| Full name | Leeds United Women Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Whites | |||
| Founded | 1989 | |||
| Ground | Bannister Prentice Stadium,Garforth | |||
| Capacity | 3,000 (278 seated)[1] | |||
| Chair | Julie Lewis | |||
| Manager | Simon Wood | |||
| League | FA Women's National League Division One North | |||
| 2023–24 | FA Women's National League Division One North, 6th of 12 | |||
| Website | https://www.leedsunited.com/women | |||
Leeds United Women[2] are an Englishwomen's football club based inLeeds,West Yorkshire. They are currently members of theFA Women's National League Division One North.
In 1989, Leeds United Women F.C. was formed and after playing in the Yorkshire and Humberside League for seven years, the1997–98 season saw the team gain promotion to theFA Northern Premier League under the management of Mark Hodgson. In 1999–2000 season they reached the semi-finals of theFA Women's Cup Narrowly losing 2–1 to Croydon in a very close game at Ossett Albion. After consolidating and adjusting toNational League football for a couple of seasons, the team achieved promotion with a 5–0 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 7 May 2001 and were crowned champions of the Northern Premier League and gained promotion to theWomen's Premier League. Leeds finished a credible fourth in their first season in the top flight, with manager Mark Hodgson winning The FA Women's Premier Leagues 'Manager of the Year' award. The following season proved to be a tough one and Leeds finished the league in seventh place.
The2003–04 season saw a new manager,Julie Chipchase, appointed and Leeds once again finished in fourth place – the highest-placed team outsideLondon. In the2004–05 season the side finished in fifth place.
The chairman ofLeeds United A.F.C.,Ken Bates, cut the ladies' club's funding by stopping financial backing in 2005, and withdrawing the Thorp Arch training facilities in 2006. The ladies' team managed to survive using sponsorship money. They were first sponsored in a two-year deal worth over £70,000 by EmpireDirect.co.uk,[3] before receiving sponsorship fromLeeds Metropolitan University in a deal reported to be worth in excess of £250,000 over 5 years, starting in 2007.[4]
The2005–06 season saw the team accomplish one of its greatest achievements to date, playing in theFA Women's Cup final against overwhelming favouritesArsenal Ladies.[5]Leeds United legendAllan Clarke presented them with sock tags before the match, similar to those worn by the Leeds United male team in their1972 FA Cup Final victory, in a bid to give the team luck.[6] Nevertheless, the match did not turn out how the team had hoped, with Arsenal winning the game 5–0.[7]
The2006–07 season was a fluctuating one, with Leeds topping the table over theChristmas period and the team getting through to theFA Women's Premier League Cup final for a second time.[8] The opposition was againArsenal and Leeds put in a much better performance than in their previous cup final appearance, but they lost out to a last-minute strike byArsenal'sJayne Ludlow. This seemed to have a big impact, as the team didn't perform as well in the closing stages of the season and they had dropped down to fifth by the end of the season. The club won theMarketing Club of the Year award at the FA Women's Awards in May 2007 for the third consecutive year.
A change in management was made in theclose season and Rick Passmoor andLeanne Hall were appointed manager and assistant manager respectively in July 2007. The new management team made a number of new signings, includingSteph Houghton,Carly Telford,Katie Holtham, Georgie Adams,Jade Moore andCarla Ward. By March 2008 the team were lying mid-table in the Premier League but finished in third position with 40 points, belowEverton on 57 points andArsenal on 62 points.
The 2007–2008 season saw the club reach their secondFA Women's Cup final, their third cup final in as many years.Arsenal again were their opponents and the match mirrored the previousLeague Cup final. The game was 0–0 at halftime, althoughArsenal produced most of the chances in the first half and constantly forced United goalkeeperCarly Telford into some amazing saves. Action at the opposite end of the pitch was non-existent, as United strikerAmanda Barr struggled. In the second halfArsenal scored three goals in seven minutes:Smith 53,Ludlow 59 andSanderson 60. Leeds fought back with a header fromJess Clarke on 69, butArsenal sealed their season double with a final goal fromKelly Smith seven minutes from time.Carly Telford was named Player of the Match before a record crowd of 24,582 at theCity Ground.[9][10]
In the 2008close season the club's name became Leeds Carnegie Ladies.England U23 striker Carla Cantrell signed fromDoncaster Rovers Belles andEngland U19'sEllen White, also a striker, joined fromChelsea. After a poor start and with key players injured for extended periods, Leeds finished sixth in thePremier League in season 2008–09.
In January 2010 the club's future was cast into doubt when their bid to join theFA Women's Super League collapsed.[11] The following month they won the club's first major trophy, thePremier League Cup, with a 3–1 win overEverton atSpotland Stadium on 11 February 2010.[12]
In March 2013 the club were confirmed as one of 33 clubs to apply for up to 18 places available in the expanded two tier 2014 FA WSL with the outcome expected in June 2014.[13] The club has started a "Show Some Love for Leeds United Ladies" campaign stating that the future of the club could depend on the success of their WSL application.[14]
Leeds United withdrew funding and permission to use their name and branding at the end of the 2013–14 season, causing Leeds United Ladies to cease to exist. In the immediate aftermath, a group of supporters rallied to create a new club, Leeds Ladies FC, to carry on the tradition of Ladies football in Leeds.[15]
Following a varied season on and off the field; a break away from the vision which was laid out at the beginning and broken promises, it was decided that an EGM would be called to decide upon the future of the existing structure. It was decided that there was no longer any confidence in the previous leadership and a new committee would now take control of Leeds Ladies FC.
After the EGM, the previous committee laid claim to the legal ownership of the club cancelling all training facilities and withheld club assets including playing kits and attempted to immediately dissolve the club. In order to ensure that the club kept going the new committee purchased a new kit, reinstated and paid for all training facilities and fulfilled all fixtures for both senior and both youth teams.
The FA requested that the previous committee prove legal ownership which they have been unable to do.
The club announced the appointment of a new structure behind the club, appointing Lee Townend as chairman of Leeds Ladies Football Club, with the full advisory support from the main sponsor Andrew Pinder. Lee previously worked with the club as director of football and head of youth development so he brings an extensive knowledge of the club to the new structure. Lee will be joined in the day to day matters by Kirsty Emmot who has been appointed as club treasurer and Jo Czibor as club secretary. Lewis Atkinson will become director of football and will maintain his position as first team manager supported by his coaching team. The remaining roles have been filled by the leadership team ensuring the club structure is in safe hands with a 6-person-strong executive committee.
The club's main priority is to instil transparency across all areas. From financial to the club's ambitions, Leeds Ladies FC wants to be very open and honest in its approach and in its leadership. The current leadership team have a very positive attitude towards the future of Leeds Ladies FC and is looking forward to helping the club realise its potential.
In June 2017, new Leeds ownerAndrea Radrizzani brought back Leeds Ladies toLeeds United ownership to become Leeds United Ladies again after the club had previously become its own entity after previous ownerMassimo Cellino decided to stop Leeds United funding in 2014.[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager | Simon Wood |
| Assistant Manager | Matthew Osborne |
| First Team Coach | Alex Bayliss |
| First Team Physio | Ardal Yallop |
| Manager Reserves | Alex 'Croggy' Croker |
| Coach Reserves | Harry Tetlow |
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | Miles Littlechild |
Updated to match played 9 March 2023
Source: Leeds United Official Site
League
Cup
