2020–21 Leicester City W.F.C. season

Leicester City
2020–21 season
Head Coach	Jonathan Morgan
Stadium	Farley Way Stadium, Quorn
	← 2019–20

The 2020–21 Leicester City W.F.C. season is the club's 17th season and their third in the FA Women's Championship, the second level of the women's football pyramid. Outside of the league, the club will also contest two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

It is their first under the official ownership of Leicester City F.C. parent group, King Power, having previously been an independent club with a formal affiliation to the Foxes.^[1]^[2] The takeover was confirmed on 22 August 2020 with the club immediately becoming fully-professional in the process.^[3] On 22 December 2020, the club announced the women's team would move in to the Belvoir Drive training ground before the end of the year after the men's team vacated the facility and relocated to a newly-constructed complex in Seagrave.^[4]

Squad

As of 22 January 2021.

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	FW	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

FA Women's Championship

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
13	10	2	1	36	15	+21	32	5	1	0	13	4	+9	5	1	1	23	11	+12

Last updated: 17 January 2021.
Source: FA WSL

Results

6 September 2020 1	Leicester City	3–0	Blackburn Rovers	Quorn
14:00	Devlin 17' Flint 70', 82' Barker 78'	Report	Jordan 5' 57'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Cristiana Hattersley

13 September 2020 2	Sheffield United	2–2	Leicester City	Chesterfield
14:00	Johnson 30', 66' Wilson 75'	Report	Farrow 2' Flint 37', 90' (pen.)	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

4 October 2020 3	Leicester City	2–2	Durham	Quorn
14:00	Devlin 45' Allen 51' Littlejohn 80' Paul 90'	Report	Roberts 20' Lambert 30' Hepple 67'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

11 October 2020 4	Leicester City	2–1	Liverpool	Quorn
14:00	Devlin 21' Bailey-Gayle 23' Paul 56' Blanchard 90+8'	Report	Clarke 58' Linnett 63' Fahey 90'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy-Ann Briggs

18 October 2020 5	Crystal Palace	1–4	Leicester City	Bromley
14:00	Khassal 4' Taylor 42'	Report	Allen 45', 76' Flint 45+2' Paul 60' Cataldo 76'	Stadium: Hayes Lane Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

1 November 2020 6	London City Lionesses	4–1	Leicester City	Dartford
14:00	Primus 27', 50' Agg 69' Mason 81'	Report	Bailey-Gayle 23'	Stadium: Princes Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Aaron Farmer

8 November 2020 7	Leicester City	1–0	Lewes	Quorn
14:00	Blanchard 9' Bailey-Gayle 30'	Report	Quayle 57'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Chloe-Ann Anderson

15 November 2020 8	Coventry United	1–9	Leicester City	Coventry
14:00	Gauntlett 3'	Report	Paul 11', 17' Flint 20', 38' Bailey-Gayle 48' Allen 58' Barker 64' Littlejohn 70' Farrow 88'	Stadium: Butts Park Arena Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Briggs

6 December 2020 9	Leicester City	3–0	London Bees	Quorn
14:00	Flint 8' Tierney 9' Bailey-Gayle 56' Farrow 71'	Report	Estcourt 32'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Elizabeth Simms

13 December 2020 10	Charlton Athletic	0–2	Leicester City	Crayford
14:00	Rutherford 33' 34'	Report	Flint 39' Allen 78'	Stadium: The Oakwood

20 December 2020 11	Blackburn Rovers	2–3	Leicester City	Bamber Bridge
14:00	Walters 54', 74'	Report	Flint 18', 59' McDonald 24' (o.g.) Devlin 90+2'	Stadium: Irongate Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Declan Brown

10 January 2021 12	Leicester City	2–1	Sheffield United	Quorn
14:00	Plumptre 22' Flint 80'	Report	Cusack 21' Wilkinson 76' Dixon 88'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

17 January 2021 13	Liverpool	1–2	Leicester City	Birkenhead
14:00	Bo Kearns 10' Babajide 30' Lawley 47'	Report	Flint 43' (pen.) Devlin 71', 81'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Chloe Ann-Anderson

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Leicester City (C, P)	20	16	2	2	54	16	+38	50	Promotion to the WSL^[a]
2	Durham	20	12	6	2	34	15	+19	42
3	Liverpool	20	11	6	3	37	15	+22	39
4	Sheffield United	20	11	5	4	37	15	+22	38
5	Lewes	20	8	4	8	19	22	−3	28

Source: FA WSL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:

^ Dependent on obtaining a licence.

