Dundee United W.F.C.
Dundee United Women's Football Club is a Scottish women's association football club based in Dundee that is affiliated with the professional men's club Dundee United F.C. Founded in 2015, they play in Scottish Women's Premier League 2, the second tier of the national league system, after winning promotion from the third tier in 2018. They had previously been promoted from the fourth tier in their 2016 debut season.
Full name | Dundee United Women's Football Club | ||
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Founded | 2015 | ||
Ground | Regional Performance Centre, Dundee | ||
Coordinates | 56.481603°N 2.956099°W | ||
Chairperson | Colin Stewart | ||
Head coach | Gavin Beith | ||
League | Scottish Women's Premier League 2 | ||
2019 | SWPL 2, 3rd of 8 | ||
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History
Scottish Premiership club Dundee United announced in April 2015 that they were going to launch a women's team to compete in the Scottish Women's Football League (SWFL) from the following year.[1] Club co-owner and director Justine Mitchell was instrumental in the decision.[2] There were over fifty applicants for the position of head coach, none of whom were women.[3] Gavin Beith was appointed as the team's first head coach in June 2015, with player trials commencing later that month.[4] Ahead of the 2016 season, Fiona Mearns was chosen as the team captain.[5]
United played their first competitive match on 6 March 2016, a 5–0 win over Dunfermline Athletic Development in SWFL Division 2 East at Gussie Park in Dundee.[6] The same teams met again in June to contest the SWFL Division 2 Cup final. United lifted their first trophy with a 9–0 win, having led 7–0 at half time.[7] The league title was secured with a 6–0 win over Edinburgh Caledonia on 9 October 2016.[8] The club ended their first season having won all 16 league matches with a goal difference of +134.[9]
In October 2018, Dundee United secured the SWFL Division 1 North title with a 7–2 win over Cove Rangers. United finished top of the league by a four-point margin, winning promotion to the second tier of the national Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) for the 2019 season.[10]
Colours and badge
Dundee United wear similar colours to the men's team, with tangerine shirts and black shorts. Change colours are white and black. The club uses the same badge as the men's team.
Stadium
The team initially played their home matches at Gussie Park (known as the GA Engineering Arena due to sponsorship), situated opposite Dundee United's Tannadice Park stadium.[1] The match against Cove Rangers that clinched the SWFL Division 1 North title on 21 October 2018 was played on Tannadice itself, with an attendance of over 400.[10] Since 2020, the team plays at the Regional Performance Centre at Caird Park.[11]
Squad
- As of 18 October 2020[12]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
- SWFL First Division (North)
- Winners (1): 2018
- SWFL Division 2 East
- Winners (1): 2017
- SWFL Division 2 Cup:
- Winners (1): 2016
References
- "Dundee United Women's Team". Dundee United F.C. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Dundee United: Love, grief and spirit united in Justine Mitchell". BBC Sport. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- Keenan, Amanda (5 June 2015). "Female coaches urge others to help with teaching girls about beautiful game". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Former Dee Gavin Beith appointed head coach of Dundee United women's team". Evening Telegraph. Dundee. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- Duthie, Tom (25 February 2016). "Dundee United women's captain aiming high". Evening Telegraph. Dundee. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Dundee United vs. Dunfermline Development – 6 March 2016". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- Oliver, Tim (24 June 2017). "Dundee United romp to #SWFL2 Cup win". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Women's team wins league". Dundee United F.C. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Summary – SWFL 2 – Scotland – Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Dundee United ladies win league with thumping victory at Tannadice". Evening Telegraph. Dundee. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- "Dundee United". Scottish Women's Premier League. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- "Dundee United v Queen's Park". Dundee United W.F.C. match programme (2). Issuu. 1 March 2020. p. 16. Retrieved 22 June 2020.