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Leicester City W.F.C.

Coordinates: 52°44′55.831″N 1°10′49.001″W / 52.74884194°N 1.18027806°W / 52.74884194; -1.18027806
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Leicester City Women
Full nameLeicester City Women Football Club
Nickname(s)The Foxes
Founded2004
GroundKing Power Stadium, Leicester
Pirelli Stadium, Burton upon Trent
Capacity32,261,
6,912 (2,034 seated)
OwnerKing Power
ChairmanAiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha
ManagerLydia Bedford[1]
LeagueWomen's Super League
2023–24WSL, 10th of 12
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Leicester City Women Football Club is an English professional women's football club based in Quorn, Leicestershire.[2] Founded in 2004 as an independent club, Leicester City Women were acquired in 2020 by King Power,[3] the parent company of men's affiliate Leicester City FC.[4] They currently compete in the FA Women's Super League,[5][6] the first level of the English football pyramid.[7]

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.[8]

Leicester City Women also run a Reserves team and the Leicester City Women Development Centre.[9] 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.[10]

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,[11] but in March 2010 they were announced as a losing bidder for the inaugural 2011 season.[12][13]

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[14]) 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) to FA Women's Super League (Tier 1) (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.[2] The club became fully professional in the process.[15] On 4 April 2021, the club won the Women's Championship sealing promotion to the FA Women's Super League in the process.[16]

In September, former Leicester City men's and England striker Emile Heskey was appointed as an ambassador to the club.[17] In October 2021 Heskey was then given the job role of Head of women's football development at the club [18] replacing the outgoing, Russ Fraser.[19]

In November 2021 it was confirmed that then manager Jonathan Morgan had been relieved of his duties at the club and was replaced by Lydia Bedford.[20]

Stadium

Leicester City Women play at King Power Stadium;[21] Pirelli Stadium[22] is their alternative venue when scheduling clashes with the men's team prevent playing at King Power Stadium.[23]

Between 2017 and 2021, Leicester City Women played at Farley Way Stadium, home of Quorn FC. Up until 2017, they played at Riverside Pavilion in Leicester. Before moving to Riverside, Leicester City Women moved between grounds in different seasons, including Harborough Town's Bowden Park and Oadby Town's Freeway Park.

Training Facilities

In January 2021 the men's teams were relocated to a new purpose built training ground. The former Premier League team's facility at Belvoir Drive was then handed over to the women's teams[24] for full-time use. [25]

Players

Current squad

As of 20 February 2022[26]

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 England ENG Demi Lambourne
3 DF England ENG Sam Tierney
4 DF New Zealand NZL C. J. Bott
5 DF England ENG Abbie McManus
6 DF England ENG Georgia Brougham
7 FW England ENG Natasha Flint
8 MF England ENG Molly Pike
9 FW England ENG Jessica Sigsworth
10 MF England ENG Charlie Devlin
11 FW England ENG Lachante Paul
12 FW England ENG Missy Goodwin
14 DF Netherlands NED Esmee de Graaf
15 DF Scotland SCO Sophie Howard
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF England ENG Freya Gregory (on loan from Aston Villa)
17 FW Jamaica JAM Paige Bailey-Gayle
18 MF England ENG Sophie Barker (Captain)
21 FW Wales WAL Hannah Cain
22 DF Nigeria NGA Ashleigh Plumptre
23 DF England ENG Jemma Purfield
24 MF England ENG Elysia Boddy
25 DF Wales WAL Esther Morgan (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
27 MF England ENG Shannon O'Brien
28 GK England ENG Kirstie Levell
44 MF England ENG Connie Scofield
48 GK England ENG Sophie Harris

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW Scotland SCO Abbi Grant (at Glasgow City until end of 2021-22 season)
20 MF Slovenia SVN Luana Zajmi (at Blackburn Rovers until end of 2021-22 season)
No. Pos. Nation Player
29 MF England ENG Jess Camwell (at Derby County until end of 2021-22 season)

Former players

For details of current and former Players, see Category:Leicester City W.F.C. players.

Honours

League

  • FA Women's Championship
  • 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
  • Midland Combination League
    • 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 appoint Bedford as new boss". BBC Sport. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Leicester City Launches LCFC Women As The Club Commits to the Women's Game". Leicester City FC. 22 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Council to award highest honours to LCFC and current and former chairman". news.leicester.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Leicester City take control of Leicester City Women". BBC Sport. 22 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Leicester City hit by Covid as £33m losses revealed | TheBusinessDesk.com". East Midlands. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  6. ^ Wellon, Hannah (3 September 2021). "Leicester City season preview: Foxes look to make their mark in the WSL". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Leicester City Football Club & Owners To Receive Top Civic Honours". www.lcfc.com. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  8. ^ https://www.thefa.com/news/2018/may/28/womens-pyramid-restructure-katie-brazier-280518
  9. ^ https://lcwfc.com/lcwfc-announce-head-of-development-centre/
  10. ^ "History – Leicester City Ladies Football Club". www.lclfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016.
  11. ^ Leighton, Tony (30 November 2009). "OOH Lincoln declare intention to join women's Super League in 2011". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  12. ^ "Lincoln Ladies FA Women's Super League bid success". BBC. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  13. ^ Leighton, Tony (21 March 2010). "Lincoln City the surprise name in newly formed Women's Super League". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  14. ^ http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/feat/edb2/nuneaton_town_ladies_withdraw_from_wpl_892443/index.shtml
  15. ^ "Leicester acquire Leicester City Women and make side fully professional". Sky Sports.
  16. ^ "Leicester City Women promoted to WSL for first time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Emile Heskey To Become LCFC Ambassador To Support The Development Of Women's Football". Leicester City Football Club. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Leicester name Emile Heskey as Head of Women's Football Development". Her Football Hub. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  19. ^ Diamond, Drew (29 September 2021). "Liverpool to announce new managing director Russ Fraser from Leicester". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  20. ^ Wellon, Hannah (28 November 2021). "Leicester City: A look back at the success of Jonathan Morgan". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  21. ^ Fisher, Bethany (7 November 2021). "WSL: Manchester City sink Leicester in second league win". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  22. ^ Bryan, Laura (16 January 2022). "FAWSL: Leicester earn vital victory over Brighton". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  23. ^ "LCFC Women To Play Historic First WSL Season At King Power Stadium". Leicester City FC. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Exclusive: Leicester hotshot Shannon O'Brien ready to take WSL by storm". Her Football Hub. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Emile Heskey: "Working with Leicester City Women has been a blessing"". Her Football Hub. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  26. ^ "LCFC Women: Meet The 2020/21 Squad". Leicester City FC. 22 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
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