Leicester City W.F.C.

Leicester City Women Football Club is an English professional women's football club based in Quorn, Leicestershire.[1] Founded in 2004 as an independent club, Leicester City Women were acquired in 2020 by King Power, the parent company of men's affiliate Leicester City FC.[2] They currently compete in the FA Women's Championship, the second level of the English football pyramid.

This article is about the professional women's football club affiliated with Leicester City FC. For the grassroots women's football club founded in 1966, see Leicester City L.F.C.

Leicester City Women
Full nameLeicester City Women Football Club
Nickname(s)The Foxes
Founded2004
GroundFarley Way Stadium,
Quorn, Leicestershire
Capacity1,400
OwnerKing Power
ChairmanAiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha
ManagerJonathan Morgan
LeagueFA Women's Championship
2019–20FA Women's Championship, 6th of 11
WebsiteClub website

Leicester City Women won promotion back into the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division in 2016 winning a record 22 games out of 22. After finishing third and second in the Northern Division in 2017 and 2018 respectively, Leicester City Women applied to take part in the inaugural FA Women's Championship season (2018–19). The Foxes had their bid accepted as announced by the Football Association in May 2018.[3]

Leicester City Women also run a Reserves team and the Leicester City Women Development Centre.[4] The development centre expanded at the beginning of the 2017/18 season and caters for under 9's, 10's, 11's, 12's, 13's 14's, 15's, 16's and 18's.[5]

History

Early years

Leicester City Women achieved four successive promotions since they were founded in 2004, they gained promotion into the FA Women's Premier League in 2008. They finished 5th in their first season in the Northern Division (Second Tier) before three consecutive third-place finishes. In 2013, Leicester City WFC were relegated from the Northern Division having picked up just four points from their 16 matches.

Leicester City Women applied to join the FA Women's Super League in December 2009,[6] but in March 2010 they were announced as a losing bidder for the inaugural 2011 season.[7][8]

After relegation in 2013, Leicester City WFC dropped into the Midlands Women's Combination League - which due to the introduction of the FA Women's Super League meant they were now playing 4th tier football. Having gone through a succession of Managers in the 2012–13 season, the Club appointed A Licensed coach Stuart Wilson in the Summer of 2013 with the ambition of getting the club back into the Northern Division at the first time of asking.

Relegation to the 4th tier (2013–2016)

Leicester City Women suffered relegation to the 4th tier of Women's football in May 2013 having picked up just four points from 16 games. The club hired Stuart Wilson as Manager as they looked for an immediate return to the Northern Division. Unfortunately, the club lost out on promotion to Copsewood FC (Copsewood became Nuneaton Town Ladies before folding[9]) Leicester City WFC did, however, regain the County Cup having lost in the final the previous season.

When Stuart Wilson left in the Summer of 2014, Reserves manager Jonathan Morgan stepped up to take charge of First Team affairs in a 'Management Trio' along with James and Ryan who also stepped up from the Reserves. Halfway through the season, with the club sitting second, but eight points behind the Leaders Loughborough Foxes, Chairman Rohan Morgan felt a change in Management was needed and Jonathan Morgan was given the sole responsibility whilst James and Ryan departed the club. Michael Makoni stepped up from the Reserves to become Jonathan's assistant.

Leicester would finish the 2014/15 season in second place after a 3–3 draw with Loughborough Foxes and a 2–1 defeat to third-placed Leafield.

After a number of squad changes for the 2015/16 season, Leicester City WFC started brightly picking up three wins in August, scoring 20 goals and conceding just one. The Foxes continued their fine form through until Christmas, losing just once in the opening four months, a league cup match against Bradford City from the Division above.

Despite being knocked out of the County Cup and FA Cup in successive weeks early in 2016, Leicester City WFC maintained their incredible 100% record in the league and confirmed promotion back to the Northern Division with a 10–0 win over Rotherham United Ladies. Leicester City WFC came from behind to win late on in a number of games that season, but their impressive 22 wins out of 22 games was confirmed on the final day of the season when Helen Busby netted in the 91st minute away to Wolves having been pegged back at 1-1 just a few minutes before.

Promotion to the Northern Division (2016–2018)

Leicester enjoyed a largely successful first season back in the Northern Division, despite suffering a heavy 4–0 defeat to AFC Fylde on the opening day of the season. The Foxes picked up some big wins throughout the season and ended up finishing 3rd, again their joint-highest finish in the Division. Leicester reached the County Cup Final before losing 2–1 to Loughborough Foxes, they also reached the League Plate Semi-Final and the FA Cup 4th Round before narrow defeats in both stopped their progress.

