Burnley F.C. Women
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| Full name | Burnley Football Club Women | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Clarettes | ||
| Founded | 1995 | ||
| Ground | County Ground, Leyland, Lancashire | ||
| Capacity | 2,300 | ||
| Manager | Vacant | ||
| League | FA Women's National League North | ||
| 2023–24 | FA Women's National League North, 2nd of 12 | ||
| Website | https://burnleyfcwomen.com | ||
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Burnley FC Women is an English women's football club from Burnley, Lancashire, affiliated with Burnley Football Club. From its inception in 1995 until 2018 it was known as Burnley FC Girls and Ladies. The team is currently a member of the FA Women's National League North.
History
Burnley FC Girls & Ladies was founded in 1995 by John Lister, just too late for hometown girl and former England international goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis to join as a child.[1] The club initially consisted of 15 ladies, who trained in the old sports barn at Turf Moor and played their home games at the club's training facility at Gawthorpe.[2] Following the demise of the Lancashire League, the team joined the North West Women's Regional League.[3]
The club established a junior set-up from the outset. An Under 10s side was formed by Grahame Meeks and Peter Cooper shortly after the first-team was founded.[2] The youth set-up was grassroots for many years, to encourage players of all ages and abilities to take-up football, including England youth international Naomi Hartley.[4]
At the end of the 2016–17 season, the management and operation of the club was transferred to Burnley FC in the Community. The following season, in the 2017–18 FA Women's Cup, the team won three preliminary round games to qualify for the first round proper for the first time in their history. Burnley reached the third round, where they were eliminated by third-tier side Cardiff City.[5] Burnley were promoted to the FA Women's National League Division One North at the end of the same season. In 2018, the club was rebranded as Burnley FC Women, and for the first time players of all ages were required to negotiate trials to represent the club. In the 2018–19 season, the team won the league title and were promoted to the FA Women's National League North, the third tier in English women's football.
In February 2021, it was announced that the women's team would be integrated into Burnley F.C., as the club's new American owner Alan Pace sought to turn the women's team professional.[6] In December, the club announced that first team manager Matt Bee would be leaving "as Burnley FC Women continue transitioning to a more professional level."[7]
Players
First-team squad
- As of 24 September 2022[8]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Manager: Vacant
Former players
Honours
- Division One North
Winners (1): 2018–19
North West Women's Regional Football League
- Premier Division
Winners (1): 2017–18
- Division Two
Winners (1): 2004–05
- Division Three
Winners (1): 2003–04
References
- ^ Geldard, Suzanne (8 September 2014). "England International Rachel Brown-Finnis wants to see the Burnley girls on the up". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ a b Milne-Redhead, Tim. "Club History". Burnley FC Girls & Ladies. Pitchero. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ "North West Womens Regional League". Full-Time League Administration. The Football Association. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ Tinniswood, Steve (21 October 2014). "Brunshaw girl Naomi delighted as Manchester United sign her up". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
- ^ "Women's FA Cup: Cardiff & TNS make fourth round". BBC Sport. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Burnley women's team amalgamated into club, aim to turn professional". Sky Sports. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Bee Departs as Women's Manager". Burnley F.C. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ "Women". Burnley F.C. Retrieved 17 October 2021.