Liverpool F.C. Women

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Liverpool FC Women
Full nameLiverpool Football Club Women
Nickname(s)The Reds' Ladies
Founded1989; 33 years ago (1989), as Newton Ladies F.C.
GroundPrenton Park
Capacity16,587
OwnerFenway Sports Group
CEOBilly Hogan
ManagerMatt Beard
LeagueFA Women's Championship
2020–21FA Women's Championship, 3rd of 12
WebsiteClub website

Liverpool Football Club Women is an English women's football club, founded in 1989 as Newton LFC and subsequently renamed Knowsley United WFC and Liverpool Ladies. A founding member of the top-tier FA Women's Super League, Liverpool currently play in the second-tier FA Women's Championship after being relegated in 2020.[1]

Liverpool became the first English women's football club to offer all players full-time professional contracts prior to the 2013 FA WSL season.[2] This decision pioneered the professionalisation of women's football in England and led to Liverpool's first FA WSL title in 2013;[3] they then retained the title in 2014.[4]

History[]

The club was founded in 1989 as Newton LFC by former England international Liz Deighan. It changed its name to Knowsley United WFC two years later; becoming founder members of the National Premier Division organised by the WFA.[5] Knowsley United reached the final of the Premier League Cup in 1993, but were beaten by Arsenal at Wembley.[6] The local MP, Eddie O'Hara, tabled an Early Day Motion congratulating the club on extending the annual sequence of Merseyside clubs playing in Cup finals at Wembley.[7] In 1994 the club reached the final of the FA Women's Cup, losing 1–0 to Doncaster Belles at Glanford Park.[8]

In summer 1994 the club linked with Liverpool F.C. and took on the name Liverpool Ladies F.C.[9][10]

The club were also FA Women's Cup runners-up in the following two seasons. They lost the 1995 final 3–2 to Arsenal at Prenton Park after twice being ahead through Karen Burke goals, only for Marieanne Spacey to score a late winner.[11] In 1996 Liverpool and their 15-year-old goalkeeper Rachel Brown drew 1–1 with Croydon at The Den, but ultimately lost on penalties after extra time.[12]

For most of the 1990s Liverpool were National Premier League mainstays but a lack of support and investment saw them relegated to the Northern Division in 2001. In 2004 they won the Northern Division and earned promotion, but did not stay long as they were relegated again at the end of the season, having won only two games.

As in the men's game, their biggest rivalry is with Everton, but their recent spells in the second tier have led them to develop rivalry with counterparts of lower-level male rivals, such as Tranmere Rovers and Lincoln Ladies. The Merseyside derby was rekindled in the 2007–08 season, after Liverpool won back promotion as 2006–07 Northern Division champions.[13]

Surviving their first season back in the FA Women's Premier League National Division, finishing third bottom, they sacked manager David Bradley at the end of the season.[14] The club were relegated into the Northern Division for 2009–10, but won the league losing just one game all season. Liverpool also won the FA Fair Play Award after playing for the whole season without having a single player booked or sent-off.[15][16]

Liverpool was one of eight founding teams in the FA WSL in April 2011.[17]

In June 2012, the manager for four seasons Robbie Johnson stepped down from his position. Under Johnson, the team won just two of their 20 games in his last two seasons in charge, having finished bottom in 2011, and with a similar record in 2012.[18] Johnson's assistant Andy Williams was subsequently promoted to the manager's role.[19]

2013 FA WSL-winning team

In August 2012 Matt Beard, who had left Chelsea the previous month, was appointed manager on a full-time contract until 2014.[20] When the club finished bottom of the WSL for the second successive season, Beard overhauled his squad by releasing ten players and making high-profile signings including United States national team defender Whitney Engen.[21] The club then announced a move from the West Lancashire College Stadium in Skelmersdale, to the Halton Stadium in Widnes for 2013.[22] On 29 September 2013 Liverpool Ladies clinched their first Women's Super League title by beating Bristol in the end-of-season decider ending Arsenal's nine-year dominance of women's football in England.[3] They retained the title on 12 October 2014 by beating Bristol 3–0 despite entering the final day in third behind Chelsea and Birmingham City.[4]

