Under the reign of Paul Corrie, the summer saw plenty of development for the Club. A significant landmark was created in the form of our new pathways, as an U10s, U14s, U17s and U18s team was introduced to Abingdon United WFC, joining our already successful Development Team and First Team.

Women’s football renowned Jason Carbon joined United as the Club’s first Head of Women’s Football, playing a key role in leading the women’s football operations, whilst also putting Abingdon United on the map.

Strength and Conditioning Coach Sam Keen joined the Club, further improving the fitness levels of the players, ensuring they can meet the standards, and beyond, that FAWNL football requires. This completed Paul Corrie’s staff, made up of himself as Head Coach, Sam Froud as First Team Coach, Sam Keen as Strength and Conditioning Coach, Charlotte Hopper as Sports Therapist, and Tasha Kirby as Trainee Sport Psychologist.

The summer saw several player movements, many of which coming from Oxford United Development, having won the FA Women’s National League Reserve Cup in April.

Four players from that squad arrived at The Northcourt. Kara Howes was the first of those, with the former Wycombe Wanderers captain adding to the defensive ranks. Teenage goalkeeper Caitlin Crierie became our second signing of the summer, and would go onto secure the number one spot.

Megan Young also joined the club, having previously played for Southampton Women FC. Later on in the season, after making 14 appearances for United, Megan would go on to join Portishead Town.

Midfielder Anais Harris-Beechers was the next title winner to arrive, having been clinical in front of goal for Oxford United Development in recent years.

The opening day of the season would come in August, which also saw the announcement of two more players ahead of the game.

Millie Hodge and Georgia Hayes joined the Club and would both make their first appearance on the opening day, against Bridgwater United at Fairfax Park.

A long-distance strike from Mimi Hodges secured all three points for Abingdon, in a 1-0 win away from home. The new signings player their part, with Anais Harris-Beechers setting up Hodges’ goal, whilst keeper’ Caitlin Crierie kept her first clean sheet of the campaign.

Freya Gilmore also displayed a Player of the Match performance, as both Gilmore and Hodges stepped up officially as part of the Abingdon United WFC first team squad.

Next up was our homecoming, as United faced Moneyfields at The Northcourt.

Ahead of the game, Holly Sellwood, who was also at Oxford United Development in their title winning squad, joined Abingdon, having been training with the club during pre-season.

Olivia Smith also signed for the club, having signed on dual-registration from Oxford United, with Liv making her debut against the Moneys.

Despite a close-run game, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock late on. Charley Wilson-Wilton fired home to give Karl Watson’s side the win. An incredible effort from United, but they just fell short.

The home games kept coming for Abingdon, with Oxford United in the FAWNL Cup, before a tough encounter with newly promoted Bristol Rovers. Both games would end in defeat, in what would prove to be a difficult few weeks for The Yellows. Our fixture with Oxford United also saw the return to action for Lauren May, having recovered from a long-term injury during the summer.

The signing of Austrian midfielder Jasmin Nassar was also made ahead of our clash with Oxford United, before U’s defender Phillipa Davids joined on dual registration, making her debut against Bristol Rovers.

Despite defeat against The Gas, it was a proud moment for Olivia Smith, who fired home her first senior goal of her career.

A point away from home would follow for Corrie’s side. After being two down at the break, Molly Lygo scored her first of the season, before Kara Howes launched from distance to equalise, ensuring United took a point back to Oxfordshire.

Unfortunately for Abingdon, it would be a long run of defeat across the rest of September and October. The closest of those came against a strong outfit in Swindon Town, with United taking The Robins all the way at the County Ground.

Having gone 3-0 down, Erin Hartigan brought The Blues on the night back into the game before halftime.

Then, enter Olivia Smith, who looked like she had salvaged a point for Abingdon.

An incredible volley from outside the area hit the top corner to bring United within one, before Smith headed home a corner kick to make the game level at 3-3, with just minutes to go.

However, United’s efforts were in vain. Swindon snatched it with seconds to go, meaning the winless run continued.

With work commitments elsewhere, Paul Corrie left the club days later, with Sam Froud put in Interim charge of the side.

In a much-improved FAWNL, defeats kept coming, with United exiting the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, but there was a sense of performances improving.

As November hit, the hard work paid off, and two positive results saw Abingdon United move out of the relegation zone. The month also saw the appointment of the club’s new Head Coach, Chris Smith, who joined from Oxford City Women. Wayne Tingey joined the Club with Chris, taking up a role as goalkeeping coach.

A well-earned point away at Maidenhead United, was followed by a much-deserved 4-0 win over Southampton, with new signing Mollie Dyer scoring twice on her debut for the club.

A clinical goal scorer with Milton United and Oxford City, Dyer, a former teammate of Charlotte Deeley at Oxford United, joined the club just days before our clash with the Sirens.

She made her impact, with Molly Lygo and Mimi Hodges also on the scoresheet, whilst Lauren May got three assists on that day, in a much-improved Abingdon performance.

Two defeats would follow, with Olivia Smith scoring her fourth of the season in Abingdon colours against Moneyfields.

Away from the FAWNL, United reached the quarter-final stage of the Berks and Bucks Women’s Senior Cup. A win against Woodley United saw Abingdon progress, but a determined Reading side put an end to the Cup campaign, after defeat on penalties.

Nell Boxall – “This group couldn’t be more motivated to get the results”

The words of United Captain Nell Boxall, ahead of 2025.

It’s been a season of highs and lows so far, but as a group we’ve never felt more together. We’re determined to hit the ground running in January with some crucial fixtures ahead against teams close to us in the league.

Our resilience as a team has grown immensely over the first half of the season and we’re looking a lot sharper now and defensively sound.

Despite some of the results and not being in the league position we want right now; this group couldn’t be more motivated to get the results to catapult us further up the table.

I love being a part of this group, it’s a special bunch and we’re grateful to the management team and all the additional support we receive from S&C, Psychology and our media team. The back-room staff give us everything they can and more to help prepare us to the highest standard, so it’s time for us players to put in some big performances and secure some more wins as a group.

I can’t wait for the second half of this season to begin, we’ve got a lot to prove and even more to show in our performances, and I have every faith we can do that moving forwards, together.