Middlesbrough Football Club Women ( ) is an English
women's football club. Founded in 1976, they currently play in the , with home games played at Bishopton Road West,
Stockton Stockton may refer to:
Places Australia
* Stockton, New South Wales
* Stockton, Queensland, a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region
New Zealand
*Stockton, New Zealand
United Kingdom
*Stockton, Cheshire
*Stockton, Norfolk
*Stockton, Chirbu ...
.
Middlesbrough were founding members of the
Northern Combination in 1998, and spent much of their early history in the third and fourth tiers of woman's football, aside from a brief spell in the second tier
FA Premier League Northern Division from 2002 to 2006. The club officially became affiliated with the men's team in 2023.
Middlesbrough also have a reserve side competing in the FA Women's National League Reserve Northern Division. Their home games are played at
Middlesbrough College
Middlesbrough College, located on one campus at Middlehaven, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, is the largest college on Teesside.
Admissions
It provides predominantly further education, but also selected higher education provision, a ...
.
History
Formation and early years (1976–2010)
Middlesbrough Football Club Women was formed in 1976. Originally known as Cleveland Spartans, they played in the Nottinghamshire Ladies League, and were coached by
Middlesbrough players
Mark Proctor and
David Hodgson.
The club reached the
1982 WFA Cup Final, losing 2–0 to
Lowestoft
Lowestoft ( ) is a coastal town and civil parish in the East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer Map OL40: The Broads: (1:25 000) : . As the most easterly UK settlement, it is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and sou ...
. Middlesbrough later played in the Yorkshire and Humberside Ladies League.
In 1996
Marrie Wieczorek became full time manager. Under her guidance Middlesbrough won the
2001–02 Northern Combination, and were promoted to the
FA Women's Premier League Northern Division. They remained in the Northern Division for four seasons, returning to the Northern Combination following relegation at the end of the
2005–06 season.
Ups and downs (2010–present)
In September 2010, Middlesbrough travelled to North Korea and played two friendly matches against
April 25, losing 6–2, and Kalmaegi, losing 5–0. In 2012
Gemma Grainger
Gemma Grainger (born 17 July 1982) is an English football manager and former player who manages the Wales women's national team. She previously managed at club level with Leeds United and Middlesbrough.
Managerial career Early club career
Gra ...
was appointed manager, and the club finished the 2012–13 season in fourth place. Grainger left the club in 2013 due to commitments to the
England U19 team, and was replaced by player-manager Samantha Leigh.
As a result of the restructuring of the
FA Women's Premier League
The FA Women's National League, formerly WFA National League and FA Women's Premier League (WPL), is a group of six football divisions run by the English Football Association. Founded in 1991 by the Women's Football Association, the League includ ...
for the 2014–15 season, Middlesbrough competed in the newly formed FA Women's Premier League Northern Division One. Under new manager and owner Lindsey Stephenson, the club finished the season in fourth place. Middlesbrough won the
2015–16 Northern Division One, and were promoted to the Northern Premier Division. In their first season back in the third tier of woman's football, Middlesbrough achieved a second-place finish. In June 2017 the club unveiled a new
crest
Crest or CREST may refer to:
Buildings
*The Crest (Huntington, New York), a historic house in Suffolk County, New York
*"The Crest", an alternate name for 63 Wall Street, in Manhattan, New York
*Crest Castle (Château Du Crest), Jussy, Switzerla ...
.
In January 2020, Ben Fisher was announced as new chairman, while Marrie Wieczorek returned to the club as an ambassador. Middlesbrough reached the semi-finals of the
2019–20 FA National League Plate, losing 2–0 to
Watford. On 24 August 2021, former Middlesbrough player
Andy Campbell
Andrew Paul Campbell (born 18 April 1979) is an English football manager and former player who is currently manager of Middlesbrough Women.
Campbell played as a striker, notably for Middlesbrough, Cardiff City and Dunfermline Athletic. Afte ...
was appointed manager. Middlesbrough were relegated to the National League Division One North at the end of the
2021–22 season.
On 26 May 2023, the club officially became affiliated with the men’s team, and Michael Mulhern was announced as manager. Middlesbrough played their first game at the
Riverside Stadium on 17 September, a 0–0 draw against
Stockport County.
Kits
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
Stadium
During the 2000s, Middlesbrough played their home games at Central Avenue,
Billingham Synthonia
Billingham Synthonia Football Club is a football club based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, England. Nicknamed the "Synners", they are currently members of the and play at the Stokesley Sports Complex in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.
History
T ...
, before moving to Teesdale Park,
Thornaby Football Club, in 2010. In July 2018, the club moved to Bedford Terrace,
Billingham Town.
Since June 2022, Middlesbrough have played their home games at Bishopton Road West,
Stockton Town. The stadium underwent a £1 million redevelopment in 2015, and now includes modern facilities and a 3G pitch. With affiliation into Middlesbrough Football Club in 2023, the team have select matches at the
Riverside Stadium.
Players
Current squad
Reserves
Middlesbrough operate a
reserve team who compete in the FA Women's National League Reserve Northern Division, and play home games at
Middlesbrough College
Middlesbrough College, located on one campus at Middlehaven, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, is the largest college on Teesside.
Admissions
It provides predominantly further education, but also selected higher education provision, a ...
. The club also operate a development team, who play in the
North Riding Women's Premier League.
Former players
Club staff
Managerial history
Honours
League
*
Northern Combination Football League (level 3)
** Champions:
2001–02
*
FA National League Division One North (level 4)
** Champions:
2015–16
See also
*
Durham W.F.C.
*
Newcastle United W.F.C.
Newcastle United Women is an English women's football club, affiliated with Newcastle United F.C. They were founded in 1989. They are based at the Newcastle United Academy Training Centre, Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne, and play their home matche ...
*
Sunderland A.F.C. Women
'Sunderland Association Football Club Women' is an English women's football club that plays in the . They play their home games at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground in Hetton-le-Hole, in the City of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
Sunderland won ...
References
External links
Official website
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Middlesbrough F.C.
Women's football clubs in England
Football clubs in North Yorkshire
Association football clubs established in 1976
1976 establishments in England
FA Women's National League teams