2020–21 Leicester City W.F.C. season

Leicester City
2020–21 season
Owner	King Power International Group
Chairman	Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha
Head Coach	Jonathan Morgan
Stadium	Farley Way Stadium, Quorn
Championship	1st (promoted)
FA Cup	Quarter-final
League Cup	Semi-final
Top goalscorer	League: Natasha Flint (17); All: Natasha Flint (21)
	← 2019–20 2021–22 →

The 2020–21 Leicester City W.F.C. season was the club's 17th season and their third in the FA Women's Championship, the second level of the women's football pyramid. Outside of the league, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

It was their first under the official ownership of Leicester City F.C. parent group, King Power, having previously been an independent club with a formal affiliation to the Foxes.^[1]^[2] The takeover was confirmed on 22 August 2020 with the club immediately becoming fully-professional in the process.^[3] On 22 December 2020, the club announced the women's team would move in to the Belvoir Drive training ground before the end of the year after the men's team vacated the facility and relocated to a newly-constructed complex in Seagrave.^[4]

On 4 April 2021, Leicester City clinched the league title with a 2–0 win over London City Lionesses, their twelfth consecutive league victory dating back to 4–1 defeat at the hands of the same opposition on 1 November 2020. The result earned Leicester their first ever promotion to the top-flight FA WSL.^[5]

Squad

As of 22 January 2021.

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


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	ENG	Demi Lambourne
2	DF	ENG	Grace Riglar
3	DF	ENG	Sam Tierney
4	MF	ENG	Aimee Everett
5	DF	ENG	Holly Morgan (captain)
6	DF	ENG	Lia Cataldo
7	MF	ENG	Charlie Devlin
8	MF	ENG	Remi Allen
9	FW	ENG	Libby Smith
11	FW	ENG	Lachante Paul
12	MF	ENG	Charlotte Fleming
14	FW	NED	Esmee de Graaf
15	DF	SCO	Sophie Howard


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
16	MF	ENG	Freya Thomas
17	FW	ENG	Paige Bailey-Gayle
18	DF	ENG	Sophie Barker
19	FW	ENG	Millie Farrow
20	FW	ENG	Natasha Flint
21	FW	ENG	Hannah Cain
22	DF	ENG	Ashleigh Plumptre
23	FW	ENG	Olivia Fergusson
27	MF	ENG	Shannon O'Brien
28	GK	ENG	Kirstie Levell
33	FW	ENG	Jess Camwell
48	GK	ENG	Sophie Harris

FA Women's Championship

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
20	16	2	2	54	16	+38	50	9	1	0	22	4	+18	7	1	2	32	12	+20

Last updated: 2 May 2021.
Source: FA WSL

Results

6 September 2020 1	Leicester City	3–0	Blackburn Rovers	Quorn
14:00	Devlin 17' Flint 70', 82' Barker 78'	Report	Jordan 5' 57'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Cristiana Hattersley

13 September 2020 2	Sheffield United	2–2	Leicester City	Chesterfield
14:00	Johnson 30', 66' Wilson 75'	Report	Farrow 2' Flint 37', 90' (pen.)	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

4 October 2020 3	Leicester City	2–2	Durham	Quorn
14:00	Devlin 45' Allen 51' Littlejohn 80' Paul 90'	Report	Roberts 20' Lambert 30' Hepple 67'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

11 October 2020 4	Leicester City	2–1	Liverpool	Quorn
14:00	Devlin 21' Bailey-Gayle 23' Paul 56' Blanchard 90+8'	Report	Clarke 58' Linnett 63' Fahey 90'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy-Ann Briggs

18 October 2020 5	Crystal Palace	1–4	Leicester City	Bromley
14:00	Khassal 4' Taylor 42'	Report	Allen 45', 76' Flint 45+2' Paul 60' Cataldo 76'	Stadium: Hayes Lane Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

1 November 2020 6	London City Lionesses	4–1	Leicester City	Dartford
14:00	Primus 27', 50' Agg 69' Mason 81'	Report	Bailey-Gayle 23'	Stadium: Princes Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Aaron Farmer

8 November 2020 7	Leicester City	1–0	Lewes	Quorn
14:00	Blanchard 9' Bailey-Gayle 30'	Report	Quayle 57'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Chloe-Ann Anderson

