Arsenal L.F.C.

Arsenal Ladies

Full name	Arsenal Ladies Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Gunners
Founded	1987
Ground	Meadow Park, Borehamwood (Capacity: 4,502 (600 seated))
Manager	Laura Harvey
League	FA Women's Premier League National Division
2009–10	1st, FAWPL National Division
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal FC. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won thirty-three major trophies to date, which are twelve FA Women's Premier League titles, ten FA Woman's Cups, ten Women's Premier League Cups and the UEFA Women's Champions League.

History

The club were founded in 1987 by Vic Akers, the kit manager for the Arsenal men's team, who remained the club's manager until his retirement in 2009. They won their first major honour, the Women's League Cup in 1991–92. Later in 1992 they became founder members of the FA Women's Premier League and won the inaugural title; as of 2010 they have won 12 of the 17 League titles, and finished as runners up three times^[1] – the most of any club – and have won seven titles in a row between 2004 and 2010.^[2]

As of 2009 Arsenal have won the FA Women's Cup ten times, and the Women's League Cup ten times.^[1] This includes five League and FA Women's Cup Doubles, in 1994–95, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2005–06 and 2007–08, and four domestic Trebles, in 1992–93, 2000–01 and 2006–07, 2008–09. Arsenal have represented England a total of six times in the UEFA Women's Cup, and had previously reached the semi-finals twice (in 2002–03 and 2004–05).

The 2006–07 season was Arsenal's most successful ever, having won not just all three domestic trophies but also the 2006–07 UEFA Women's Cup, beating Umeå IK in the final 1–0 on aggregate; this was the first time any British club has won the competition. This win was all the more remarkable because Arsenal's opponents were full-time professional players, whereas most of the Arsenal team had full-time jobs.^[3] Additionally, Arsenal won all 22 games they played in the Premier League that season, scoring 119 goals and conceding just 10.^[4] In recognition of the achievement, the team were honoured with The Committee Award by the Sports Journalists' Association in the 2007 Sports Journalists' Awards.^[5]

Arsenal were unable to retain their European crown in 2007–08, after being knocked out by Olympique Lyonnais in the quarter-finals, but reached the League Cup Final (losing to Everton). They ended the season on a high however, winning the league for the fifth season in a row with 20 wins and 2 draws from their 22 games, and another women's FA Cup, beating Leeds 4–1 in the final. 2008–09 saw the end of a record five year long unbeaten run in the League; between October 16, 2003 (a defeat against Charlton Athletic^[6]) and March 29, 2009 (a 0–3 defeat at home to Everton) Arsenal went 108 games without defeat. During that spell, Arsenal won a record 51 league games in a row, between November 2005 and April 2008.^[7]. Despite the defeat to Everton, Arsenal went on to complete a domestic treble in 2008–09, beating Everton 1–0 away on the final day of the league season and giving Vic Akers his eleventh title and fourth Treble. Akers retired in the 2009 close season, being succeeded by Tony Gervaise. In February 2010, after eight months in charge, Gervaise reprised his role as Academy Director and Laura Harvey became manager.^[8]

The following month Arsenal were named as founder members of the FA Women's Super League.^[9]

Players

Arsenal Ladies in 2009.

Initially founded as an amateur side, Arsenal Ladies turned semi-professional in 2002. Three of the current first team were in the England squad for the 2005 European Championship. Former players Kelly Smith, Karen Carney and Alex Scott transferred to play for teams in the Women's Professional Soccer League in the USA. Smith and Scott moved to the Boston Breakers; Carney to Chicago Red Stars. The club also boasts internationals for Wales, Scotland and Republic of Ireland, with a total of fourteen members of the current squad having represented their country.

Arsenal LFC also operate a reserve team, which is mainly formed from Academy players. The reserves have won four FA Women's Premier Reserve League titles and five FA Women's Premier Reserve League Cups in their history.

Stadia

Arsenal Ladies play most of their home matches at Meadow Park, home of Isthmian League side Boreham Wood, in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. It has a capacity of 4,502, although attendances for most league matches are in the hundreds. Some home games are played elsewhere; some of Arsenal's UEFA Women's Cup matches are played at Clarence Park, home of St Albans City, and county cup and reserve matches, are played at Parkfield, home of Potters Bar Town. However, due to their links with Arsenal F.C., they are allowed to play in the Emirates Stadium.

Link with Arsenal FC

The Ladies side have the full backing and support of Arsenal Football Club. David Dein, former vice-chairman of Arsenal F.C., held the position of club President until he left the club on 18 April 2007, and was replaced by Keith Edelman, Arsenal's managing director, until his departure from the club on 1 May 2008.

A number of the playing staff are employed by Arsenal to develop and co-ordinate the women's teams and club Academy. Ties between the two are close; sponsorship by Emirates and Nike is shared, and the Ladies club have been entitled to play at Arsenal's home stadium (Highbury until 2005–06, Emirates Stadium since then).

Current squad

As of 13 July 2010.^[10][11]

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Emma Byrne 2 DF Corinne Yorston 3 DF Yvonne Tracy 4 MF Jayne Ludlow (captain) 5 DF Gilly Flaherty 6 DF Faye White 7 DF Ciara Grant 9 FW Ellen White 10 FW Julie Fleeting 11 FW Rachel Yankey 12 FW Gemma Davison 13 GK Rebecca Spencer 14 DF Jennifer Beattie

No. Position Player 16 MF Kim Little 18 MF Natalie Ross 19 DF Niamh Fahey 20 FW Helen Lander 22 MF Laura Coombs 23 MF Abbie Prosser 24 GK Sarah Quantrill 25 FW Lauren Bruton 28 FW Danielle Carter — DF Naomi Cole — DF Lara Fay — DF Emily Thomson

Honours

• UEFA Women's Champions League

2006–07

• FA Women's Premier League National Division: 12 (record)

1992–93, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10

• FA Women's Cup: 10 (record)

1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09

• FA Women's Premier League Cup: 10 (record)

1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09

• FA Women's Community Shield: : 5 (record)

2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008

• London County FA Women's Cup: 9

1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10

• AXA Challenge Cup: 1

1998–99

• National League South: 1

1998–99

• Highfield Cup: 1

1990–91

• Reebok Cup: 2

1991–92, 1995–96

References

External links

• Official website
• Profile on UEFA.com