In September 2015 it was announced that Matt Beard was leaving the club at the conclusion of the 2015 season to take charge of Boston Breakers in the United States.[23] Liverpool had a difficult season, plagued by players' injuries and managing a 7th-place finish in the FA WSL, semifinals of the FA WSL Cup, fifth round of the FA Women's Cup and round of 32 of the Women's Champions League.[24][25] In October 2015, Scott Rogers who was Matt Beard's assistant coach, was officially appointed as manager.[26]

On 19 April 2017, the club announced a landmark shirt sponsorship deal with beauty and cosmetics company Avon Products.[27] This three-year agreement will see Avon become the first independent shirt sponsor for the club, replacing Standard Chartered from the men's side. As part of the agreement, Avon will also become Liverpool Ladies FC's principal partner and ladies beauty partner.

In July 2018, the club rebranded as Liverpool Football Club Women.[28]

Liverpool were relegated from the FA WSL following the 2019–20 FA WSL season being decided on a points per game basis.[1]

They finished 3rd in the Championship in their first season after a 1–1 draw at home to Blackburn Rovers ended their promotion hopes.

Players[]

Liverpool team in September 2019 prior to a match against Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women

Current squad[]

As of 29 August 2021[29][30]

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 Rachael Laws
2 DF England ENG Charlotte Wardlaw (on loan from Chelsea)
3 DF England ENG Leighanne Robe
4 MF Wales WAL Rhiannon Roberts
5 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Niamh Fahey (captain)
6 DF England ENG Jasmine Matthews
7 MF England ENG Missy Bo Kearns
8 MF Jamaica JAM Jade Bailey
9 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Leanne Kiernan
10 MF Northern Ireland NIR Rachel Furness
11 FW England ENG Melissa Lawley
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 DF England ENG Taylor Hinds
13 GK Canada CAN Rylee Foster
14 FW England ENG Ashley Hodson
15 DF New Zealand NZL Meikayla Moore
17 MF England ENG Carla Humphrey
18 MF Wales WAL Ceri Holland
19 FW England ENG Rianna Dean
20 FW Belgium BEL Yana Daniels
24 FW United States USA Katie Stengel
27 GK England ENG Charlotte Clarke
28 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Megan Campbell

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
— {{{pos}}}   {{{name}}}

Former players[]

For details of current and former players, see Category:Liverpool F.C. Women players.

Players' Player of the Year[]

Awarded at the Liverpool FC end-of-season Players' Awards Dinner.

Season Name Nationality Position Ref
2013 Nicole Rolser  Germany Midfielder [31]
2014 Fara Williams  England Midfielder [32]
2015 Martha Harris  England Defender [33]
2016 Sophie Ingle  Wales Midfielder [34]
2017[35] Sophie Ingle  Wales Midfielder [36]
2017–18 Sophie Ingle  Wales Midfielder [37]
2018–19 Sophie Bradley-Auckland  England Defender [38]

Staff[]

Position Staff
Manager Matt Beard
Assistant Manager
Goalkeeping coach Joe Potts
Analyst Jordan Kevan
Physiotherapist Hina Chauhan
Physical performance coach David Robshaw
Club doctor Dr Francesca Champ

Last updated: 12 January 2021
Source: https://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/women

Managerial history[]

Dates Name Notes Ref
1989–1993 Elizabeth "Liz" Deighan [39][40]
1993–95 Angie Gallimore Player-manager [39][40]
1996–97 Paul Ashley
1997–2001 Barbara Nodwell [41][42]
2001 Craig Boyd [42]
2001–05 John Williams [43][44]
2005–07 Keith Cliffe [44][45]
2007–08 David Bradley [46][47]
2008–2012 Robbie Johnson [48][18]
2012–15 Matt Beard [20][23]
2015–18 Scott Rogers [26][49]
2018 Neil Redfearn [50]
2018 Chris Kirkland Caretaker [51]
2018–2021 Vicky Jepson [52]
2021 Caretaker [53]
2021– Matt Beard [54]

