Blackpool F.C. Ladies

History

The Ladies competed their inaugural season in the Lancashire FA Women's County League Division Two, which sits at the seventh level of the national League system in women's football in England.

In their first season, they won all eighteen league games, scoring 133 goals, and won promotion as champions to Lancashire FA Division One for the 2009–10 season. They were also runners-up in the Lancashire League Cup after a 1–0 defeat to Morecambe in the final.

After one season in charge, Michael O'Neill left the club to join Kendal Town FC as first team fitness coach and was succeeded by former Preston North End player Mac Barlow. Barlow, who was part of the County Division Two side that won promotion, brought in Dave Kelly, Marco Vidoretti and former Greenock Morton winger Mick Perrett to form the management team for that season. In the 2009–10 season they again won promotion as Champions and for the second consecutive season were runners-up in the Lancashire FA County Cup after a 3–1 extra-time defeat to Rochdale in the final.

In the 2010–11 season, Barlow added one more coach to the set up: Chris Stammers. Blackpool were defeated in their opening game of the season and finally lost their unbeaten status in the League as they went down 3–1 to Wren Rovers. However, just days later Blackpool secured a 2–0 victory in the reverse fixture at Bruce Park. Blackpool's first game in the FA Women's Cup resulted in a 3–2 defeat at Penrith. Nonetheless, Blackpool won all but one of their remaining League games. The Ladies were boosted in particular by a 6–0 victory at home to Carlisle. This was a significant fixture as it was the first time that Blackpool F.C. had hosted their own Ladies team at Bloomfield Road in a competitive League fixture. Blackpool were crowned Champions of the North West Women's Regional Division One North after a 2–1 victory over Morecambe at Hallgate Park on the final day of the season, thus giving them their third promotion in as many seasons.

In the 2011–2012 season, Blackpool FC announced that First Team Coach Dave Kelly had been appointed as First Team manager so Mac Barlow was to focus on her playing career. Dave Kelly then appointed Chris Vickers as the new First Team Coach. Blackpool F.C. Ladies finished second in the North West Women's Premier League. They hosted a second fixture at Bloomfield Road at home to Bury, in which they won 3–1. The season wasn't without silverware, Blackpool FC emphatically beat local rivals Blackpool Wren Rovers 4–1 in the League Cup Final, at the home of Airbus UK, to secure their first Cup Victory of their short history. Manager Dave Kelly described his squad as "special" and a "proud day for all involved at the club"

The following 2012-13 season, the Ladies reached the FA Cup First Round Proper for the first time in their history. However, they were defeated 4-0 away to Durham who were later announced as members of the inaugural WSL 2. The Ladies finished just two points behind League Winners Tranmere Rovers and once again claimed the runners up spot for the second season running. In the final fixtures of the season, they finished the season in emphatic style, defeating League rivals Morecambe 4–1 and Crewe Alexandra 5–2 at Bloomfield Road to create an exciting finish to the season and send a resounding message to their title and promotion rivals.

At the beginning of the pre-season for the 2013-14 season Blackpool FC announced that Ladies First Team Manager Dave Kelly had agreed a deal to join North Toronto Soccer Club and First Team Coach Chris Vickers would succeed him as First Team Manager.

Stadium

The Seasiders' first team and reserve home games are played at Hallgate Park, Stalmine, home of West Lancashire Football League side Wyre Villa. They also play some of their fixtures at Bloomfield Road.

Current squad

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

Reserve and Girls teams

In 2011, they established a reserve side, managed by Mick Perrett. The team was made up of the majority of the double-winning under-18 team from the previous season. They finished third in the Lancashire FA County Division Two. For the 2012–13 season preference was given to re-establishing a youth team, and so there will be no reserve side.

There are six other age group teams: Under-10s, Under-11s, Under-12s, Under 13s, Under-14s and Under-16s, all of which compete in the West Lancashire Girls Football League. This is also run in conjunction with a Development Centre for girls between 5 and 11.

The Girls teams are based at Bourne Poacher playing fields, Fleetwood Road North, Thornton Cleveleys.

Non-playing staff

Honours