Oxford United W.F.C.

Oxford United Women's Football Club is an English women's football club affiliated with Oxford United, and founded in the 1991–92 season. Although there were earlier women's football clubs playing in the Oxfordshire area with an Oxford name, the 1991–92 season represents the inaugural season of Oxford Ladies F.C.,[2] which would go on to be formally affiliated to Oxford United F.C. just one year later.[3] On affiliation to the men's club before the 1992–93 football season, Oxford Ladies changed their name to Oxford United Ladies to maintain a one-club ethos. Whilst initially playing at Witney Town's Marriotts Stadium, the first women's football match played at The Manor Ground was against Horsham Ladies F.C. on 25 October 1992[3] and this was also the first Oxford United women's team match to be televised on Central Television.

Oxford United Women
Full nameOxford United Women's Football Club
Nickname(s)U's / Yellows
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)
GroundMarsh Lane, Oxford
Capacity2,000
ManagerSam Rose[1]
LeagueFA Women's National League South
2023–24FA Women's National League South, 5th of 12
WebsiteClub website

The success of Oxford United Women's F.C. is recognised and promoted by Oxford United.[4]

History

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For the 1991–92 season, the women's team played in the Home Counties League Southern Section, which they won at the first attempt (losing only one league match in the entire season), whilst also reaching the Home Counties League Cup final against Red Star Southampton Ladies Reserves. The League Cup final score was level at full time, as well as after extra time, with Red Star going on to win the penalty shootout by 4 goals to 3. In the Women's FA Challenge Cup, Oxford Ladies reached the third round, losing narrowly at home to Frome Ladies by 3 goals to 2.

In the 1992–93 season they were promoted to the Women's FA National League Southern Section, which was the second tier in English women's football at the time (jointly with FA Women's National League Northern Section) and the club's name officially became Oxford United Ladies. The club was now eligible for the FA Women's National League Cup, but found the competition much tougher, losing in the first round to Epsom & Ewell Ladies by 2 goals to 1. They fared better in the Women's FA Cup, reaching the fourth round before losing to Rainworth Miners Welfare Ladies, by 2 goals to 0.

In 1993–94 the club's name officially changed to Oxford United Women F.C.

In 1995–96, the league changed its name to FA Women's Premier League Southern Division, in which Oxford they finished in 3rd place, as well as reaching the semi-final of the FA Women's Premier League Cup, and again reaching the fourth round of the Women's FA Cup, losing at St Helens Garswood Ladies by 2 goals to 1.

After a number of turbulent years, whilst much development occurred in women's football, the club re-emerged as Oxford United Ladies in the 2005–06 season, playing in the Thames Valley Counties League Division 1, which they won at the first attempt. They were also winners of the Thames Valley Counties League Cup and Oxfordshire FA Women's Cup.[5] Not to be outdone, the Reserves side won the Thames Valley Counties League Division 2 North. As a result, the first team were promoted to the Southern Region Women's Football League Division 1 for the 2006–07 season, and the Reserves rose to the Thames Valley Counties League Division 1, with a third Development side playing in Thames Valley Counties League Division 2.

The first team then floated between the Southern Region Division 1 and Southern Region Premier Division for the next few seasons, but by 2011–12 the club won the Southern Region Women's Football League Premier Division and were again promoted in 2012–13 where they won the South-West Combination and were elected as inaugural members of the Women's Super League 2nd division (WSL 2).

Oxford United Ladies have won the Ladies Oxfordshire Senior Cup, beating Henley Town Ladies 2–1 at Bicester Town F.C.[clarification needed] The scorers were Lauren Allison and Stacey Coles five minutes from time. "Credit must go to the girls for the win," said ladies boss Ben Thomas after the match.

Current squad

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As of 28 May 2024

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

No.Pos. NationPlayer
1GK  ENGParis Sercombe
2DF  ENGEmily Wallace
3DF  ENGGemma Sims
5DF  ENGCatherine Beaver
6DF  ENGRiva Casley
7FW  ENGDaisy McLachlan
9FW  ENGCarly Johns
10FW  ENGCheryl Williams
11MF  ENGSophie Baker
14MF  ENGMolly Childerhouse
No.Pos. NationPlayer
15DF  ENGDaisy Ackerman
16DF  ENGGeorgia Hayes
17FW  ENGSarah King
18DF  ENGAlex Ashley
19MF  WALLily Stevens
22FW  ENGJade Grove
23MF  ENGMerrick Will
26DF  ENGHannah Mackenzie
27GK  ENGRose Kite
DF  ENGAmber Roberts
DF  ENGStephaney Bent
DF  ENGBobby Lynch
DF  ENGLena Stroem
FW  ENGMolly Peters
MF  SCOGeorgia Brown
MF  SCOBrogan Moore
No.Pos. NationPlayer
FW  ENGLaura Hennessey
FW  ENGLauren Allison
FW  ENGMaddie Robertson
FW  ENGLucy Durham
FW  ENGIssy Newns
DF  ENGEllie Kirby
MF  ENGLeah Burridge

Former players

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Coaching staff

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As of 15 September 2020
PositionName
Head CoachSam Rose[1]
Assistant ManagerTom Hartley

Honours

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  • South-West Combination: Winners
2012–13
  • Thames Valley Division Two: Winners
2009–10
  • Oxfordshire FA County Cup : Runners up
2009–10
  • Southern Region Division One :Runners up
2008–09
  • Southern Region Division One: 1
2006–07
  • Thames Valley Division One: 1
2005–06
  • Thames Valley League Cup: 1
2005–06
  • Oxfordshire FA County Cup: 1
2005–06

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sam Rose Appointed As New OUWFC Manager". Oxford United F.C. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  2. ^ "The Women's F.A. Cup". Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Oxford United F.C. football programmes.
  4. ^ de Costa, Luke (5 May 2023). "Oxford United women eye title in season finale". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  5. ^ "2005/06 season OULFC Awards evening". Oxford United Ladies FC. Archived from the original on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
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51°46′26.09″N 1°13′39.91″W / 51.7739139°N 1.2277528°W / 51.7739139; -1.2277528