Still under the stewardship of Jonathan Morgan and Michael Makoni, Leicester City WFC made a number of big signings in the Summer of 2017, picking up key players with experience in the Northern Division. The club finished second in the league, 10 points behind Blackburn Rovers Ladies, with Rosie Axten the top goalscorer for both the Club and the Northern Division. They also made it to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, reached the League Cup final and regained the County Cup.

FA Women's Championship (Tier 2) (2018–present)

In May 2018, Leicester City Women were awarded a licence for Tier 2 following an extensive application process. The Foxes were one of five new teams to be added to the new FA Women's Championship.

On 22 August 2020, the club was bought by men's club Leicester City FC's parent company King Power, having previously been run as an independent club with an informal cooperation to the Foxes.[1] The club became fully professional in the process.[10]

Stadium

Leicester City Women currently play at Farley Way Stadium, home of Quorn FC. The club moved in the summer of 2017. The stadium has an artificial pitch and a capacity of 1,400.

Up until 2017, the Foxes played at Riverside Pavilion, Braunstone Lane East, Leicester, LE3 2FW.

Before moving to the Riverside, Leicester City Women moved between grounds in different seasons, most recently they played at Harborough Town's Bowden Park and Oadby Town's Freeway Park.

Players

Current squad
As of 21 January 2021.[11]

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  ENG Demi Lambourne
2 DF  ENG Grace Riglar
3 DF  ENG Samantha Tierney
4 MF  ENG Aimee Everett
5 DF  ENG Holly Morgan (captain)
6 DF  ENG Lia Cataldo
7 MF  ENG Charlie Devlin
8 MF  ENG Remi Allen
9 FW  ENG Libby Smith
11 FW  ENG Lachante Paul
14 DF  NED Esmee de Graaf
15 DF  SCO Sophie Howard
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF  ENG Freya Thomas
17 FW  ENG Paige Bailey-Gayle
18 DF  ENG Sophie Barker
19 FW  ENG Millie Farrow
20 FW  ENG Natasha Flint
21 FW  ENG Hannah Cain
22 DF  ENG Ashleigh Plumptre
23 FW  ENG Olivia Fergusson
28 GK  ENG Kirstie Levell
48 GK  ENG Sophie Harris
— MF  ENG Charlotte Fleming
— MF  ENG Shannon O'Brien

Honours

League
  • FA Women's Northern Division
    • Runners-Up (1): 2017-18
  • FA Women's Midlands Division One
    • Winners (1): 2015-16
    • Runners-up (1): 2014-15
  • Midlands Combination League
    • Winners (1): 2007-08
    • Runners-up (1): 2013-14
  • Unison East Midlands Premier
    • Winners (1): 2006-07
  • Unison East Midlands Southern League
    • Winners (1): 2005-06
  • Leicestershire County League
    • Winners (1): 2004-05

Cups
  • FA Women's Premier League Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 2017-18
  • Midlands Combination League Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 2007-08
  • Unison East Midlands Premier League Cup
    • Winners (1): 2006-07
  • Unison East Midlands Southern League Cup
    • Winners (1): 2005-06
  • Leicestershire County League Cup
    • Winners (1): 2004-05
  • Leicestershire & Rutland County FA Cup
    • Winners (9): 2017–18, 2013–14, 2011–12, 2010–11, 2009–10, 2008–09, 2007–08, 2006–07, 2005–06
    • Runners-up (3): 2016–17, 2012–13, 2004–05

Reserves
  • FA Women's (Reserves) Midlands Division
    • Winners (1): 2015-16
  • Mids & North Division 2 (Reserves)
    • Winners (1): 2009-10
    • Runners-up (1): 2011-12

References
  1. "Leicester City Launches LCFC Women As The Club Commits to the Women's Game". Leicester City FC. 22 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  2. "Leicester City take control of Leicester City Women". BBC Sport. 22 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  3. https://www.thefa.com/news/2018/may/28/womens-pyramid-restructure-katie-brazier-280518
  4. https://lcwfc.com/lcwfc-announce-head-of-development-centre/
  5. https://www.lclfc.co.uk/history/
  6. Leighton, Tony (30 November 2009). "OOH Lincoln declare intention to join women's Super League in 2011". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  7. "Lincoln Ladies FA Women's Super League bid success". BBC. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  8. Leighton, Tony (21 March 2010). "Lincoln City the surprise name in newly formed Women's Super League". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  9. http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/feat/edb2/nuneaton_town_ladies_withdraw_from_wpl_892443/index.shtml
  10. "Leicester acquire Leicester City Women and make side fully professional". Sky Sports.
  11. "LCFC Women: Meet The 2020/21 Squad". Leicester City FC. 22 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.

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