United walked onto a football pitch as one for the last time on Sunday’s Steeline Limestone Coast Football Association Senior Women’s grand final at Casadio Park.

Although International proved too good in the decider, it was a day of celebration with plenty of emotion from players, volunteers and spectators cheering on the team coached by Sean Fulton and Tanya Frost.

After years of being an unofficial brother and sister club, the United and Blue Lake committees have agreed to become one from the 2022 season.

The women will swap the traditional red and black of United for blue uniforms as they become known as Blue Lake.

United took part in the inaugural LCFA Senior Women’s season under its long-time name and was the last remaining original SEWFA stand-alone entity.

But the club’s 18 years of history came to an end Sunday night.

United Senior Women’s coach Fulton said it had been a fun ride, but admitted the club’s journey had arrived at a natural conclusion.

“The club is very proud to retain its identity for so long considering the other teams either dissolved or became associated with a LCFA club,” he said.

“But we have ran out of options now the league has become one and we were kind of pushed into this direction.

“For us to continue we had to align with a club and we have always had a natural affiliation with Blue Lake.”

United Soccer Club president Steph Gilbert said the Rangers had been incredibly accommodating in welcoming the women’s team to Malseed Park.

“It was really sad news the women’s league was no longer, but we have been lucky to have always had a relationship with Blue Lake in terms of allowing the girls to train there,” she said.

“It was an easy choice to join up with Blue Lake and the whole club has been fantastic in welcoming us along.

“It has been great having facilities for the girls at such an inviting club which has made it a friendly and enjoyable experience bringing the two clubs together.”

When SEWFA was de-registered at the end of last year and became managed by the LCFA, the other four clubs Inter, Apollo, Gambier Centrals and Millicent merged with their respective men’s sides and venues.

Despite not playing Seniors in 2020, United kept its original name and utilised Blue Lake’s facilities at Malseed Park for training and home games.

But after one season, United has followed the same route as the likes of County and City which merged with Inter and Apollo respectively.

Interim Blue Lake Soccer Club president Nathan Butler said the move had to be made to ensure all United players could continue playing in the new and exciting era of women’s soccer in the Limestone Coast.

“The way the LCFA is structured meant a lot of the women’s teams were not incorporated bodies and for United to play on it needed to be under the Blue Lake umbrella,” he said.

“We have embraced having the United women part of the Blue Lake Soccer Club with them coming into the clubrooms after games which has worked well trying to build a future for them.”

Butler said the pair’s connection went all the way back to United’s birth in 2003.

“When SEWFA first started United was actually created by Blue Lake life member and my brother Jeremy, who was one of the pioneers with Nigel Inglis and Stuart Birch,” he said.

“There has always been a relationship between United and Blue Lake over the last decade and many coaches have been Blue Lake players.

“To bring the teams together is nice because United has trained at our facilities because there is not much at Blue Lake Sports Park.

“It is just about people being passionate about football and we look forward to getting ideas from United to assist with Blue Lake as a club and vice versa.”

Gilbert admitted there was a tinge of disappointment at the start of the 2021 season when it become apparent it could be the last time the red and black were represented.

“I think at the start of the season there was a lot of sadness around the move,” she said.

“But as the season went on, we were integrating with Blue Lake and realised they have the same values as United with the same family environment.

“Although it is sad, it is also exciting because everything seemed to be a perfect fit.”

The women’s side was officially called Blue Lake/United during the 2021 season and although a new-look playing kit is coming next year, the club’s name for 2022 will not be revealed until the off-season.

Gilbert said it was great to see the red and black run out onto the big stage for a final time last weekend and believes the team will wear the new colours with an equal amount of pride.

“We are a passionate club and the grand final was a great way to finish,” she said.

“The girls tried really hard to get there and brought a lot of passion to the game in search of a last United premiership.

“I am sure the girls will keep their spirit and passion and be proud to wear the Blue Lake strip next year.”