THE BALLARAT Lady Devils have been promoted to the Victorian Soccer Federation Premier Women's League.
The Lady Devils finished fourth in division one state league last season - missing out on promotion.
First and second were automatically promoted.
However, the VSF has expanded Premier League by two teams to 12, resulting in Ballarat and Bendigo being invited to compete at the highest state competition for women.
Lady Devils coach Stacey Bogers said the VSF had decided to include two country teams in the expanded Premier League, and Ballarat and Bendigo were given the opportunity. Bogers has been with the Lady Devils since the
beginning, 14 years ago.
"We were the Ballarat Strikers and then amalgamated with the Lady Devils," Bogers said.
"Women's soccer in Victoria has increased four-fold since those days from three divisions in state league when we started to eight divisions plus juniors now and about 120 women's and girls' sides.
"We were then the Ballarat Women's Soccer Club affiliated with Ballarat Soccer Club (now the Red Devils)."