Athlone Town A.F.C. Ladies

Athlone Town Association Football Club Ladies (Irish: Cumann Peile Bhaile Áth Luain na mBan) is an Irish association football club based in Athlone. In February 2020 the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) announced the formation of the club as an expansion team for the upcoming 2020 Women's National League season. It is the women's section of Athlone Town. The senior team plays in the Women's National League while a junior team competes at Women's Under 17 National League level.

Athlone Town A.F.C. Ladies
Full nameAthlone Town Association Football Club Ladies
Nickname(s)The Town
Founded2020
GroundAthlone Town Stadium, Lissywollen, Athlone
Capacity5,000 (2,500 seated)
ManagerTommy Hewitt
LeagueWomen's National League[1]
WebsiteClub website

History

In July 2018 Athlone Town were among 11 founding clubs in a new Under-17 Women's National League.[2] In November 2019, the club's application to join the senior Women's National League for the following 2020 season was accepted.[3] The first match was originally scheduled for March 2020, however, the team was made to wait until 15 August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland which delayed the start of the season.[4] The first game ended in an encouraging 1–0 defeat by Wexford Youths.[5] On 5 September 2020 the club secured their first goals and first win, beating fellow newcomers Treaty United 3–2 with goals from Katelyn Keogh, Paula Doran and Kellie Brennan.[6] They finished the shortened season joint-sixth of nine teams with a 3–7–1 record.[7]

A separate independent women's football club named Bealnamulla LFC come from the Athlone area. They reached the national FAI Women's Cup final in 2000, but were beaten 7–0 by Shamrock Rovers, the dominant team of the era.[8] Five members of Athlone Town's inaugural squad were former Bealnamulla players.[9]

Players

Current squad
As of 1 November 2020.[9][10][11][12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  IRL Niamh Coombes
2 DF  IRL Fiona Owens
3 DF  IRL Jessica Turner
4 DF  IRL Leah Brady
5 DF  IRL Zara Lawless
6 DF  IRL Paula Doran (captain)
7 DF  IRL Kayleigh Shine
8 MF  IRL Kayla Brady
9 FW  IRL Katelyn Keogh
10 FW  IRL Kellie Brennan
11 FW  IRL Robyn Heatherington
12 MF  IRL Orlaith White
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 DF  IRL Chloe McNamee
14 DF  IRL Roisin Jacob
15 FW  IRL Amy Hyndman
16 MF  IRL Aoife Haran
17 DF  IRL Angelina De Rosa
18 FW  IRL Sinead Farrell
19 MF  IRL Ciara McManus
20 MF  IRL Jessica Hennessy
22 FW  IRL Allie Heatherington
23 FW  IRL Emma Donohoe
— FW  IRL Eva Gowran
— GK  IRL Amanda Ryan

References
  1. "Extratime.com - Extratime.com - Fixtures - 2020 Women's National League". www.extratime.com.
  2. "Teams confirmed for Continental Tyres Women's U17 League". 20 February 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  3. "Athlone Town join Women's National League". RTÉ Sport. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  4. "Steady progress is helping Athlone". Women's National League (Ireland). 21 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. "Athlone Town Ladies Looking To Back Up Promising Debut". Midlands 103. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  6. Hooper, Dave (6 September 2020). "Maiden WNL Victory For Athlone Town". Shannonside. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  7. Fagan, Ronan (19 November 2020). "Athlone Town Ladies complete maiden WNL campaign with positive result". Athlone Advertiser. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  8. Mooney, Daniel; Hughes, Declan; Schöggl, Hans. "Ireland - List of Women Cup Winners". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  9. "Senior Women's Só Hotels National League". Athlone Town A.F.C. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  10. "A club-by-club guide to the 2020 Women's National League". Irish Independent. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  11. @AfcAthlone (17 October 2020). "A good game between two evenly matched teams.We started the stronger taken a 2 nil lead through Killie & Kayla.Treaty hit back a minute after our 2nd goal.Treaty started the 2nd half well however Kaitlyn put us 3 -1 up. Again Treaty hit back to make it 3 2.#3points good win" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. @AfcAthlone (13 September 2020). "The teams sheets are in for today game here in cork. Kick just 37 minutes away" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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