2011 Chelsea L.F.C. season

Chelsea
2011 season
Manager	Matt Beard
Stadium	Wheatsheaf Park
FA WSL	6th
FA Women's Cup	5th round
FA WSL Continental Cup	Quarter-finals
Top goalscorer	Danielle Buet (3)
Highest home attendance	2,510; (13 Apr v ARS)
Lowest home attendance	95; (18 Aug v BRI)
Biggest win	DON 1–4 CHE; (24 Apr)
Biggest defeat	ARS 3–0 CHE; (28 July)
Home colours	Away colours
	← 2010 2012 →

Last updated June 16, 2025

Chelsea L.F.C.'s 2011 season was the club's first season in the FA Women's Super League (FA WSL) and sixth in the top flight of English women's football, in its 19th year.

Review and events

The semi-professional FA WSL debuted after two years of planning with Chelsea facing Arsenal at its home ground of Imperial Fields, a seventh-tier men's club ground, on 13 April 2011. The match was broadcast live on ESPN.^[1] out of the 16 that applied.^[2]^[3] The pre-match featured mascots, amusements, a performance by the band Parade, and a brief fight among spectators within the stands. While the new league's summer schedule was meant to avoid pitch quality concerns encountered by the incumbent winter-schedule FA Women's Premier League, the dry Imperial Fields pitch caused problems during the debut. The match was also the first domestic league action for players since the end of the 2009–10 FA Women's Premier League season 11 months prior.^[4] The opening-match attendance of 2,510 was the season's and league's best,^[5] and broke the club's all-time record.^[6]

Signings

On 9 January 2011, Chelsea signed New Zealand captain Hayley Moorwood.^[7] The foreign signing was one of several in the league that raised concerns from other clubs' managers that the acquisitions could come at the expense of developing domestic players.^[8]

Match results

FA Women's Super League

13 April 2011 (2011-04-13)1	Chelsea	0–1	Arsenal	Morden
17:30		CHE Report WSL report FA Report BBC report Guardian report	Flaherty 37' v	Stadium: Imperial Fields Attendance: 2,510 Referee: Saša Ihringová

21 April 2011 (2011-04-21)2	Chelsea	1–1	Lincoln Ladies	Morden
19:45	Perry 46'	CHE report WSL report FA Report	Cantrell 35'	Stadium: Imperial Fields Attendance: 273 Referee: T.J. Robinson

24 April 2011 (2011-04-24)3	Doncaster Rovers Belles	1–4	Chelsea	Doncaster
14:00	Exley 24'	CHE report WSL report FA report	Buet 40' Bird 48' Hincks 60' v Plewa 86'	Stadium: Keepmoat Stadium Attendance: 578 Referee: Shaun Hudson

1 May 2011 (2011-05-01)4	Liverpool	1–2	Chelsea	Skelmersdale
14:00	Jones 44'	CHE report WSL Report FA report	Buet 10' Spence 36'	Stadium: West Lancashire College Stadium Attendance: 406 Referee: Natalie Walker

4 May 2011 (2011-05-04)5	Chelsea	0–0	Bristol Academy	Bristol
19:45		CHE report WSL report FA report		Stadium: Stoke Gifford Stadium Attendance: 371 Referee: Rob Ellis

8 May 2011 (2011-05-08)6	Chelsea	1–1	Birmingham City	Morden
	Champ 37' Rafferty 71'	CHE report WSL report	Harrop 81'	Stadium: Imperial Fields Attendance: 441 Referee: Ade Mead

12 May 2011 (2011-05-12)7	Lincoln Ladies	0–1	Chelsea	Lincoln
19:45		CHE report WSL report	Buet 59' Champ 83'	Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 493 Referee: Neil Pratt

24 July 2011 (2011-07-24)8	Everton	2–0	Chelsea	Merseyside
	Duggan 33' Hinnigan 53'	CHE report WSL report		Stadium: The Arriva Stadium Attendance: 503 Referee: Saša Ihringová

28 July 2011 (2011-07-28)9	Arsenal	3–0	Chelsea	Borehamwood
19:45	Yankey 66' Carter 73', 81'	CHE report WSL report FA report	Buet 49' Champ 75'	Stadium: Meadow Park Attendance: 608 Referee: Ade Mead

31 July 2011 (2011-07-31)10	Chelsea	2–1	Doncaster Rovers Belles	Morden
14:00	Perry 11' Hincks 43'	CHE report WSL report	Lipka 45' Cox	Stadium: Imperial Fields Attendance: 300 Referee: Shaun Hudson

7 August 2011 (2011-08-07)11	Chelsea	0–1	Liverpool	Morden
		CHE report WSL report	24' C. Jones	Stadium: Imperial Fields Attendance: 297 Referee: John Burridge

14 August 2011 (2011-08-14)12	Birmingham City	3–2	Chelsea	Stratford upon Avon
14:00	Williams 24', 90' Potter 81'	CHE report WSL report Box	Lander 56' Moorwood 62'	Stadium: The DCS Stadium Attendance: 413

18 August 2011 (2011-08-18)13	Chelsea	0–1	Bristol Academy	Morden
	Longhurst Champ	CHE report WSL report	Bleazard 25' Matthews	Stadium: Imperial Fields Attendance: 95

28 August 2011 (2011-08-28)14	Chelsea	1–3	Everton	Morden
14:00	Lander 1'	CHE report WSL report	Harries 29' F. Williams 47' Dowie 63'	Stadium: Imperial Fields Attendance: 369

