Southampton F.C. Women

Southampton F.C. Women are an English women's football club based in Southampton who play in the FA Women's National League (Division One South West; Tier 4 of the English Women's national league system). They are sponsored by Virgin Media and affiliated with Southampton F.C. who play in the Premier League.

This article is about the women's football club. For the men's football club, see Southampton F.C. For the similarly-named Southampton women's football club (founded 1970), see Southampton Women's FC. For the women's football club (1979) previously affiliated to Southampton F.C., see Southampton Saints Girls & Ladies F.C.
Southampton
Full nameSouthampton Football Club Women
Nickname(s)The Saints
Founded2016
GroundTestwood Park, Totton
Capacity3,000
OwnerLander Sports Investment
ChairmanGao Jisheng
ManagerMarieanne Spacey-Cale, MBE
LeagueFA Women's National League Division One (Tier 4)
WebsiteClub website

History

Origins

Several women's football teams associated or affiliated to Southampton F.C. have played in at least the last 50 years. In 1970, Southampton Women's FC was formed by female fans of the men's team. A consistently active team to this day, Southampton Women's FC were promoted alongside Southampton F.C. Women to the National League in May 2019 for the 2019-2020 season. Another team, Southampton Saints Girls & Ladies F.C. were also formed, in 1979 (initially as Red Star FC). Saints Girls & Ladies were founder members of the FA Women's Premier League in 1991, and absorbed by Southampton FC in 2001. Later in 2005, with the club in financial difficulties and men's senior side relegated from the Premier League after 27 years of top-flight football, Southampton F.C. withdrew support for the female side. Southampton Saints Girls & Ladies continued without major club support for another 14 years, before announcing their demise due to financial difficulties in July 2019[1][2]

Revival

By 2016 Southampton FC, under new ownership, had realised the need for a competitive senior women's team as the profile of women's football in the UK grew. A senior women's team formally affiliated to Southampton F.C. was formed. In May 2017 an Under-21 side was formed[3]. In March 2018, Southampton unsuccessfully applied to enter the FA Women's Championship (Tier 2)[4]. The club intend to reapply[5]. In May 2018 the club was promoted from the Southern Region Women's Football League Division One as champions.

In July 2018, the club appointed former senior England international Marieanne Spacey-Cale, MBE as Head of Women's And Girls' Football[6]. Spacey-Cale has 91 senior England caps.

In May 2019 the club won the Southern Region Women's Football League (Premier Division), with a perfect win of 18 wins[7], their second successive league title, earning promotion to the FA Women's National League (Division One). They also beat Oxford City Women in the League Cup, achieving a domestic Double [8].

Squad
As of 12 January 2020[9][10]

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

No. Position Player
1 GK Kayla Rendell
2 DF Ella Morris
3 DF Shelly Provan
4 MF Kirsty Whitton
5 DF Rosanna Parnell
6 DF Kelly-Marie Fripp
7 MF Georgie Freeland
8 MF Phoebe Williams
9 FW Ella Pusey
10 MF Shannon Sievwright
11 MF Ellie Chaffe
12 FW Sophia Pharoah
13 GK Sara Luce
14 DF Kelly Snook
15 DF Tash Angel
16 DF Caitlin Morris
17 MF Alisha Ware
18 FW Chloe Newton
No. Position Player
19 FW Rachel Panting
20 DF Sam Burt
21 MF Rachel Woods
22 DF Charley Evans
23 FW Chloe Gilroy
24 FW Shannon Albuery
25 DF Emma Godden
26 MF Harriet Eastham
27 MF Kitty Cleeve
28 GK Grace Jenman
29 DF Jess Tanner
DF Chloe Podger
DF Rachel Richards
MF Sophie Lee
MF Rebecca Quinn
MF Laura Da Silva
MF Emma Whitlock
FW Georgie Lowe

    Youth Development

    Southampton F.C. are well-known for their youth development and scouting programmes[11]. The club run a female-specific development programme, spanning talent clubs, summer camps, and the FA-approved Premier League Girls' Football Programme. In May 2017 the club announced the formation of a dedicated U-21 women's squad to complement their coaching programme and provide a feeder route into the women's first team[3].

    Honours

    League
    Southern Region Women's Football League Premier Division
    • Champions (2018-2019)[7]
    Southern Region Women's Football League First Division
    • Champions (2017-2018)

    Cup
    League Cup
    • Champions (2018-2019)

    Doubles
    Double
    • Southern League Women's Premier Division: Champions (2018-2019) / League Cup: 2018-2019

    References
    1. Garry, Tom (4 January 2020). "Women's FA Cup third round: Southampton's eight-time winners among sides bidding to join WSL giants". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
    2. "Southampton Saints Girls & Ladies FC". en-gb.facebook.com.
    3. "Saints announce new under-21 women's team". Southampton FC.
    4. "Southampton apply to join Women's Championship". March 23, 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
    5. "Southampton: Saints' application for Women's Championship team denied". May 28, 2018.
    6. "Saints appoint Marieanne Spacey-Cale MBE". Southampton FC.
    7. "Southern Region Women's Football League". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
    8. "Saints complete domestic double!". Southampton FC.
    9. "First team". Southampton F.C.
    10. "Squad numbers confirmed for 2019/20". Southampton F.C. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
    11. "Southampton continue to invest in youth after Gao Jisheng's reshuffle | Football | The Guardian".
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