Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.

Last updated

Millwall Lionesses F.C
Millwall FC logo.png
Full nameMillwall Lionesses
Football Club
Nickname(s)The Lionesses
Founded1973;50 years ago (1973)
GroundSt Paul's Sports Ground, Rotherhithe
ChairmanSean Daly
ManagerJack Wheeler
League London and South East Women's Regional Football League
2021–22 London and South East Women's Regional Football League, 6th of 11

Millwall Lionesses Football Club is an English women's football club based in Rotherhithe, south-east London, that plays in the London and South East Women's Regional Football League, the fifth tier of English women's football. [1]

Contents

Founded in 1973, the group of women who made up the Lionesses were at first snubbed by Millwall FC but went on to become the first women's football team to affiliate to a professional men's team, Millwall F.C. who are nicknamed "The Lions". The Lionesses pioneered the now common "Football in the Community Scheme".

History

Millwall Lionesses remained an independent club in their initial years of existence. In the mid–1980s Millwall FC, who were trying to mitigate an appalling reputation for football hooliganism and racism, embraced the female club as part of their community project. [2] Development officer Gary Stempel sourced funding from the Greater London Council (GLC) and then a combination of Lewisham and Greenwich Councils, as well as the Sports Council.

Millwall Lionesses became a leading force in both the women's game and the "Millwall Community Programme", and played an active part in the development of girls' football. Millwall Lionesses were the first club to have a female Centre of Excellence, of which there eventually became 42 in England. Millwall Lionesses field teams with an age range of eight, to thirty plus. [3]

The former England women's national football team coach Hope Powell began her career with The Lionesses at the age of eleven, making her international debut at the age of 16.

The Lionesses won the FA Women's Cup in 1991 and 1997. [4]

The Lionesses won promotion back to the FA Women's Premier League National Division in 2008–09, following an eight-year absence since their relegation in 2001. [5]

In 2014 the Lionesses were founding members of the FA Women's Super League 2, the new 2nd tier of Women's football in England later renamed the FA Women's Championship. [6]

In April 2018, the team announced the possibility of going into administration due to financial discrepancies and a lack of sponsorship. [7]

In May 2019, shortly after the conclusion of the 2018–19 FA Women's Championship, it was announced that the Lionesses would split from Millwall F.C. forming a breakaway club named London City Lionesses. [8] The FA Women's Championship licence was transferred to the new club. [9] Millwall Lionesses would be operated through the Millwall Community Trust, whilst playing their football in the Eastern Region Women's League. [1] [8] Colin Reid was appointed as manager, with St Paul's Sports Ground in Rotherhithe confirmed as their home venue. [1]

Players

As of 29 June 2019. [10]
Millwall Lionesses team in February 2015 Millwall Lionesses Vs Lowestoft Town (16459891246).jpg
Millwall Lionesses team in February 2015
No.PositionPlayerNation
13 GK Chloe Sansom Flag of England.svg  England
3 DF Leanne Cowan Flag of England.svg  England
12 DF Beth Powell Flag of England.svg  England
— DF Jasmine Augustus Flag of England.svg  England
16 MF Ellie Stenning Flag of England.svg  England
21 DF Kalani Peart Flag of England.svg  England
— FW Beth Lumsden Flag of England.svg  England
19 FW Beth Harford Flag of England.svg  England
1 GK Grace Taylor Flag of England.svg  England
4 MF Freya Bailes Flag of England.svg  England
18 MF Michelle Young Flag of England.svg  England
25 MF Sara Guzowska Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
28 MF Francesca Ali Flag of England.svg  England
22 MF Chloe Wilkinson Flag of England.svg  England

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Chapman</span> English association football player (born 1982)

Katie Sarah Chapman is an English former footballer who last played for English FA WSL club Chelsea Ladies and was a member of the England women's national team. She primarily played as a central midfielder, although she was also deployed in central defence while playing for England. Chapman has been described as "a physical player who handles a brunt of the dirty work in the middle of the pitch." Her playing ability, profile and influence have drawn comparisons to former England captain David Beckham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilly Flaherty</span> English footballer

Gilly Louise Scarlett Flaherty is an English former footballer who last played for FA WSL club Liverpool. Flaherty is a former Arsenal Ladies player who began her career in Millwall Lionesses' youth teams. She usually plays in the centre back position and represented England at youth level before making her senior debut in October 2015.

