Chelsea L.F.C.

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This article is about the women's football club. For the men's football club, see Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Ladies
Chelsea F.C. Crest
Full name Chelsea Ladies Football Club
Nickname(s) The Blues
Founded 1992; 32 years ago (1992)
Ground Wheatsheaf Park, Staines
Ground Capacity 3,002 (300 seated and 800 covered)
President John Terry[1]
Chairman Bruce Buck
Manager Emma Hayes
League FA WSL 1
2015 FA WSL, 1st
Website Club home page
Current season
File:Imperial Fields - geograph.org.uk - 2434693.jpg
Imperial Fields Chelsea's 2011 home ground

Chelsea Ladies Football Club are an English women's football club based in Fulham, England. Since 2004, the club has been affiliated with Chelsea F.C., a men's team in the Premier League. Chelsea L.F.C. was a founding member of the FA WSL in 2010, the top level of women's football in England since 2011. From 2005 to 2010, the side competed in the Premier League National Division, the top tier of women's football in England at the time.

History

Establishment

Chelsea Ladies Football Club was formed in 1992 after supporters of Chelsea FC expressed demand for a women's side.[2] In June 2004, Chelsea Ladies voted to be taken over and funded by Chelsea FC's Football in the Community department.[3] The club then won promotion as champions from the Southern Division in 2004–05 to the Premier League National Division and have participated at the top level ever since.

FA Premier League National Division, 2005–2010

After starting 2005–06 with one point from six games, manager George Michealas was fired in September after four years in charge.[4] They finished bottom of the league that season under Shaun Gore, but won a promotion/relegation play-off against Northern Division runners-up Liverpool 4–1 on aggregate to stay in the Premier League National Division.[5] During the season the club had been linked with a transfer bid for North American star players Tiffeny Milbrett and Christine Sinclair.[6]

After an eighth-placed finish in 2006–07, Gore drafted in England players Siobhan Chamberlain, Casey Stoney and Eniola Aluko that summer.[7] American World Cup winner Lorrie Fair, regarded as one of the best midfielders in the women's game, joined in January as Chelsea finished 2007–08 in fifth position.[8]

Chelsea Ladies introduced a new manager for the 2008–09 season, former Arsenal Ladies reserve team coach Steve Jones. On 2 July 2008 Chelsea surprisingly signed Lianne Sanderson and Anita Asante from Arsenal Ladies,[9] in addition to veteran Mary Phillip. Then Arsenal Ladies manager Vic Akers criticised his former players as disrespectful,[9] while pursuing players from other clubs to bolster his own squad.

Chelsea Ladies finished the 2008–09 season third behind Arsenal and Everton. Mary Phillip retired a month into the new season,[10] Eniola Aluko and Anita Asante left for the new WPS in March 2009,[11] while Lorrie Fair missed the whole campaign with a cruciate ligament injury sustained in May 2008.[12] Jones departed as manager in January 2009, leaving Casey Stoney to act as player/manager.[13]

At Casey Stoney's recommendation, Matt Beard became manager for 2009–10.[14] Cuts to the Ladies club's funding were offset by financial assistance from John Terry and other Chelsea FC players.[14] A further blow arrived when Lianne Sanderson left for the 2010 WPS season.[15]

FA Women's Super League (FAWSL), 2011–present

The club bid successfully to be one of eight founding teams in the FA Women's Super League in March 2011.[16] Beard led the club to the FA Women's Cup final for the first time in 2012, but Chelsea were eventually beaten by Birmingham City on a penalty shootout after twice taking the lead in a 2–2 draw.[17] In July 2012 Matt Beard resigned as manager after three years in the post,[18] to be replaced by Emma Hayes.

In May 2013, Edda Garðarsdóttir revealed that club rules prevent Chelsea Ladies players from talking to their male clubmates, unless the male player initiates the conversation.[19]

The 2014 season was successful for Chelsea, as they finished 2nd in the FA Women's Super League on goal difference to Liverpool, after eight wins, two draws and four losses. A final day win would have clinched them the league title, but they lost 2-1 away to Manchester City. Their second-place finish meant that they qualified for the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time in the club's history. They also reached the semi finals of both the FA and Continental Cups, where they lost to both eventual winners, Arsenal and Manchester City respectively.

In 2015, it was announced that many of Chelsea's players would be becoming full professionals for the first time.[20]

On 1 August 2015, Chelsea won their first ever FA Women's Cup. They beat Notts County Ladies at Wembley Stadium. Ji So-yun scored the only goal at the 39th-minute while Eniola Aluko won the player of the match award.[21] The team then beat Sunderland 4–0 in October 2015 to secure the FA WSL title and a League and Cup "double".[22]

Players

Current squad

As of 28 December 2015.[23][24]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Sweden GK Hedvig Lindahl
3 England DF Hannah Blundell
4 England MF Millie Bright
5 England DF Gilly Flaherty
6 Republic of Ireland DF Niamh Fahey
7 England MF Gemma Davison
8 England MF Karen Carney
9 England FW Eniola Aluko
10 South Korea MF Ji So-yun
11 England DF Claire Rafferty
13 England GK Marie Hourihan
No. Position Player
14 England FW Fran Kirby
16 Portugal FW Ana Borges
17 England MF Katie Chapman (captain)
20 England MF Jodie Brett
21 England DF Anne Meiwald
22 England FW Rosella Ayane
24 England MF Drew Spence
26 Northern Ireland DF Laura Rafferty
28 England MF Jenna Dear
29 England FW Millie Farrow

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
19 England MF Laura Coombs (at Liverpool until 30 December 2016)

Former players

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

Stadium

Chelsea L.F.C. play their home games at Wheatsheaf Park, the home of the Staines Town F.C..[25] The stadium is located in Staines-upon-Thames, Middlesex and features capacity for 3,002 spectators.[26]

The team previously played at Imperial Fields during the 2011-12 season, the home ground of Isthmian League club Tooting & Mitcham United.[27]

Honours

File:2015 FA Womens Cup Winners.jpg
Celebrating the 2014–15 FA Women's Cup win

Domestic Competitions

  • Surrey County Cup
    • (9): 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013

UEFA Champions League record

All results (home and away) list Chelsea's goal tally first.

Season Competition Stage Home Away Opponent
2015–16 Champions League Round of 32 1–0 3–0 Scotland Glasgow City
Round of 16 1˜–2 0–2 Germany Wolfsburg

References

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  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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