C&K Basildon Ladies have confirmed they are set to apply for a WSL2 (Women's Super League) licence.

The club has expanded from two sides to seven this year and the first team have enjoyed a record-breaking season so far.

Steve Tilson's side are currently third in the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division, and are five points adrift of table-topping Charlton Athletic.

And due to C&K Basildon's success, chairman Peter King has confirmed that the club will apply for a WSL2 licence, which could see the club move into the country's second highest tier of women's football.

King said: "We are going to go for a WSL2 licence next year.

"I think we have got until March to apply so there will be a lot of hard work, planning, report writing and raising of finances in the new year. 

"But everybody is behind us. All of the ladies certainly want it, we want it, I think the borough of Basildon wants it and they deserve it."

C&K Basildon, who play their home fixtures at Canvey Island's Frost Hire Stadium, have enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign.

Having already beaten top of the table Charlton Athletic and secured a 7-3 win away at West Ham Ladies in the early stages of the season, Tilson's charges will be looking to build on their successful start following the turn of the year.

And King has been delighted with C&K Basildon's progress.

King added: "What a wonderful half-season it has been already.

"We launched ourselves into expanding our teams from two to seven this year and the girls have rewarded us all the way from under-10s to under-16s with some wonderful football, great results and we're causing a bit of a ripple in the community.

"We have a wonderful set of managers, of course, who have been absolutely fantastic.

"The enthusiasm from the girls has been absolutely marvellous.

"The development side are second in their league and the first team are equal-second.

"They have already won more games in half a season than they did in the previous two seasons and a points haul of 28 is bigger than we got last year, which was our record before."