Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.

Millwall Lionesses
Full name Millwall Lionesses
Ladies Football Club
Nickname(s) The Lionesses
Founded 1972
Ground The Den, Bermondsey, London
Ground Capacity 20,146
Chairperson Emilie Perry
Manager Rebecca Sawuik
League FA WSL 2
2014 8th, FA WSL 2
Website Club home page

Millwall Lionesses Ladies Football Club is an English women's football club based in East Dulwich, south-east London, that plays in the FA WSL2, the second tier of English women's football. Founded in 1972, 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.[1] 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 as well as 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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

Players

As of 26 February 2016.[5]
Millwall Lionesses team in February 2015
No. Position Player Nation
13 Goalkeeper Quantrill, SarahSarah Quantrill      England
35 Defender Cole, NaomiNaomi Cole (Captain)     England
6 Defender Robe, LeighanneLeighanne Robe      England
3 Defender Strugnell, FrancescaFrancesca Strugnell      England
5 Defender Smith, KaleyKaley Smith      England
32 Defender Cowan, LeanneLeanne Cowan      England
2 Defender Butler, JordanJordan Butler      England
18 Defender Fisk, GraceGrace Fisk      England
23 Defender Gaylor, AmberAmber Gaylor      England
7 Midfielder Sherwood, CiaraCiara Sherwood      Northern Ireland
27 Midfielder Carlton, DanDan Carlton      England
24 Midfielder Maple, LilliLilli Maple      England
42 Midfielder Mallet, DawnDawn Mallet      England
4 Midfielder Heaslip, EmilyEmily Heaslip      England
17 Midfielder Nicol, LeighLeigh Nicol      Scotland
12 Midfielder Wynne, MeganMegan Wynne      Wales
11 Forward Babajide, RinsolaRinsola Babajide      England
8 Forward Hinks, AshleeAshlee Hinks      England
10 Forward Loomes, LucyLucy Loomes      England
9 Forward Gibbons, FlissFliss Gibbons      England

Former players

For details of former players, see Category:Millwall Lionesses L.F.C. players.

English Football Hall of Fame

Millwall Lionesses inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame:[6]

References

  1. ↑ Davies, John (22 September 2007). "Football gets a kick start". Times Educational Supplement. 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.
  2. ↑ Millwall Lionesses History and Honours
  3. ↑ Mike Rowbottom (5 May 1997). "Football: Lionesses bring pride to Millwall". The Independent. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  4. ↑ Tony Leighton (13 April 2009). "Millwall Lionesses set for Premier League return". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  5. ↑ Millwall Lionesses LFC
  6. ↑ "Hall of Fame — National Football Museum". National Football Museum. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
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