Notts County Ladies F.C.

Lincoln Ladies

Lincoln Ladies FC were founded in 1995 and began playing in the East Midlands Combination League. The club was promoted in each of the following seasons, bar one, until reaching the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division in 2002. This feat was achieved with the same core group of players. The team finished as league runners-up in four successive seasons (2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10) and reached the semi-final of the FA Women's Cup in 2007–08.

A five-year sponsorship deal with former Lincoln City F.C. board member Ray Trew in June 2008 led to the club's change of name to OOH Lincoln Ladies. Trew had previously sponsored the club through his SportsTV company, and made available extra funds for signings such as England internationals Kay Hawke and Amanda Barr to assist the club's promotion bid.

In November 2009 the club announced a bid to join the FA WSL. If successful the club planned to divide home games between Sincil Bank and current home, Ashby Avenue. In 2009–10 they had taken second place in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division to Liverpool LFC, after finishing second to Sunderland WFC, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool LFC in the three previous seasons.

On 22 March 2010 Lincoln were announced as one of the eight FA WSL teams for the inaugural 2011 season, which was televised on ESPN. In August 2010 the club signed Jess Clarke and Sophie Bradley for their FA WSL campaign. In the same week Sue Smith also joined from Leeds United. Weeks before the start of the new competition, Lincoln made another major signing with the capture of Casey Stoney from Chelsea.

Stadia

Lincoln Ladies FC ground-shared with Lincoln United F.C. at Ashby Avenue after summer 2009. Before that the club spent three seasons playing in Collingham, Nottinghamshire at the Station Road ground, which became a "fortress".

In 2002–03 the club played their home games at Sincil Bank and became the first women's club to play a full season at a professional Football League stadium.

On 7 January 2013 the club announced that they would play their fixtures for the 2013 FA WSL at Sincil Bank.

Supporters

Lincoln Ladies FC claimed to have had one of the largest fanbases of any female club in England. The FA Women's Cup semi-final in 2008 attracted 3,000 fans to Sincil Bank, while over 1,500 attended other high-profile home matches. By the last two seasons in Lincoln, 2012 and 2013, average home attendances had slumped to 526 and 269 respectively.

Move to Nottingham

On 26 April 2013, the club said it would become Notts County Ladies from the 2014 season onwards, but did not reveal logistics of the presumed move to Nottingham. This has not been without controversy. There has been talk of creating a wholly new team in Lincoln as a consequence. A link with a male club was necessary to meet the criteria for the new two tier FA WSL. Angry supporters in Lincoln compared the move to the 2003 relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes.

Colours and badge

The playing colours of Notts County Ladies FC are black & white striped shirts and white shorts. The club also uses the same badge as their affiliate club.

Stadia

The rebranding to Notts County for the 2014 season entailed a relocation to Meadow Lane, Nottingham.

Players

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

Former players

For details of current and former players, see Category:Notts County L.F.C. players.

Managerial statistics

Honours

As Lincoln Ladies F.C.