Honours[]

Leagues[]

Celebrating the 2013 FA WSL win

Cups[]

Recognitions[]

UEFA Champions League record[]

Main article: English women's football clubs in international competitions § Liverpool
Season Competition Stage Home Away Opponent
2014–15 Champions League Round of 32 2–1 0–3 Sweden Linköpings FC
2015–16 Champions League Round of 32 0–1 0–1 Italy ACF Brescia

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Liverpool FC statement on Women's Super League decision". Liverpool FC. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  2. ^ Kessel, Anna (13 April 2013). "Full-time Liverpool aiming to shake up Women's Super League". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Women's Super League: Liverpool beat Bristol to win title". BBC Sport. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  4. ^ a b Leighton, Tony (12 October 2014). "Liverpool Ladies pip Chelsea to WSL title on dramatic final day". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  5. ^ "1991–1992". The Owl Football Historian. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  6. ^ Henry Winter (28 August 1993). "Football diary: Music for penalty arias". The Independent. London. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  7. ^ O'Hara, Edward (19 May 1993). "KNOWSLEY UNITED WOMEN'S FOOTBALL XI". London: Parliament.uk. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  8. ^ Rudd, Alyson (25 April 1994). "Football: Belles bring class to bear: Doncaster dominate women's FA Cup final". The Independent. London. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  9. ^ Andrew Drake. "Defunct & Disappeared". The Owl Football Historian. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  10. ^ Durkan, Joanna (14 November 2019). "How Liverpool FC Women are set to follow in historic footsteps at Anfield". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Spacey the difference for Arsenal". The Independent. London. 1 May 1995. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  12. ^ Forde, Sarah (29 April 1996). "Croydon spot chance for first cup victory". The Times. London. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  13. ^ Pfister, Gertrud; Pope, Stacey (19 February 2018). Female Football Players and Fans: Intruding into a Man's World. Springer. ISBN 978-1-137-59025-1.
  14. ^ "Ladies sack boss Bradley". Liverpoolfc.tv. 20 May 2008. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  15. ^ "Key figures honoured at Women's awards". TheFA.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  16. ^ "FA Woman's Football Awards". She Kicks. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  17. ^ "Lincoln Ladies FA Women's Super League bid success". BBC. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  18. ^ a b "Ladies manager steps down". Liverpool F.C. 29 June 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  19. ^ "Andy Williams era starts with defeat for Liverpool FC Ladies". Liverpool Echo. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  20. ^ a b Garrity, Paul (6 August 2012). "Liverpool Ladies appoint Matt Beard as new manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  21. ^ "Ladies release 10 players". Liverpool Ladies FC. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  22. ^ "Ladies confirm stadium move". Liverpool FC. 17 January 2013. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  23. ^ a b "Beard set to leave Liverpool Ladies to join Boston Breakers". Liverpool Ladies FC. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Beard's final column: A night of emotion ahead". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Ladies suffer FA Cup elimination". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  26. ^ a b "Liverpool Ladies appoint Scott Rogers as manager". Liverpool Ladies FC. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  27. ^ "Liverpool Ladies FC announce first shirt sponsorship deal". Liverpool FC. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  28. ^ "Liverpool FC Women: A new era begins". Liverpool F.C. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  29. ^ "LIVERPOOL FC WOMEN". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  30. ^ Kelly, Andy (5 August 2019). "Niamh Fahey appointed vice-captain of Liverpool FC Women". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  31. ^ "Suarez bags treble at awards dinner". Liverpool FC.
  32. ^ "Phil wins four prizes at Players' Awards". Liverpool FC.
  33. ^ "Quartet of accolades for Philippe Coutinho at LFC Players' Awards". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  34. ^ "Reds enjoy annual Player of the Year awards at Anfield". Liverpool L.F.C. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  35. ^ FA WSL Spring Series
  36. ^ Shaw, Chris (9 May 2017). "Sadio Mane takes top prizes at LFC Players' Awards". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  37. ^ Shaw, Chris (10 May 2018). "Mohamed Salah takes top prizes at LFC Players' Awards". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  38. ^ "