Chelsea Ladies

From TheChels.info - The Chelsea Football Club Wiki

Chelsea Ladies are the women's football team of Chelsea. They play their home games at Wheatsheaf Park, the home of Staines Town. The club won the Surrey County Cup in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and were promoted to the Premier Division for the first time in 2005 as Southern Division champions. In the 2009–10 season, they finished 3rd in the Premier League, equalling their highest ever placing, and in 2010 were one of the eight founder members of the FA Women's Super League. John Terry, the current captain of the Chelsea men's team, is President of Chelsea LFC.

In 2015 they won their first ever Women's Super League title, completing a domestic double after winning the FA Women's Cup.

History

Chelsea Ladies voted to be taken over and funded by Chelsea FC's Football in the Community department in June 2004. The club then won promotion as champions from the Southern Division in 2004–05.

After starting 2005-06 with one point from six games, manager George Michealas was sacked in September after four years in charge. They finished bottom of the league that season under Shaun Gore, but won a promotion/relegation play-off against Northern Division runners-up Liverpool 4–1 on aggregate to stay in the Premier League National Division.

After an 8th finish in 2006-07, Gore drafted in England players Siobhan Chamberlain, Casey Stoney and Eniola Aluko that summer. World Cup winner Lorrie Fair, regarded as one of the best midfielders in the women's game, joined in January as Chelsea finished 5th in 2007-08.

Chelsea Ladies introduced a new manager for the 2008-09 season, former Arsenal Ladies reserve team coach Steve Jones. On 2 July 2008 Chelsea surprisingly signed Lianne Sanderson and Anita Asante from Arsenal Ladies, in addition to veteran Mary Phillip.

Chelsea Ladies' finished 2008-09 third behind Arsenal and Everton. Mary Phillip retired a month into the new season, Eniola Aluko and Anita Asante left for the new WPS in March 2009, while Lorrie Fair missed the whole campaign with a cruciate ligament injury sustained in May 2008. Jones departed as manager in January 2009, leaving Casey Stoney to act as player/manager.

At Casey Stoney's recommendation, Matt Beard became manager for 2009-10. Cuts to the Ladies club's funding were offset by financial assistance from John Terry and other members of the men's squad. A further blow arrived when Lianne Sanderson left for the 2010 WPS season. In March 2011 Chelsea Ladies were one of eight founder members of the FAWSL, the new top fight of English women's football.

In 2015, under Emma Hayes - the only female coach in the league and a holder of a UEFA Pro Licence - Chelsea soared to a first-ever FA Women's Cup title before going on to be crowned Women's Super League Champions in September.

See also

Chelsea Ladies squad

External links

Official site

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