Durham W.F.C.
| Full name | Durham Women Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Wildcats | ||
| Founded | 2013 | ||
| Ground | New Ferens Park, Durham | ||
| Capacity | 3,000 | ||
| General Manager | Lee Sanders | ||
| Manager | Andy Thorpe | ||
| League | FA Women's Championship | ||
| 2017–18 | FA WSL 2, 4th of 10 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Durham Women F.C. is a women's football club based in Durham, North East England. They play their home games at New Ferens Park, Belmont. The team was founded in 2013 as a collaboration between South Durham, Cestria Girls and Durham University.[1] Durham compete in the FA Women's Championship, the second tier of Women's football in England,[2] having been awarded a licence for its inaugural season. As of 2017-18, it is the only club in the WSL without a men's counterpart.
Following a series of friendly matches, Durham competed in their first competitive games in the 2013–14 FA Women's Cup, reaching the fifth round,[3] with their first league game held on 17 April 2014 against local rivals Sunderland.
Despite a difficult start to the 2014 season, the Wildcats, finished 6th, winning five, drawing three and losing ten, of their eighteen games. The Wildcats, picked up their first league victory away to London Bees with a 1-0 win at The Hive Stadium.
2015 saw a much improved season for the Wildcats, including a better points total, albeit achieving a lower league finish, 7th place a reward for an injury-ravaged season for the Wildcats.
However 2016, saw Durham really hit their stride, with the Wildcats competing for promotion up until the final weeks of the season.
The signings of Sarah Robson, Becky Salicki and Emily Roberts amongst other proved a catalyst as the Wildcats excelled throughout 2016. A record-breaking season eventually ended in a 4th-place finish with a highest-ever points total.
They were also awarded the 'FA WSL 2 Club of the Year' award at the 2017 FA Women’s Football Awards.
The 2017/18 was the Wildcats best ever season, finishing 4th, gaining 35 points in the process and only two points from being runners-up in WSL 2.
Durham also reached their best ever FA Women's Cup run, by beating Sheffield F.C Ladies and Leicester City Ladies before losing to Everton Ladies F.C in the quarter-finals.
2018/19 started well for the Wildcats, including a Continental Cup win v Everton Ladies F.C. and a 0-0 draw away to Manchester United Women meaning the Wildcats became the first team to take a league point from the Lady Red Devils.
History
Season by season
| Season | Division | Position | FA Cup | WSL Cup | Top league scorer (goals) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | WSL 2 | 6th out of 10 | Fifth round | Group stage | Caroline Dixon (5) |
| 2015 | WSL 2 | 7th out of 10 | Third round | Group stage | Courtney Corrie (5) |
| 2016 | WSL 2 | 4th out of 10 | Fifth round | Preliminary round | Beth Hepple (11) |
| 2017A | WSL 2 | 5th out of 10 | Fourth round | N/A | |
| 2017–18 | WSL 2 | 4th out of 10 | Sixth round | Group Stage | Beth Hepple (11) |
| 2018–19 | Championship |
^A The 2017 FA WSL season was a shortened campaign, marketed as the Spring Series. Teams only played against each other once and there was no WSL Cup competition.[4]
Current squad
- As of 21 August 2018[5]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club Staff
General Manager - Lee Sanders.
Assistant Manager - Andy Thorpe
Physio - Dave Irvine.
Strength and Conditioning Coach - Dan Lonsdale.
Club Secretary - Dawn Hepple.
Marketing Officer - Mark Donnelly.
Development Team Coach - Steph Libbey.
Regional Talent Club Manager - Lee Coulter.
Regional Talent Club Technical Director - Steve Common.
References
- ↑ Clark, Steph. "Durham Women gear up for Super League bow". Northern Echo. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ "Women's Super League: North East seeks knock-on effect". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ Watson, Neil. "Sunderland Ladies relish Durham derby opener". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ "FA WSL Spring Series fixtures released". Women's Soccer Scene. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ↑ "Your 2018/19 Wildcats–confirmed". Durham Women FC. Retrieved 18 August 2018 – via Twitter.
External links
Coordinates: 54°47′19.6008″N 1°32′31.7394″W / 54.788778000°N 1.542149833°W