A SUCCESSFUL women's football team is folding after 11 years.

The decision of CMB Ladies to call it a day after a trophy-laden existence is combined with the retirement of their coach, Dave Grundy, who has been integral to their success.

CMB were set up when their players faced a decision whether to carry on into open-age football after playing together through the junior age groups.

They began as Bolton Wanderers Girls 11 years ago, but reached a crossroads in 2012 when they became too old to play as juniors.

They either had to move into open-age football or fold.

CMB captain Jennifer Winnard explained: "Bolton Wanderers already had a first team and reserves and didn't want to add a third open-age women's squad.

"So the choice was either to split up the squad and disperse the players into the Wanderers first team and reserves or move away to a different club together.

"And that's what we did.

"CMB were happy to take us and from there we started from the bottom of the ranks and worked our way up."

In six heady years they won promotion from the Lancashire County Women's League Division Two (2012), Lancashire County Women's League Division One (2013), North West Women's Regional League Division One (2014) and the North West Women's Regional League Premier Division (2016).

They have won numerous cup finals, a national five-a-side competition in 2015, appeared in the national Women's FA Cup in which they got through the qualifying rounds to the first round, and reached the Argyle Cup semi-final (2017).

Winnard said: "We have had so much success for a team that is grassroots with no funding, one manager and no coaching staff.

"We have had incredible success over the years with four promotions and three cup finals in six years rivalling Bolton Wanderers to be the biggest women's club in Bolton.

"Most importantly, our manager Dave is retiring.

"He has been coaching youth football for 20 years in Bolton and has been coaching us for 11 years as Bolton Wanderers and CMB.

"He has put thousands of pounds into grassroots football and has dedicated more hours than any coach I know.

"As captain, I cannot thank Dave enough for the time, emotion, effort and money he has invested into our team, both at CMB Ladies and prior to that, at BWFC.

"He is the most selfless person you will meet, he has never received any payment or credit for his commitment to our squad, nor the glory for the successes we have had over the years.

"The promotions, cups and titles we have gained are down to his genius as much as our talent, and for that he should be applauded.

"He sacrifices time with his family and partner to coach us and take us to games, sometimes hundreds of miles away.

"In 20 years he has missed only one game.

"He is the unsung hero of our community and deserves to be recognised for his commitment to women's football in the North West of England and giving children and adults across Bolton the opportunity to play football."