The Football Association has announced Chelsea Ladies will join seven other clubs in the inaugural FA Women's Super League, launching in March 2011.

They join Arsenal, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Lincoln and Liverpool in being offered two year licences for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Chelsea Ladies captain, Casey Stoney, welcomed the announcement: 'The Ladies have made giant strides in the last few years and me and the rest of the girls are delighted to be part of the Super League.

'The League will represent the pinnacle of ladies football in this country and we are looking to build on our recent successes and believe we have a team that can challenge for the title.'

Kelly Simmons, head of the national game at the FA, said of the announcement: 'We are delighted with the quality of the bids we received. We are looking forward to working with the eight clubs in the run up to next year's launch to put in place an exciting, high quality and sustainable new league, taking our women's game to new heights.'

With participation levels of women's football at an all time high - currently 1.1 million girls play football in England - the Super League will play a pivotal role in ensuring the player pathway leads to a competitive, elite structure at the very top of the women's game.

The FA believes the Super League will be the key platform to drive the women's game forward in England. The Super League concept was developed to enable players in this country to earn a good living from the game while allowing Super League clubs to develop new revenue streams and support for women's football.

Chelsea are one side who have a good following when it comes to support. But at the weekend, home fans had to watch their side succumb to Everton, who ran out 5-2 winners at Imber Court.

Should we get through our next challenge, an FA Cup semi-final clash with Arsenal on Sunday 4 April, we will be forced to face the Toffees once more in the competition's final.

The weekend defeat took Everton to third in the League, with 30 points from 12 games, one place behind Arsenal, who have the same points from 11 games. Chelsea sit in fifth at the moment, having secured 28 points from 15 games.

But before we face Arsenal, there's international duty coming up for five Blues. Goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain, defender Stoney and midfielders Danni Buet and Claire Rafferty join striker Dunia Susi in Hope Powell's England squad.

They'll take part in a World Cup qualifier against Austria tonight. It will be the first time England have played since a disappointing Cyprus Cup campaign.

After this game, England will continue their World Cup qualifiers next Thursday (1 April) when they face Spain at Millwall's New Den.


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