Women’s and girls’ football in Levin is booming.

That rise in popularity and strength has allowed Levin AFC to field two senior women’s teams in Manawatū leagues for the second time in as many seasons.

Senior team coach Chris Garwood-Bennett says it’s encouraging to see the growth and standard of performance improving all the time.

“We’ve seen immense growth. It’s really exciting,” he says. “It’s come on in leaps and bounds and we want to continue that growth and development.”

The Levin senior women’s team was promoted to the top Manawatū grade after winning Division 2 last season undefeated and playing an exciting brand of football.

Not to be overshadowed, the club’s Division 3 team has been elevated to Division 2 for the first time this season and is doing well.

Chris says while it’s brilliant the club is feilding two women’s teams,  there is potential for three next year given the opportunities for college players to become involved in club football, too.

Both Horowhenua and Waiopehu colleges have girls teams that compete in midweek college leagues and an increasing number of those players are turning out for Levin AFC at the weekend.

He says there is a pathway for more to do the same, with club teams catering for players of all abilities.

“It’s untapped,” he says.

Meanwhile, the Levin AFC Division 1 team won its first game of the season 2-win against Feilding, with goals to striker Brooke Langtry, who is a welcome addition to the club having moved to town with her family from Australia late last year.

Levin lost narrowly to Takaro 3-2 at Donnelly Park at the weekend after leading 2-0 with goals to Brooke and Ella Holmes.

Chris says many players help out with junior girls soccer too, the likes of Brooke, Ella, Lilly Day, Megan Armstrong and Molly Howarth giving time with coaching prgrammes like a First Kicks initiative for youngsters on Saturday mornings.

“And that’s brilliant. It creates that club culture where the top players are there to see.”

He says the team were grateful for sponsorship that had allowed them to buy new playing uniforms this season.