and confidence within the Robins camp will be high following back-to-back Surrey Divisional Cup triumphs and another impressive pre-season programme. However, the step up in quality is significant, and Sunday’s trip to Herne Bay offers an early opportunity to see how Georgie Edwards’ side measures up at their new level.
Herne Bay have the advantage of experience, having competed in Division One North last season, while home advantage could also prove important on the opening weekend. The Kent side showed last season that they are capable of producing some emphatic results, and they will be aiming to make that experience count against the newly promoted visitors.
For Carshalton, the opening weeks of the campaign present a particularly demanding run of fixtures. Sunday’s trip to Herne Bay is followed by another away journey to Hollands & Blair in the FA Cup Preliminary Round before the Robins return to league action with a visit to Hackney. Beginning the season with three consecutive away matches is far from ideal, particularly for a side adjusting to a higher level of football, but it also presents an opportunity to build momentum before returning to Colston Avenue.
After everything the club has achieved over the past two years, there is genuine optimism surrounding the Robins heading into the new campaign. Sunday’s encounter should provide a strong indication of where Carshalton are as they begin what promises to be an exciting first season at Tier 6.
Match Details
Date: Sunday 16th August 2026
Opposition: Herne Bay
Competition: League
Venue: Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, CT6 5SG
Kickoff: 2:30pm
Admission: Adults £5, Concessions £3, U12s Free
