Liverpool F.C. Women

Liverpool Football Club Women is an English women's football club. 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]

This article is about the women's football club. For the affiliated men's football club, see Liverpool F.C. For other uses, see Liverpool F.C. (disambiguation).

Liverpool Women
Full nameLiverpool Football Club Women
Nickname(s)The Reds
Founded1989 (1989), as Newton Ladies F.C.
GroundPrenton Park
Capacity16,587
CEOPeter Moore
ManagerVicky Jepson
LeagueFA Women's Championship
2019–20FA WSL, 12th of 12 (relegated)
WebsiteClub website

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

Managerial history
Dates Name Notes Ref
1989–1993 Elizabeth "Liz" Deighan [29][30]
1993–95 Angie Gallimore Player-manager [29][30]
1995–97 ?
1997–2001 Barbara Nodwell [31][32]
2001 Craig Boyd [32]
2001–05 John Williams [33][34]
2005–07 Keith Cliffe [34][35]
2007–08 David Bradley [36][37]
2008–2012 Robbie Johnson [38][18]
2012–15 Matt Beard [20][23]
2015–18 Scott Rogers [26][39]
2018 Neil Redfearn [40]
2018 Chris Kirkland Caretaker [41]
2018– Vicky Jepson [42]

Former players

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

Players and staff

Current squad
Liverpool team in September 2019 prior to a match against Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women
As of 19 June 2020.[43][44]

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

No. Position Player
3 DF Leighanne Robe
4 MF Rhiannon Roberts
5 DF Niamh Fahey (vice-captain)
6 DF Sophie Bradley-Auckland (captain)
7 FW Jessica Clarke
8 MF Jade Bailey
11 MF Melissa Lawley
13 GK Rylee Foster
No. Position Player
14 MF Ashley Hodson
19 MF Amy Rodgers
20 FW Rinsola Babajide
21 MF Missy Bo Kearns
22 DF Becky Jane
23 DF Jemma Purfield
24 FW Kirsty Linnett
27 MF Rachel Furness

Coaching staff
Position Staff
Manager Vicky Jepson
First team coach Emma Humphries
Goalkeeping coach Jen Herst
Analyst Jordan Kevan
Physiotherapist Hina Chauhan
Physical performance coach David Robshaw
Club doctor Phil Clelland

Last updated: 5 May 2020
Source: https://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/women

Honours
Celebrating the 2013 FA WSL win

Players' Player of the Year

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

Season Name Nationality Position Ref
2013 Nicole Rolser GermanyMidfielder[45]
2014 Fara Williams EnglandMidfielder[46]
2015 Martha Harris EnglandDefender[47]
2016 Sophie Ingle WalesMidfielder[48]
2017[49] Sophie Ingle WalesMidfielder[50]
2017–18 Sophie Ingle WalesMidfielder[51]
2018–19 Sophie Bradley-Auckland EnglandDefender[52]

UEFA Champions League record
SeasonCompetitionStageHomeAwayOpponent
2014–15Champions LeagueRound of 322–10–3 Linköpings FC
2015–16Champions LeagueRound of 320–10–1 ACF Brescia

References
  1. "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. "Women's Super League: Liverpool beat Bristol to win title". BBC Sport. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  4. 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". London: The Independent. 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". London: The Independent. 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.
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  11. "Spacey the difference for Arsenal". London: The Independent. 1 May 1995. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  12. Forde, Sarah (29 April 1996). "Croydon spot chance for first cup victory". London: The Times. 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.
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  49. FA WSL Spring Series
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  52. "🙌 Players' Player of the Year 🙌 An ever-present, @sophiebradley2 has led by example throughout her maiden campaign with the Reds! 💪". Twitter. Liverpool F.C. Women. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
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