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
4	Lincoln Ladies	14	6	3	5	18	16	+2	21
5	Bristol Academy	14	4	4	6	14	20	−6	16
6	Chelsea	14	4	3	7	14	19	−5	15
7	Doncaster Rovers Belles	14	2	3	9	9	26	−17	9
8	Liverpool	14	1	4	9	10	26	−16	7

Source: FA WSL results
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
14	4	3	7	14	19	−5	15	1	2	4	5	9	−4	3	1	3	9	10	−1

Last updated: 28 August 2011.
Source: FA WSL results

FA Women's Cup

Chelsea entered the competition in the fifth round as an FA WSL team. They were knocked out of the competition after being defeated 1–0 by the Belles.^[9]

13 March 2011 (2011-03-13) 5th round	Chelsea	0–1	Doncaster Rovers Belles	Morden
		Report	Exley 21'	Stadium: Imperial Fields

FA WSL Continental Cup

Chelsea were drawn with Everton in the quarter-finals and lost the match 4–0.^[10]

4 September 2011 (2011-09-04) 1/4 Finals	Chelsea	0–4	Everton	Morden
14:00		CHE report EVE report BBC report WSU report	Harries 3' (Dowie) Dowie 30' Buet 65' (o.g.) Hinnigan 69' (Dowie)	Stadium: Imperial Fields

Squad statistics

As of match played 4 September 2011^[11]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		WSL		FA Cup		League Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	Carly Telford	12	0	12	0	0	0	0	0
2	MF	ENG	Lara Fay	7	0	6	0	1	0	0	0
3	DF	IRL	Sophie Perry	15	2	13	2	1	0	1	0
4	MF	ENG	Drew Spence	11	1	9	1	1	0	1	0
5	DF	ENG	Gemma Bonner	16	0	14	0	1	0	1	0
6	DF	ENG	Naomi Cole	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0
7	DF	ENG	Leanne Champ	15	0	13	0	1	0	1	0
8	MF	ENG	Danielle Buet	15	3	13	3	1	0	1	0
9	MF	ENG	Danielle Bird	6	1	6	1	0	0	0	0
10	FW	WAL	Helen Lander	16	2	14	2	1	0	1	0
11	MF	ENG	Claire Rafferty	10	1	9	1	1	0	0	0
12	MF	NZL	Hayley Moorwood	15	1	13	1	1	0	1	0
13	DF	ENG	Shelby Hills	5	0	4	0	1	0	0	0
14	DF	WAL	Kylie Davies	15	0	13	0	1	0	1	0
15	FW	WAL	Emma Plewa	9	1	8	1	1	0	0	0
16	GK	ENG	Sarah Quantrill	5	0	3	0	1	0	1	0
17	MF	ENG	Laura Coombs	7	0	6	0	0	0	1	0
18	FW	ENG	Kate Longhurst	6	0	5	0	0	0	1	0
19	DF	ENG	Rebecca Jane	11	0	9	0	1	0	1	0
20	FW	ENG	Ashlee Hincks	15	2	13	2	1	0	1	0
30	GK	ENG	Francesca Gibbs	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

References

↑ Conn, David (7 April 2011). "Women's Super League aims to step out of men's shadow". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2023.
↑ "A Moment in Women's Football History". The Football Association. April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
↑ "Whole new ball game: How Chelsea Women kicked off WSL era 10 years ago today". Chelsea F.C. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
↑ Ronay, Barney (13 April 2011). "Women's Super League opens with less than pitch perfect display". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2023.
↑ Frith, Will (13 April 2020). "#FAWSL: First season kicked off nine years ago today". She Kicks . Retrieved 27 April 2023.
↑ Dunn, Carrie; Welford, Joanna (2015). Football and the FA Women's Super League. Palgrave Pivot London. doi:10.1057/9781137480323. ISBN 9781137480316.
↑ Leighton, Tony (9 January 2011). "Chelsea Ladies sign New Zealand captain Hayley Moorwood". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2023.
↑ Leighton, Tony (6 February 2011). "Women's Super League concerned about influx of foreign internationals". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2023.
↑ "CHELSEA 0 DONCASTER ROVERS BELLES 1". Chelsea L.F.C. 13 March 2011. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
↑ "Chelsea Ladies 0 Everton 4". Chelsea L.F.C. 4 September 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
↑ "The Team". Chelsea L.F.C. Archived from the original on 12 December 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

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[1] Conn, David (7 April 2011). "Women's Super League aims to step out of men's shadow". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2023.

[2] "A Moment in Women's Football History". The Football Association. April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2023.

[3] "Whole new ball game: How Chelsea Women kicked off WSL era 10 years ago today". Chelsea F.C. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2023.

[4] Ronay, Barney (13 April 2011). "Women's Super League opens with less than pitch perfect display". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2023.

[5] Frith, Will (13 April 2020). "#FAWSL: First season kicked off nine years ago today". She Kicks . Retrieved 27 April 2023.

[6] Dunn, Carrie; Welford, Joanna (2015). Football and the FA Women's Super League. Palgrave Pivot London. doi:10.1057/9781137480323. ISBN 9781137480316.

[7] Leighton, Tony (9 January 2011). "Chelsea Ladies sign New Zealand captain Hayley Moorwood". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2023.

[8] Leighton, Tony (6 February 2011). "Women's Super League concerned about influx of foreign internationals". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2023.

[9] "CHELSEA 0 DONCASTER ROVERS BELLES 1". Chelsea L.F.C. 13 March 2011. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2012.

[10] "Chelsea Ladies 0 Everton 4". Chelsea L.F.C. 4 September 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2012.

[11] "The Team". Chelsea L.F.C. Archived from the original on 12 December 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

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