Sheffield Wednesday Womens F.C.

Sheffield Wednesday Ladies

Full name	Sheffield Wednesday Ladies Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Owls
Founded	1971
Ground	Shardlows, Nether Lane, Ecclesfield, Sheffield League = Sheffield & Hallamshire Women's County Football League
2011–12	2nd, Northern Combination Women's Football League
Home colours Away colours

Sheffield Wednesday Ladies F.C., often abbreviated to SWLFC and nicknamed The Owls, are a women's and girls football club based in South Yorkshire, England. They play home games at Shardlows Ground, Nether Lane, Ecclesfield, Sheffield and the First team play their games currently in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Women's County Football League (SHWCFL) and are affiliated to the professional men's club Sheffield Wednesday F.C. The Junior section all play within the Sheffield & Hallamshire Girl's County League (SHGCL)

History

SWLFC were formed at the Star Inn Public House in Rotherham in 1971 following a charity match between men and women at the pub. The team was originally called Star Ladies. Shortly afterwards the side joined the Sheffield Ladies League. When this league was disbanded they joined the Nottinghamshire Ladies League which was later renamed the East Midlands Ladies League.

They took the name Sheffield Wednesday Ladies in 1985 and when the Women's Football Association (WFA) created the Women's Premier League in 1991 Sheffield Wednesday Ladies became founder members, continuing in this league until 2005 when they were relegated into the Northern Combination Women's Football League for two seasons. Christine McCann guided the Owls back to the top flight as champions of the Northern Combination in 2007. McCann handed the reins to senior coach Daniel Duke for their Premier League return and he and his staff guided them to a 6th place finish. Due to committee changes it was decided for the 2009–10 season that the team would separate from the junior section and take the name Sheffield Wednesday Womens F.C.

On 26 September 2009 Daniel Duke resigned as Head Coach due to the Owls' poor start to the season. He was replaced by Luton Town footballer Andy Burgess, who installed Liam Kelly has his assistant. Kelly left after two weeks, citing work commitments.

Burgess then resigned in early 2010 and was replaced by his former assistant. Under Liam Kelly the club finished 11th in the 2009-10 Premier League Northern Division, in the second relegation place. Kelly left at the end of the season.

SWWFC were relegated at the end of the season, mainly due to bad results and team changes forced upon them by the constant managerial roundabout. Chairman Jeff Maslin decided the club needed stability to give SWWFC a better chance of promotion straight back to the FAPWL. Adam Smallman was appointed in the pre-season and started rebuilding the squad. Some departures and some arrivals has heralded a new look squad.

After the 2011–12 season due to financial constraints the club folded and The Junior section of Sheffield Wednesday Ladies took over the Women's mantle continuing with the original Ladies name and currently occupying a position for 2012/13 in the Sheffield and Hallamshire First division after being promoted as champions of the SHWCFL Division Two in their first season of adult football.

The club has gone from strength to strength and can now boast eight junior squads and two adult squads (First and Reserves) making SWLFC one of the biggest clubs in South Yorkshire.

Notable former players

• Sarah Begg
• Vicky Exley
• Melanie Garside-Wight
• Leanne Hall
• Jo Potter
• Lesley Sands

Honours

Sheffield & Hallamshire women's County League Division Two Champions  2011 

Records

Record Win: 26–1 v Fishtoft, East Midlands Ladies League, 1981

Record Defeat: 0–22 v Doncaster Belles, FA Women's Cup, 1979

References

• Official website

External links