Workington Reds Ladies FC have requested agreement from the Cumberland FA to change their name from the start of next season.

The North West Women’s Regional Divison One side have been playing at Workington Town’s Fibrus Stadium and would look to change to Workington Town Women FC.

If the change is accepted by the Cumberland FA the club will then look to seek an agreement with the North West Women’s Regional League Committee, before heading to the FA.

Along with the name change the club also plan to change their playing colours to white and blue and will carry the badge of Workington Town RLFC.

A spokesperson from Workington Reds Ladies commented: “This is a fantastic opportunity and one that we must follow if we want to build for future success and growth of the game that we are all extremely passionate about.

“We appreciate that the move may well divide opinion, change often does, but as an organisation we are fully behind the rebranding and are really excited about moving forward under the support and guidance of an organisation that wants to see all sports in the community prospering, be that male or female participants.

“Working under the umbrella of Workington Town will allow us to remain independent in all aspects of how we operate on a day to day basis, however the association and bond with Workington Town offers great support and guidance which we all fully appreciate.”

The change has emanated from the close working relationship that has been forged between the two clubs over the last 18 month since Workington Town offered the services of not only the Fibrus Community Stadium, but their additional support in developing the organisation from a commercial and marketing perspective.

Over this time, attendance at the Ladies games has grown, as has the engagement between the ladies and junior footballers in the area.

Thanks in large part to the regular and guaranteed use of the Fibrus stadium facilities, ensuring curtain raiser games for local youth teams in our community have become more common than not, and provided the Ladies team a place to call and feel at home.

This allowed the club to establish meaningful longer term connections between the Ladies current players and those that will have aspirations to follow in their footsteps for many years to come.

The supportive and forward thinking nature of the relationship with Workington Town RLFC and our other new community partners has already improved the financial position of the Women’s Football Club, which has operated as a financially independent organisation since its inception in 2012.

The club added: “The operational success gained over the last 18 months, is in contrast to the earlier years of existence for the Ladies.

“Although geography and difficult financial decisions still hold the development of football in our area to ransom, the growth of interest and participation in the women’s game nationally and regionally over recent years, gives great hope for the future.

“There has never been a better opportunity to act as a community to support and facilitate the sustainable growth of football for female footballers.

“For the first time in the history of women’s football there is a clear pathway to a professional career in our sport for our girls to pursue.

“Not just on the field but in coaching, refereeing and commentating barriers are also being broken through at the top levels.

“We feel compelled to act in the best interests of our existing players and our children to ensure our region continues to offer the highest level of opportunities to participate in the game we love for years to come.”

Workington Town’s active engagement in working with the local community is evident in the support they have already given to the Reds Ladies and their commitment to support the growth of the game will ensure provisions for female footballers of the future are in safe hands.

If all goes to plan, rebranding and a relaunch of the club will take place during the summer months and will hopefully align with the launching of a new Development Team, which will represent the rebranded club in the Lancashire Women’s League.