15 November 2020 8	Coventry United	1–9	Leicester City	Coventry
14:00	Gauntlett 3'	Report	Paul 11', 17' Flint 20', 38' Bailey-Gayle 48' Allen 58' Barker 64' Littlejohn 70' Farrow 88'	Stadium: Butts Park Arena Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Briggs

6 December 2020 9	Leicester City	3–0	London Bees	Quorn
14:00	Flint 8' Tierney 9' Bailey-Gayle 56' Farrow 71'	Report	Estcourt 32'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Elizabeth Simms

13 December 2020 10	Charlton Athletic	0–2	Leicester City	Crayford
14:00	Rutherford 33' 34'	Report	Flint 39' Allen 78'	Stadium: The Oakwood

20 December 2020 11	Blackburn Rovers	2–3	Leicester City	Bamber Bridge
14:00	Walters 54', 74'	Report	Flint 18', 59' McDonald 24' (o.g.) Devlin 90+2'	Stadium: Irongate Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Declan Brown

10 January 2021 12	Leicester City	2–1	Sheffield United	Quorn
14:00	Plumptre 22' Flint 80'	Report	Cusack 21' Wilkinson 76' Dixon 88'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

17 January 2021 13	Liverpool	1–2	Leicester City	Birkenhead
14:00	Bo Kearns 10' Babajide 30' Lawley 47'	Report	Flint 43' (pen.) Devlin 71', 81'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Chloe Ann-Anderson

28 February 2021 14	Leicester City	1–0	Crystal Palace	Quorn
14:00	Cain 35'	Report	Georgiou 57'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

7 March 2021 15	London Bees	0–7	Leicester City	Canons Park
14:00		Report	Farrow 41' Paul 44', 50' O'Brien 62', 64' Flint 67' de Graaf 86'	Stadium: The Hive Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

14 March 2021 16	Durham	0–2	Leicester City	Durham
12:00	Robson 42' Lambert 45' Holmes 81' Hepple 89'	Report	Tierney 47', 60' Farrow 90+2' Bailey-Gayle 90+4'	Stadium: Maiden Castle Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

28 March 2021 17	Leicester City	2–0	Coventry United	Quorn
14:00	Flint 45', 60'	Report	Orthodoxou 19' Toussaint 72'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Oliver

4 April 2021 18	Leicester City	2–0	London City Lionesses	Quorn
14:00	Tierney 23', 69' Flint 75'	Report	Agg 67'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Georgia Ball

25 April 2021 19	Lewes	1–0	Leicester City	Lewes
14:00	Umotong 20' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: The Dripping Pan Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lauren Impey

2 May 2021 20	Leicester City	4–0	Charlton Athletic	Leicester
14:00	Flint 21' Cain 32', 42' Vassell 85' (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: King Power Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Amy Barber

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Leicester City (C, P)	20	16	2	2	54	16	+38	50	Promotion to the WSL^[a]
2	Durham	20	12	6	2	34	15	+19	42
3	Liverpool	20	11	6	3	37	15	+22	39
4	Sheffield United	20	11	5	4	37	15	+22	38
5	Lewes	20	8	4	8	19	22	−3	28

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:

^ Dependent on obtaining a licence.

Women's FA Cup

As a member of the top two tiers, Leicester City will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper. Originally scheduled to take place on 31 January 2021, it was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.^[6]^[7] Due to the delay, the competition only reached the fifth round before the end of the season. It resumed the following season at the quarter-final stage on 29 September 2021.

18 April 2021 Fourth round	Leicester City	1–0	Liverpool	Quorn
14:00	Cain 72'	Report		Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

16 May 2021 Fifth round	Manchester United	2–3	Leicester City	Leigh
12:00	Sigsworth 32' Ross 59'	Report	O'Brien 45+1' Cain 69' Flint 71'	Stadium: Leigh Sports Village Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Rebecca Welch

29 September 2021 Quarter-final	Manchester City	6–0	Leicester City	Manchester
19:00	Shaw 46', 61', 85' Losada 53' Greenwood 71' (pen.) Angeldal 88'	Report		Stadium: Academy Stadium Referee: Lucy May

FA Women's League Cup

Group stage

4 November 2020 Group stage	Leicester City	5–2	Blackburn Rovers	Quorn
19:45	Flint 5', 32' Farrow 44' Devlin 78' Bailey-Gayle 81' McDonald 90+4' (o.g.)	Report	Hughes 51' Newsham 57'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Georgia Ball

