Blackpool Football Club Girls & Ladies are an English women's football club affiliated with Blackpool F.C. Founded in 2008, the club currently play in the North West Women's Regional Football League Premier, with home games played at the Hassra Sports Pavilion.
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| Full name | Blackpool Football Club Girls and Ladies | |||
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| Founded | 2008 | |||
| Ground | Hassra Sports Pavilion Bloomfield Road | |||
| Chairperson | Karen Black | |||
| Managers | James Ridge Robert Plant | |||
| League | North West Women's Regional Football League Premier | |||
| 2022–23 | North West Women's Regional Football League Division One, 1st of 12 (promoted) | |||
| Website | https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/blackpoolfcgirlsladies | |||
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Blackpool achieved successive promotions from what was then the eighth tier Lancashire County Division Two, seventh tier Lancashire County Division One, and sixth tier North West Regional Northern Division during the 2008–09, 2009–10, and 2010–11 seasons. After seven seasons in the North West Regional Premier Division, the club were relegated to the North West Regional Division One North at the end of the 2017–18 season.
History
editFormation and league champions (2008–2011)
editBlackpool Football Club Girls and Ladies were formed in 2008 from a girls setup that was established in 2004.[1] In their inaugural season, the club won the 2008–09 Lancashire County Division Two, and were promoted to the Lancashire County Division One. The club also reached the Lancashire League Cup Final, but were beaten 1–0 by Morecambe.
Blackpool achieved back-to-back promotions after winning the 2009–10 Lancashire County Division One, and were promoted to the North West Regional Northern Division.[2] The club reached the Lancashire League Cup Final for the second season running, losing 3–1 to Rochdale after extra time.[3]
After one season in charge, Michael O'Neill left the club to join Kendal Town as first team fitness coach, and was succeeded by former Preston North End player Mac Barlow. Barlow, who was part of the side that won promotion from the Lancashire County League, brought in Dave Kelly, Marco Vidoretti and former Greenock Morton winger Mick Perrett to form the management team for the 2009–10 season. Chris Stammers was added to the coaching staff for the 2010–11 season.
Blackpool achieved a third consecutive promotion after winning the 2010–11 North West Regional Northern Division, with a club record 57 points from a 22-game season.[4] The season also marked the debut of the ladies team at Bloomfield Road, in a 6–0 win against Carlisle United on 3 April 2011.[5]
For the 2011–12 season, David Kelly was announced as first team manager, with Chris Vickers as first team coach. Blackpool won the 2011–12 North West Regional League Cup, beating Blackpool Wren Rovers 4–1 in the final. The club also finished as runners-up in the league.[6]
North West Regional Premier (2011–present)
editAfter again finishing as runners-up in the 2012–13 season,[7] Blackpool were relegated to the North West Regional Division One North at the end of the 2017–18 season.[8] The club won the 2022–23 Division One North, achieving promotion back to the Premier Division.[9] The club also won the 2022–23 Lancashire Challenge Cup, beating Bury 4–0 in the final.[10]
Stadium
editFor much of Blackpool's history, the club played their home games at Hallgate Park, Stalmine.[11] Since 2022, first team home matches are played at the HASSRA Sports Pavilion in Thornton-Cleveleys.[12] With affiliation with the men's team, the club can also play home fixtures at Bloomfield Road.
Players
editCurrent squad
edit- As of 6 August 2023.[13]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserves
editBlackpool operate a development team who play in the Lancashire County Premier Division. The club also operate several youth teams ranging from U18 to U11, who play in the West Lancashire Girls Football Leagues.[1]
Non-playing staff
edit| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Chairperson | Karen Black |
| Vice chair | Andy Aspinall Mike Healey |
| Football development manager | Andy Aspinall |
| First team coach | James Ridge Robert Plant |
| Development coach | Robert Green Mike Healey |
Honours
edit
League
- North West Regional Premier Division (level 5)
- Runners-up: 2011–12, 2012–13
- North West Regional Northern Division (level 6)
- Champions: 2010–11, 2022–23
- Lancashire County Division One (level 7)
- Champions: 2009–10
- Lancashire County Division Two (level 8)
- Champions: 2008–09
Cup
- North West Regional League Cup
- Winners: 2011–12
- Lancashire Challenge Cup
- Winners: 2022–23
- Blackpool F.C. Youth Team
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-18 League Champions: 2010–11
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-18 League Cup Winners: 2010–11
- Blackpool F.C. Under-16s
- Lancashire FA Under-16 League Runners-up: 2009–10
- Lancashire FA Under-16 Lancashire Cup Winners: 2009–10
- Tesco North West Regional Finals Under 16 Girls Regional Cup Runners Up: 2009–10
- Blackpool F.C. Under-15s
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-15 League Runners Up: 2010–11
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-15 League Cup Runners Up: 2010–11
- Blackpool F.C. Under-14s
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-14 League Champions: 2009–10
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-14 League Cup Winners: 2009–10
- Blackpool F.C. Under-13s
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-13 League Champions: 2011–12.
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-12 League Cup Winners: 2011–12.
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-13 League Runners Up: 2010–11
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-13 League Cup Winners: 2009–10
- Blackpool F.C. Under-12s
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-12 League Champions: 2009–10, 2010–11.
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-12 League Cup Winners: 2009–10, 2010–11.
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-12 Challenge Cup Winners: 2009–10, 2010–11.
- Blackpool F.C. Under-11s
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-11 League Champions: 2009–10
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-11 League Cup Winners: 2009–10
- West Lancashire Girls Football League Under-11 Challenge Cup Winners: 2009–10
References
edit- ^ a b c "Blackpool FC Girls and Ladies". Blackpool F.C Community Trust. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ "Blackpool lift Lancs League Trophy". She Kicks. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "League Cup Winners". The Football Association. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "North West Womens Regional League – 2010–11 Division One North". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ a b Scrafton, Matt (14 November 2022). "Bloomfield Road to host Blackpool FC Ladies' team this weekend – and admission is free for all supporters". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ "North West Womens Regional League – 2011–12 Premier Division". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "North West Womens Regional League – 2012–13 Premier Division". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "North West Womens Regional League – 2017–18 Premier Division". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ @BFC1887Ladies (25 April 2023). "Full time…CHAMPIONS!!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Results – Women's Challenge Cup". Lancashire Football Association. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Blackpool 1–3 Blackpool Wren". The FA. 5 September 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Blackpool 2–0 Workington Reds". The FA. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ "Blackpool F.C. Girls First". The Football Association. Retrieved 6 August 2023.