Jen Wilson remained upbeat despite Canterbury Ladies’ superb season ending in defeat in the Investec Championship final at Reading on Sunday.

The player-coach said she was proud of the season her youthful side put together, finishing top of the National Premier Division and becoming GB’s second seed for European competition next season.

A 2-0 win over Clifton on Saturday ensured a date with Surbiton on Sunday. Despite the 3-0 defeat, Wilson said just reaching the season’s showpiece finale was a fitting end to a ‘fairytale season’.

She said: “Of course, we want to win every match we play but we knew it would be difficult as we were not able to be at full strength.

“When you look at how far we have come this season, we have to realise it’s been an outstanding year and reaching the final is a fantastic achievement.”

After finishing third last year, a second-placed finish is “a good stepping stone to the future,” according to Wilson.

She added: “We have taken a massive step this year. We have seen, through our success this season, that there has been an increase in the level of interest in the club, not just from outside players but sponsors too.

“It’s helped the club to get into the spotlight and our profile to grow and maybe it will attract higher profile players to the club in the future.”

One international star set to line-up in green and white next season is former skipper Susannah Townsend, who left Polo Farm to join Reading last summer.

GB midfielder Townsend said: “My time at Reading has made me appreciate what I had at Canterbury. I have no regrets about making the move but I want to come back.”