9 December 2020 Group stage	Birmingham City	0–0 (5–6 p)	Leicester City	Solihull
14:00		Report	Barker 35'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Sarah Garratt
	Penalties
	Murray Walker Hampton Brougham Corsie Scofield		Allen Devlin Smith Plumptre Blanchard Everett
Note: Rescheduled from 18 November 2020 following positive COVID-19 test by Birmingham player.^[8]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	LEI	BIR	BLB
1	Leicester City	2	1	1	0	0	5	2	+3	5	Advanced to knock-out stage	—	—	5–2
2	Birmingham City	2	1	0	1	0	1	0	+1	4	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking	0–0	—	—
3	Blackburn Rovers	2	0	0	0	2	2	6	−4	0		—	0–1	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

Knockout stage

For the first time in club history, Leicester City reached the knockout stage of the League Cup.^[9]

14 January 2021 Quarter-final	Crystal Palace	0–1	Leicester City	Bromley
20:00		Report	Flint 89'	Stadium: Hayes Lane Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

3 February 2021 Semi-final	Bristol City	1–0	Leicester City	Bath
19:30	Skeels 72'	Report	Barker 35' Smith 65'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Rebecca Welch

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 29 September 2021

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		League		FA Cup		League Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	Demi Lambourne	2	0	0+1	0	1	0	0	0
2	DF	ENG	Grace Riglar	4	0	2+1	0	0	0	0+1	0
3	DF	ENG	Sam Tierney	26	3	17+2	3	3	0	4	0
4	MF	ENG	Aimee Everett	9	0	2+6	0	0	0	0+1	0
5	DF	ENG	Holly Morgan	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
6	DF	ENG	Lia Cataldo	11	0	2+6	0	0+1	0	2	0
7	MF	ENG	Charlie Devlin	24	3	15+3	2	1+1	0	2+2	1
8	MF	ENG	Remi Allen	23	5	18	5	2	0	3	0
9	FW	ENG	Libby Smith	19	0	10+4	0	2	0	3	0
11	FW	ENG	Lachante Paul	24	7	14+4	7	1+1	0	3+1	0
12	MF	ENG	Charlotte Fleming	2	0	0+1	0	0	0	0+1	0
14	FW	NED	Esmee de Graaf	25	1	17+2	1	2	0	4	0
15	DF	SCO	Sophie Howard	19	0	14+1	0	3	0	1	0
16	MF	ENG	Freya Thomas	8	0	0+6	0	0	0	2	0
17	FW	ENG	Paige Bailey-Gayle	18	7	13+2	5+1	0	0	2+1	1
18	DF	ENG	Sophie Barker	24	1	19	1	2	0	3	0
19	FW	ENG	Millie Farrow	21	4	6+11	4	0+1	0	1+2	0
20	FW	ENG	Natasha Flint	27	21	14+6	17	3	1	4	3
21	FW	ENG	Hannah Cain	14	5	8+1	3	2+1	2	0+2	0
22	DF	ENG	Ashleigh Plumptre	26	1	18+1	1	3	0	4	0
23	FW	ENG	Olivia Fergusson	10	0	1+7	0	0+1	0	1	0
27	MF	ENG	Shannon O'Brien	10	3	5+2	2	2+1	1	0	0
28	GK	ENG	Kirstie Levell	26	0	20	0	2	0	4	0
33	FW	ENG	Jess Camwell	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
48	GK	ENG	Sophie Harris	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Joined during 2021–22 season but competed in the postponed 2020–21 FA Cup:
8	MF	ENG	Molly Pike	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
9	FW	ENG	Jessica Sigsworth	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
23	DF	ENG	Jemma Purfield	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
34	FW	ENG	Mackenzie Smith	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Players who appeared for the club but left during the season:
10	FW	ENG	Annabel Blanchard	8	0	2+4	0	0	0	1+1	0
24	MF	IRL	Ruesha Littlejohn	7	1	1+5	1	0	0	0+1	0