Women's FA Cup

As a member of the top two tiers, Leicester City will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper. Originally scheduled to take place on 31 January 2021, it was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.^[5]^[6]

TBD Fourth round

v

FA Women's League Cup

Group stage

4 November 2020 Group stage	Leicester City	5–2	Blackburn Rovers	Quorn
19:45	Flint 5', 32' Farrow 44' Devlin 78' Bailey-Gayle 81' McDonald 90+4' (o.g.)	Report	Hughes 51' Newsham 57'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Georgia Ball

9 December 2020 Group stage	Birmingham City	0–0 (5–6 p)	Leicester City	Solihull
14:00		Report	Barker 35'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Sarah Garratt
	Penalties
	Murray Walker Hampton Brougham Corsie Scofield		Allen Devlin Smith Plumptre Blanchard Everett
Note: Rescheduled from 18 November 2020 following positive COVID-19 test by Birmingham player.^[7]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	LEI	BIR	BLB
1	Leicester City	2	1	1	0	0	5	2	+3	5	Advanced to knock-out stage	—	—	5–2
2	Birmingham City	2	1	0	1	0	1	0	+1	4	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking	0–0	—	—
3	Blackburn Rovers	2	0	0	0	2	2	6	−4	0		—	0–1	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

Knockout stage

For the first time in club history, Leicester City reached the knockout stage of the League Cup.^[8]

14 January 2021 Quarter-final	Crystal Palace	0–1	Leicester City	Bromley
20:00		Report	Flint 89'	Stadium: Hayes Lane Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

3 February 2021 Semi-final	Bristol City	1–0	Leicester City	Bath
19:30	Skeels 72'	Report	Barker 35' Smith 65'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Rebecca Welch

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 3 February 2021

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		League		FA Cup		League Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	Demi Lambourne	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	DF	ENG	Grace Riglar	1	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0
3	DF	ENG	Samantha Tierney	16	0	11+1	0	0	0	4	0
4	MF	ENG	Aimee Everett	8	0	2+5	0	0	0	0+1	0
5	DF	ENG	Holly Morgan	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
6	DF	ENG	Lia Cataldo	7	0	0+5	0	0	0	2	0
7	MF	ENG	Charlie Devlin	16	3	10+2	2	0	0	2+2	1
8	MF	ENG	Remi Allen	16	5	13	5	0	0	3	0
9	FW	ENG	Libby Smith	13	0	9+1	0	0	0	3	0
11	FW	ENG	Lachante Paul	15	5	8+3	5	0	0	3+1	0
14	FW	NED	Esmee de Graaf	16	0	11+1	0	0	0	4	0
15	DF	SCO	Sophie Howard	10	0	8+1	0	0	0	1	0
16	MF	ENG	Freya Thomas	5	0	0+3	0	0	0	2	0
17	FW	ENG	Paige Bailey-Gayle	16	6	13	5	0	0	2+1	1
18	DF	ENG	Sophie Barker	15	1	12	1	0	0	3	0
19	FW	ENG	Millie Farrow	15	3	4+8	3	0	0	1+2	0
20	FW	ENG	Natasha Flint	17	15	11+2	12	0	0	4	3
21	FW	ENG	Hannah Cain	4	0	1+1	0	0	0	0+2	0
22	DF	ENG	Ashleigh Plumptre	16	1	11+1	1	0	0	4	0
23	FW	ENG	Olivia Fergusson	6	0	1+4	0	0	0	1	0
28	GK	ENG	Kirstie Levell	17	0	13	0	0	0	4	0
48	GK	ENG	Sophie Harris	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Charlotte Fleming	1	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0
	MF	ENG	Shannon O'Brien	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Players who appeared for the club but left during the season:
10	FW	ENG	Annabel Blanchard	8	0	2+4	0	0	0	1+1	0
24	MF	IRL	Ruesha Littlejohn	7	1	1+5	1	0	0	0+1	0

