Southampton F.C. Women

In 1970, Southampton Women's F.C. was formed by female fans of the men's team, but the two clubs were unaffiliated. Southampton Women's F.C. went on to great success in England, winning the WFA Cup (Women's FA Cup) eight times.

Another team, Southampton Saints Girls & Ladies F.C. were formed in 1979 as Red Star FC, who were founder members of the WFA Women's National League in 1991. As Saints Girls & Ladies, the club was absorbed by Southampton F.C. in 2001. The club had financial difficulties in 2005; the men's senior side were relegated from the Premier League after 27 years of top-flight football, and Southampton F.C. withdrew support for the female side. Southampton Saints Girls & Ladies continued without major club support for another 14 years, before announcing their demise due to financial difficulties in July 2019.[5][6]

By 2016 Southampton FC, under new ownership, saw the need for a competitive senior women's team as the profile of women's football in the UK grew. With the club's Regional Talent Centre, a Southampton Under-16 team was formed,[7] and an Under-21 side in May 2017.[8] In March 2018, Southampton unsuccessfully applied to enter the FA Women's Championship (Tier 2).[9][10]

In July 2018, the club appointed former England international Marieanne Spacey-Cale as head of Women's and Girls' Football.[11] Spacey-Cale has 91 senior England caps. In June 2018, the senior team was listed for the following season's Southern Region Women's Football League First Division South.[12]

In the 2018–19 season, the club in fact played in the Southern Region Premier Division, and won the title with a perfect record of 18 wins,[13] earning promotion to the FA Women's National League Division One. They also beat Oxford City Women in the League Cup, achieving a domestic Double.[14]