Bradford City Women's Football Club is an English women's football club which represents the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire. Founded in 1988, they currently play in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division following promotion from the Northern Combination Women's Football League in 2013.
The club also has a number of youth teams as well as a Reserve Team and an 'A' Team.
History
Founded in 1988 under the auspices of Bradford City's Football in the Community department, the club became founder members of the Yorkshire and Humberside League the following year. After success at local level, the club won promotion into the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division in 1996.[1] The club earned a second successive promotion in 1996–97, into the top level of Women's football in England.[2]
In 1997–98 the club avoided relegation[3] and also reached the semi–final of the FA Women's Premier League Cup – losing on penalties to eventual winners Arsenal after a 2–2 draw.[4] This was despite Arsenal's goalkeeper Sarah Reed being sent–off and defender Tina Mapes taking over in goal.[5] City dropped out of the top division in 1998–99,[6] and suffered a further relegation in 1999–00,[7] into the Northern Combination Women's Football League.
The Club gained promotion back to the FA Women's Premier League ahead of the 2013/2014 season.
Stadium
The club currently shares Thackley FC's Dennyfield ground, having previously played home matches at Peel Park and the grounds of Bradford Park Avenue and Guiseley.
Link with Bradford City A.F.C.
The women's club wears the claret and amber kit of Bradford City. Although no formal affiliation exists with the men's club,[8] there is a close relationship between the two clubs. In particular, the women's team were favoured as a natural exit route for players from Bradford City's girls Centre of Excellence before its closure. Recently, the clubs has both co–operated with sports charity One in a Million[9] with its Junior Girls set-up.
In 2008 an exhibition on the women's team was staged at the bantamspast museum at Valley Parade, with the aim of forging closer links between the clubs.[10]
The women's Under–16 section played at Wembley Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the 1996 Football League Second Division play-off Final.[8]
Current squad
[11]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
No. |
|
Position |
Player
|
- |
|
GK |
Carrie Simpson
|
- |
|
DF |
Abby Parkin
|
- |
|
DF |
Katy Woodcock
|
- |
|
DF |
Emma Dobson
|
- |
|
DF |
Faye Boshell
|
- |
|
DF |
Louise Berry
|
- |
|
DF |
Katy Woodcock
|
- |
|
DF |
Georgia Clipson
|
- |
|
DF |
Paige Crosby
|
- |
|
DF |
Jessica Pearson
|
- |
|
MF |
Sarah Binns
|
- |
|
MF |
Dominique Hoad
|
- |
|
MF |
Charlotte Stuart
|
- |
|
MF |
Kathryn Connell
|
- |
|
MF |
Vicki Wood
|
- |
|
MF |
Bridie Hannon (captain) |
|
|
No. |
|
Position |
Player
|
- |
|
MF |
Becky Teale
|
- |
|
MF |
Aimee Driver
|
- |
|
MF |
Jodie Litherland
|
- |
|
MF |
Jodie Redgrave
|
- |
|
MF |
Izzy Hunt
|
- |
|
MF |
Kerry Playle
|
- |
|
MF |
Chantelle O'Hara
|
- |
|
MF |
Taylor Rushworth
|
- |
|
MF |
Charlotte Stuart
|
- |
|
FW |
Kath Connell
|
- |
|
FW |
Kerry Mcloughlin
|
- |
|
FW |
Chelsey Faulkner
|
- |
|
FW |
Caroline Omboyi
|
- |
|
FW |
Clare Fawcett
|
- |
|
FW |
Melanie Garside-Wight |
|
Player of the Year
Year | Winner |
2007 | Alice Thackray |
2008 | |
2009 | Caroline Cropp |
2010 | Whitney Taiwo |
2011 | Emma Dobson |
2012 | Abby Parkin |
2013 | Carrie Simpson |
Captains
The following is a list of the officially-appointed captains of the Bradford City WFC first-team.
Honours
References
External links
|
---|
| | | History | |
---|
| Grounds | |
---|
| Matches | |
---|
| Related articles | |
---|
|
Bradford District sports teams |
---|
| Football | |
---|
| Speedway | |
---|
| Rugby League | |
---|
|
|
---|
| | | National teams | |
---|
| League system | Level 1 | |
---|
| Levels 2 | |
---|
| Levels 3–4 | |
---|
| Levels 5–6 | |
---|
| Levels 7–10 | |
---|
|
---|
| Cup competitions | |
---|
| |
|
Coordinates: 53°50′50.82″N 1°43′58.76″W / 53.8474500°N 1.7329889°W / 53.8474500; -1.7329889