Leanne Kelly Champ is an English football player and coach, who last played for North Jersey Valkyries of the North American W-League. A tough-tackling full back who can also play in midfield, Champ previously played for FA WSL club Chelsea Ladies, Arsenal and Pali Blues as well as spending three spells with Millwall Lionesses. She has also represented England at youth and senior level. She is now the Pro Team Second Assistant Coach and Breakers College Academy Coach for the Boston Breakers in the NWSL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's Championship (England)</span> Football league

The Women's Championship is the second-highest division of women's football in England. The division was established in 2014 as the FA Women's Super League 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fran Kirby</span> English footballer

Francesca Kirby is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. She began her career with hometown club Reading before moving to Chelsea in July 2015. In August 2014, Kirby won her first senior cap for England. She represented her country at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France and the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 in the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha Harris (footballer)</span> English footballer (born 1994)

Martha Harris is an English footballer who plays as a full-back for Birmingham City of the FA Women's Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Beard</span> English football manager

Matthew Beard is an English professional football manager, who is currently head coach of FA Women's Super League club Liverpool F.C. Women. He has managed the side previously, as well as the women's teams of Bristol City on an interim basis, West Ham, Chelsea, Boston Breakers and Millwall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ciara Watling</span> Northern Irish footballer

Ciara Watling is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder most recently for Southampton in the FA Women's Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rinsola Babajide</span> Professional footballer

Omorinsola Omowunmi Ajike Babajide, known as Rinsola Babajide, is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Spanish Liga F club UDG Tenerife. She previously played for Liverpool, Millwall Lionesses and Watford Ladies Football Club, Brighton & Hove Albion. she represented England at Under 21 level before switching allegiance to represent the Super Falcons

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pedro Martínez Losa</span> Spanish football manager, head coach and sporting director

Pedro Martínez Losa is a Spanish football coach and sporting director, who is currently the head coach of the Scotland women's national team. Known primarily for his prominence within women's football, Martínez Losa has won major trophies in his native Spain with Rayo Vallecano Femenino, and in England with Arsenal Women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mollie Green</span> English footballer

Mollie Green is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Nottingham Forest in the FA Women's National League North.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Hemp</span> English footballer

Lauren May Hemp is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the England national team. She was named England Young Player of the Year in September 2016, 2017 and PFA Women's Young Player of the Year in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022.

The 2018–19 FA Women's Championship was the first rebranded edition of the FA Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England, renamed from the FA WSL 2 which was founded in 2014. The season ran from 8 September 2018 to 12 May 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Devlin</span> English professional footballer, forward

Charlotte Devlin is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder or a forward for Birmingham City in the FA Women's Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellie Mason</span> Northern Irish footballer

Ellie Leigh Mason is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Birmingham City of the FA Women's Championship. Born in England, she represents Northern Ireland at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rianna Dean</span> English association football player

Rianna Dean is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Southampton in the FA Women's Championship.

The 2019–20 FA Women's Championship was the second season of the rebranded FA Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England. It was renamed from the FA WSL 2 which was founded in 2014. The season began on 18 August 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leighanne Robe</span> English association football player

Leighanne Robe is an English professional football defender who plays for Saudi Premier League club Al-Ittihad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London City Lionesses</span> Women association football club based in Dartford, England

London City Lionesses is a professional women's association football club based in Dartford, England. The team competes in the Women's Championship, the second tier of English women's football. The club was founded in May 2019, as an independent breakaway club from Millwall Lionesses.

The 2019–20 London City Lionesses F.C. season was the club's first season in existence following a breakaway from Millwall Lionesses in May 2019. The team competed in the FA Women's Championship, the second level of the women's football pyramid, as well as two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Millwall Lionesses (6 August 2019). "Millwall Lionesses announce Colin Reid as new manager". Millwall FC. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  2. ↑ Davies, John (22 September 2007). "Football gets a kick start". Times Educational Supplement. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2012. "The mid-80s was a violent era, and the club was desperate to get away from its (fans') racist image and really take the club back to the local community," recalls Hicks.
  3. ↑ "Millwall Lionesses History and Honours". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  4. ↑ Mike Rowbottom (5 May 1997). "Football: Lionesses bring pride to Millwall" . The Independent . Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  5. ↑ Tony Leighton (13 April 2009). "Millwall Lionesses set for Premier League return". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  6. ↑ FA WSL (5 September 2018). "CLUB TIMELINE". FA WSL. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Miller, Nick (18 April 2018). "Football cannot afford for the unbeatable Millwall Lionesses to lose their battle off the pitch". Football.london . Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  8. 1 2 Millwall FC (15 May 2019). "Club Statement: Millwall Lionesses". Millwall FC. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  9. ↑ "London City Lionesses: FA Women's Football board approve Millwall switch". BBC News. 14 May 2019. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "Millwall Lionesses Player Squad". TheFA WSL. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.