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Name	From	Ref.
22 August 2020	GK	Kirstie Levell	Everton	^[10]
	DF	Sophie Barker	Sheffield United
	DF	Sophie Howard	Reading
	DF	Sam Tierney	Sheffield United
	MF	Remi Allen	Reading
	MF	Ruesha Littlejohn	West Ham United
	FW	Hannah Cain	Everton
	FW	Esmee de Graaf	West Ham United
	FW	Millie Farrow	Reading
	FW	Olivia Fergusson	Sheffield United
	FW	Natasha Flint	Blackburn Rovers
7 January 2021	GK	Sophie Harris	Watford	^[11]
21 January 2021	MF	Charlotte Fleming	Chelsea	^[12]
22 January 2021	MF	Shannon O'Brien	Coventry United	^[13]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Name	To	Ref.
3 June 2020	MF	Annie Taylor	Long Eaton United	^[14]
18 June 2020	DF	Lucy Johnson	Arizona State Sun Devils	^[15]
23 July 2020	DF	Georgia Popple	Coventry United	^[16]
8 August 2020	DF	Natalie Johnson	Sheffield United	^[17]
21 August 2020	DF	Rachel Brown	Nottingham Forest	^[18]
22 August 2020	DF	Hayley James	Nottingham Forest	^[19]
22 August 2020	DF	Anneka Nuttall
16 January 2021	MF	Ruesha Littlejohn	Birmingham City	^[20]
21 January 2021	FW	Annabel Blanchard	Blackburn Rovers	^[21]

References

^ "Leicester City Launches LCFC Women As The Club Commits To The Women's Game". www.lcfc.com.
^ "Leicester City take control of Leicester City Women". BBC Sport. 22 August 2020.
^ "Leicester acquire Leicester City Women and make side fully professional". Sky Sports.
^ "Leicester City Make Historic Move To New Seagrave Training Ground". www.lcfc.com.
^ "Leicester promoted to WSL for first time". BBC Sport.
^ "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.
^ "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.
^ "Club Statement: Player tests positive for COVID-19". Birmingham City Football Club.
^ "Crystal Palace Test For LCFC Women In League Cup Quarter-Finals". www.lcfc.com.
^ "LCFC Women: Meet The 2020/21 Squad". www.lcfc.com. 22 August 2020.
^ "Goalkeeper Sophie Harris Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.
^ "Charlotte Fleming Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.
^ "Shannon O'Brien Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.
^ "Annie Taylor signs for Long Eaton United". Long Eaton United.
^ "Sun Devils Announce Five Additions to 2020 Roster". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024.
^ Hadley, Craig (23 July 2020). "Foxes defender Georgia Popple joins Coventry United". Midland Women's Soccer.
^ "Nat Johnson signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Brown becomes a Red". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk.
^ "Forest complete James signing". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk.
^ "Ruesha Littlejohn Signs". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
^ "Blanchard becomes a blue". www.rovers.co.uk.

[table_note_res_CL0.74410658038413-6] Dependent on obtaining a licence.

[1] "Leicester City Launches LCFC Women As The Club Commits To The Women's Game". www.lcfc.com.

[2] "Leicester City take control of Leicester City Women". BBC Sport. 22 August 2020.

[3] "Leicester acquire Leicester City Women and make side fully professional". Sky Sports.

[4] "Leicester City Make Historic Move To New Seagrave Training Ground". www.lcfc.com.

[5] "Leicester promoted to WSL for first time". BBC Sport.

[7] "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.

[8] "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.

[9] "Club Statement: Player tests positive for COVID-19". Birmingham City Football Club.

[10] "Crystal Palace Test For LCFC Women In League Cup Quarter-Finals". www.lcfc.com.

[11] "LCFC Women: Meet The 2020/21 Squad". www.lcfc.com. 22 August 2020.

[12] "Goalkeeper Sophie Harris Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.

[13] "Charlotte Fleming Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.

[14] "Shannon O'Brien Signs For LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com.

[15] "Annie Taylor signs for Long Eaton United". Long Eaton United.

[16] "Sun Devils Announce Five Additions to 2020 Roster". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024.

[17] Hadley, Craig (23 July 2020). "Foxes defender Georgia Popple joins Coventry United". Midland Women's Soccer.

[18] "Nat Johnson signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[19] "Brown becomes a Red". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk.

[20] "Forest complete James signing". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk.

[21] "Ruesha Littlejohn Signs". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.

[22] "Blanchard becomes a blue". www.rovers.co.uk.

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[18]

[19]

[20]

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Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
20	16	2	2	54	16	+38	50	9	1	0	22	4	+18	7	1	2	32	12	+20

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
20	16	2	2	54	16	+38	50	9	1	0	22	4	+18	7	1	2	32	12	+20

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
20	16	2	2	54	16	+38	50	9	1	0	22	4	+18	7	1	2	32	12	+20