Wikipedia

Oxford United W.F.C.

See also: Oxford United (disambiguation)

Oxford United Women's Football Club is an English women's football club affiliated with Oxford United, and founded as Oxford Ladies F.C. 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
Websitehttp://www.oxfordunitedwfc.co.uk

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, due to the strength of the playing squad, the women's team were elected directly into the Women's FA Southern Region Women's Football League Division 1 (then the third tier of English women's football) just one step below the Women's FA National League, which they won at the first attempt, losing only one league match in the entire season. They also reached the Women's FA Southern Region Women's Football League League Cup final. The final was played against Red Star Southampton Ladies Reserves. At full time and after extra-time, the League Cup final score was level, with Red Star going on to win the penalty shootout by 4 goals to 3. In the Women's FA Cup, Oxford Ladies reached the third round, losing narrowly at home to Frome Ladies by 3 goals to 2. On top of these successes, Oxford Ladies won the Women's FA Southern Region Women's Football League 5 A Side Tournament, together with 4 other regional 5 A Side tournaments.

In the 1992–93 season the team 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 Women's FA National League Northern Section) and the club's name officially became Oxford United Ladies. The club was now eligible for the Women's FA 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 the league, a mid-table finish represented strong consolidation having reached such a high level in a very short period of time. The club found some further successes in winning three regional 5-a-side tournaments, and a 6-a-side tournament held in Milton Keynes.

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

In 1994-95 the Women's FA passed control of its competitions to the Football Association with competition titles changing from "Women's FA" to "FA Women's".

In 1995–96, the league changed its name to FA Women's Premier League Southern Division, in which Oxford 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 18 August 2024[6]

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 Bethany-May Howard
2 DF   ENG Nicola Gibson
3 DF   ENG Shelly Provan
4 MF   ENG Kate Wiseman
5 DF   ENG Zoe Creaney
6 DF   ENG Cecily Wellesley-Smith
7 FW   ENG Izzy Cook
8 MF   ENG Jenna Legg
9 FW   ENG Zoe Barratt
10 FW   WAL Phoebie Poole
No. Pos. Nation Player
11 FW   ENG Ruby Sealey
15 MF   ENG Ellie-Mae Richardson
16 DF   ENG Jaime Gotch
17 MF   ENG Sarah King
18 MF   ENG Taome Oliver
19 MF   ENG Leah Burridge
20 MF   ENG Lucy Trinder
22 GK   ENG Paris Sercombe
30 MF   UKR Vita Budaieva
— DF   WAL Shaunna Jenkins

Former players

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For details of current and former players, see Category:Oxford United W.F.C. players.

Coaching staff

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As of 15 September 2020.
Position Name
Head Coach Sam Rose[1]
Assistant Manager Tom 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.
  6. ^ "Oxford United Women - Squad". Oxford United F.C. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
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