It’s a second successive home match for the Barrownesses this Sunday. Saltdean United Development are the visitors to the PHMG, for Steyning’s third league fixture. .
Saltdean’s Development Squad’ was formed at the start of the 2020/21 season after the club created a partnership with both BHASVIC Women’s Academy and Withdean Youth.
The link with Withdean Youth allowed for a pathway from their U16 girls team straight in to the Saltdean United Women’s Development Squad.
In addition to this, the Tigers also formed an academy with BHASVIC which has seen players play for the college side and represent Saltdean on a Sunday.
The DS made history in the 2023/24 season by winning the treble, only losing one game all season. The Tigers won the Sussex County Women’s League (Premier Division) plus before adding the Sussex FA Challenge Trophy and then the League Cup.
This saw them promoted to Tier 6, moving to the London and South East Women’s Regional League.
Head-to-Head the sides have met 4 times with Saltdean coming out on top in all four. Last season Steyning suffered a 4-1 loss at Hill Park and a 7-2 loss at home.
The Tigers had a fantastic season last year finishing in second place behind league winners Eastbourne Borough by 4 points, only losing 2 games along the way.
The Tigers have started this season strongly, taking all six points from their opening two games. A 6-0 away win on the opening day against Hastings United. Phoebe Michie clinching a Hat-Trick. Followed by a 5-1 win at their new state of the art facilities, Hill Park against Tonbridge Angels. Mia Hutchinson who struck 10 times last year returns for another season in the red and black stripes.
It will be a tough test for the Barrownesses on Sunday but they will come prepared and up for the challenge. The squad put their first three points on the board last week and will want to use that confidence to compete with the current league front runners.