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Name	From	Ref.
22 August 2020	GK	Kirstie Levell	Everton	^[9]
	DF	Sophie Barker	Sheffield United
	DF	Sophie Howard	Reading
	DF	Samantha Tierney	Sheffield United
	MF	Remi Allen	Reading
	MF	Ruesha Littlejohn	West Ham United
	FW	Hannah Cain	Everton
	FW	Esmee de Graaf	West Ham United
	FW	Millie Farrow	Reading
	FW	Olivia Fergusson	Sheffield United
	FW	Natasha Flint	Blackburn Rovers
7 January 2021	GK	Sophie Harris	Watford	^[10]
21 January 2021	MF	Charlotte Fleming	Chelsea	^[11]
22 January 2021	MF	Shannon O'Brien	Coventry United	^[12]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Name	To	Ref.
3 June 2020	MF	Annie Taylor	Long Eaton United	^[13]
18 June 2020	DF	Lucy Johnson	Arizona State Sun Devils	^[14]
23 July 2020	DF	Georgia Popple	Coventry United	^[15]
8 August 2020	DF	Natalie Johnson	Sheffield United	^[16]
21 August 2020	DF	Rachel Brown	Nottingham Forest	^[17]
22 August 2020	DF	Hayley James	Nottingham Forest	^[18]
22 August 2020	DF	Anneka Nuttall
16 January 2021	MF	Ruesha Littlejohn	Birmingham City	^[19]
21 January 2021	FW	Annabel Blanchard	Blackburn Rovers	^[20]

References

^ "Leicester City Launches LCFC Women As The Club Commits To The Women's Game". www.lcfc.com.
^ "Leicester City take control of Leicester City Women". BBC Sport. 22 August 2020.
^ "Leicester acquire Leicester City Women and make side fully professional". Sky Sports.
^ "Leicester City Make Historic Move To New Seagrave Training Ground". www.lcfc.com.
^ "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.
^ "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.
^ "Club Statement: Player tests positive for COVID-19". Birmingham City Football Club.
^ "Crystal Palace Test For LCFC Women In League Cup Quarter-Finals". www.lcfc.com.
^ "LCFC Women: Meet The 2020/21 Squad". www.lcfc.com. 22 August 2020.
^ "Goalkeeper Sophie Harris Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.
^ "Charlotte Fleming Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.
^ "Shannon O'Brien Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.
^ "Annie Taylor signs for Long Eaton United". Long Eaton United.
^ "Sun Devils Announce Five Additions to 2020 Roster". pac-12.com.
^ Hadley, Craig (23 July 2020). "Foxes defender Georgia Popple joins Coventry United". Midland Women's Soccer.
^ "Nat Johnson signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Brown becomes a Red". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk.
^ "Forest complete James signing". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk.
^ "Ruesha Littlejohn Signs". Birmingham City Football Club.
^ "Blanchard becomes a blue". www.rovers.co.uk.

[table_note_res_CL0.61531879455564-5] Dependent on obtaining a licence.

[1] "Leicester City Launches LCFC Women As The Club Commits To The Women's Game". www.lcfc.com.

[2] "Leicester City take control of Leicester City Women". BBC Sport. 22 August 2020.

[3] "Leicester acquire Leicester City Women and make side fully professional". Sky Sports.

[4] "Leicester City Make Historic Move To New Seagrave Training Ground". www.lcfc.com.

[6] "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.

[7] "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.

[8] "Club Statement: Player tests positive for COVID-19". Birmingham City Football Club.

[9] "Crystal Palace Test For LCFC Women In League Cup Quarter-Finals". www.lcfc.com.

[10] "LCFC Women: Meet The 2020/21 Squad". www.lcfc.com. 22 August 2020.

[11] "Goalkeeper Sophie Harris Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.

[12] "Charlotte Fleming Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.

[13] "Shannon O'Brien Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.

[14] "Annie Taylor signs for Long Eaton United". Long Eaton United.

[15] "Sun Devils Announce Five Additions to 2020 Roster". pac-12.com.

[16] Hadley, Craig (23 July 2020). "Foxes defender Georgia Popple joins Coventry United". Midland Women's Soccer.

[17] "Nat Johnson signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[18] "Brown becomes a Red". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk.

[19] "Forest complete James signing". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk.

[20] "Ruesha Littlejohn Signs". Birmingham City Football Club.

[21] "Blanchard becomes a blue". www.rovers.co.uk.

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