Kenni Thompson has expressed her excitement after winning the Women's National League Division One South West title on Sunday.

Thompson and her team-mates lifted the trophy after a 2-0 victory over Bristol Rovers in front of a bumper crowd at the Vitality Stadium. Securing the title with four games to play, Bournemouth will feature in the Southern Premier Division for next season.

“My team-mates and I are thrilled to finally be crowned league champions,” Thompson told The Royal Gazette.

“This is what we wanted and have been working towards from the start of the season, and to finally have that confirmation that all our hard work has paid off is really special.

The 2-0 victory, which earned them in a place in the third tier of women’s football, was witnessed by 7,076 fans, the biggest crowd attendance for a Bournemouth women’s game.

“Playing in front of big crowds is something you dream about as a child and having experienced it earlier this season was exciting,” Thompson said.

“As the season went on, we put ourselves in a really strong position to win the league, but there was that extra pressure when the realisation set in that we could do it at the club’s Premier League stadium.

“That’s what transformed that day into something out of a film. Lifting that trophy in front of thousands of fans that have been with us on this journey was indescribable.”

It was a tough second season with Bournemouth for the 24-year-old, as she battled injury. The Bermuda winger last appeared in the team on March 9, when she started in a 2-0 triumph over Abingdon United.

“I’ve been unlucky this season with injuries, but that’s football and out of my control,’’ Thompson said.

“What I can control is how I prepare myself moving forward. Being out of competition this summer will give me the chance to rest a little before preparing myself physically to fully recover and strengthen myself fully from those injuries in ways I’m not able to during the season.”

In December 2023, Thompson made her long-awaited debut for Bermuda in a Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup qualifier against Dominican Republic. She was also part of the team for the friendly matches against Belize last July.

She could also feature, injury permitting, at the Island Games in Orkney this summer.