Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.
Founded in 1969 by lottery ticket sellers at Belle Vue, home of Doncaster Rovers Football Club, they have also won the FA Women's Cup six times and reached the final on a further seven occasions.[6] Following a reorganisation in 1989, the club won the new North East League in both seasons of its existence, before being invited to join the inaugural eight-team National Division in 1991.But they missed out on the following year's final, where a resurgent Leasowe inflicted a 3–2 defeat on Friends of Fulham at Old Trafford, in front of Channel 4 television cameras.England strikers Karen Walker and Gail Borman scored a combined total of more than 50 goals as the Belles won the inaugural 1991–92 championship with a 100% record.[17] The dropped points, coupled with a shock defeat by Wimbledon, meant that Arsenal captured the 1992–93 WFA National League Premier Division title.[21] The club was denied the chance of an historic treble, when the season overran and the Premier League Cup final against Arsenal was held over until the following campaign.[30] The next two seasons saw third-placed finishes for the Belles, while 1999–2000 resulted in another FA Women's Cup final appearance when holders Arsenal were beaten in the semi-final.[33] The next season began with an extensive recruitment drive; as England internationals Becky Easton and Karen Burke arrived from Everton and former stalwart Joanne Broadhurst rejoined the club from Croydon.[35] The 2000–01 National Premier Division campaign saw the Belles return to top form, maintaining a 100% record until April, when a 1–0 home defeat to Arsenal handed the initiative to their southern rivals.[38] Goalkeeper Leanne Hall conceded a penalty, after her challenge on Clare Wheatley left the Arsenal player with a career-ending knee injury.[40] In the Premier League Cup they suffered a shock semi final defeat by Birmingham City, collapsing from 3–1 ahead to lose 4–3 to the Northern Division leaders.[41] The Belles knocked holders Arsenal out of the Women's FA Cup in the quarter finals, ending a run of six successive defeats—stretching back almost two years—against their old rivals.In the 2002 FA Women's Cup Final Doncaster Belles lost 2–1 to full-time professional Fulham before a crowd of 10,000 at Selhurst Park and a live television audience of two and a half million.[53] In May 2012 the Belles reportedly agreed a three-year, six-figure sponsorship deal with Innovation Financial Services, a Bawtry–based company owned by ex-footballer Hugh McAuley & Doncaster businessman Stewart Groves."[57] In April 2013 the Football Association announced that, as part of an FA WSL restructure and expansion, Manchester City would replace Doncaster Rovers Belles in the top tier in 2014.[58] Buckley described the situation as "the most farcical thing I've ever heard," while vice-chairman Alan Smart publicly ridiculed the FA for relegating the club after one league match, rendering the 2013 season meaningless.The club announced investment plans in October 2015, code named "Project Phoenix", which encompassed a switch to full-time professionalism and the building of a new training ground in Bawtry.Joining Simpkins were: Rhiannon Roberts, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, Natasha Dowie, Becky Easton, Katrín Ómarsdóttir, Kasia Lipka and Carla Humphrey.[69] Harris was released from his role as Head Coach in June 2016 and Emma Coates took over the managerial reins becoming the youngest manager in FA WSL 1 at the age of 25.[79] After taking the team to its second-place finish in the 2022–23 season (for the second consecutive year) Buxton resigned on 5 June 2023 citing: "I have recently found it hard personally and mentally".Stressing the relative loyalty of Doncaster Belles' players, in comparison to those of other leading clubs, long-serving Karen Walker said in May 2003: "There's a feeling here that we are representing the north.Team captain Gillian Coultard felt the film led to her being controversially stripped of the England captaincy in the run-up to the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup.The following year a book entitled I Lost My Heart To The Belles told the story of the club's 1994–95 campaign through the eyes of journalist and author Pete Davies.[5] In April 2000 the Doncaster Rovers Belles squad released the first ever FA Women's Cup final song, entitled "Northern Pride".Directly inspired by Doncaster Rovers Belles,[104] it was written by Kay Mellor, starred James Nesbitt and Ricky Tomlinson, and ran for five series' until 2002.
Doncaster Rovers F.C.Eco-Power StadiumSheila EdmundsCiarán TonerFA Women's National League2023–24Home coloursEnglishwomen's footballKeepmoat StadiumDoncasterSouth YorkshireEnglish women's footballLondonFA Women's Premier League National DivisionBelle VueDoncaster Rovers Football ClubFA Women's CupSheila StocksDoncaster RoversNorth East LeagueNational Division1994 FA Women's Cup FinalteacherPaul EdmundsBPP Universityofficial programmeRed Star SouthamptonSt HelensSincil BankLincolnHowbury GrangeFriends of FulhamNorwichbeating St Helens 2–0City GroundNottinghamMerseysideLeasowe Pacificfollowing year's finalOld TraffordChannel 4the finalGillian CoultardBaseball GroundMillwall LionessesPrenton ParkWomen's Football AssociationEnglandKaren WalkerGail Borman1991–92 championship1992 WFA Cup finalhat-trickArsenalHighburyWimbledon1992–93 WFA National League Premier Division1993 WFA Cup final1993–9411th Cup final in 12 yearsThe Football AssociationJoanne BroadhurstKnowsley UnitedGlanford ParkScunthorpePremier League CupClaire UtleyVicky ExleySheffield Wednesday1995–96Croydongoal differenceWembleypenalty shootoutJulie Chipchase1996–97Bramall LanePauline CopeAston VillaBecky EastonKaren Burkeplayer-managerDebbie BamptonCharity ShieldThe GuardianKingsmeadowLeanne HallClare Wheatley2001–02 National DivisionBirmingham City2002 FA Women's Cup FinalFulhamSelhurst ParkGreen FlagCelticLeeds UnitedJohn BuckleyFA WSLtransfer market2009 FA Women's Premier League Cup finalBawtryHugh McAuleyManchester City2013 seasonVic Akers2013 FA Women's Cup finalGordon Staniforthdirector of footballReadingcode namedEmily SimpkinsprofessionalRhiannon RobertsCourtney Sweetman-KirkNatasha DowieKatrín ÓmarsdóttirKasia LipkaCarla HumphreyEmma CoatesrelegationFA WSL Spring Series2016 summer season2017–18Neil RedfearnFA WSL 2