Nickname(s) The Blue Belles Chairman Dave King Owner Ownership of Rangers F.C. Founded 2008 | Ground Capacity 1,000 (450 Seated) Manager Kevin Murphy Ground Petershill Park | |
Full name Rangers Ladies Football Club League Scottish Women's Premier League Profiles | ||
Rangers Ladies Football Club is a women's football team that plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League, the top division of women's football in Scotland. The team is affiliated with Rangers F.C. in Glasgow, use the club's training facilities, and wear the club's colours.
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History
Paisley City Ladies F.C., formerly Arthurlie Ladies F.C., was founded at the start of the 1999–00 season. As a new club they started in the lowest division, the third. In 2001–02 they played in Division 1, directly under the Premier Division, and stayed there until 2008. In the 2007–08 season they suffered financial problems, and began to search for a partnership with another club.
Rangers L.F.C. was founded in 2008, as Rangers followed the example of Celtic, Hibernian and Aberdeen in developing a women's section. The formation of the team involved a partnership with Paisley City Ladies. Former Rangers youth academy coach Drew Todd was brought in to coach the team. Scotland women's national football team player Jayne Sommerville was signed as the new team's first captain.
They took the place of Paisley City in the Scottish Women's First Division and many players switched too. Rangers won the league in their debut season. They also reached the final of the Scottish Women's Cup but lost 5–0 to Glasgow City. They were the first first-division side to reach the final.
Former East Stirlingshire footballer Scott Allison was appointed manager in 2010. The club reached the Cup final again but were beaten 2–1 by Hibernian.
In May 2011 Alana Marshall became the first female Rangers player to be called up by the senior Scotland team.
In February 2012, The Herald newspaper reported that the financial crisis engulfing Rangers also threatened the continued existence of the club's women's section.
Rangers ended the 2014 Premier League season with a second place, the club's best result so far.
Current squad
As of 28 March 2016. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Coaching staff
As of 5 June 2015