Full name | Chelsea Ladies Football Club |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Blues |
Founded | 1992 |
Ground | Wheatsheaf Park, Staines |
Capacity | 3,002 (300 seated and 800 covered) |
Presidents |
John Terry Peter Steward |
Chairman | Bruce Buck |
Manager | Emma Hayes |
League | FA WSL 1 |
2016 | FA WSL, 2nd |
Website | Club home page |
Chelsea Ladies Football Club are an English women's football club based in Fulham, England. Since 2004, the club has been affiliated with Chelsea F.C., a men's team in the Premier League. Chelsea L.F.C. was a founding member of the FA WSL in 2010, the top level of women's football in England since 2011. From 2005 to 2010, the side competed in the Premier League National Division, the top tier of women's football in England at the time.
Chelsea Ladies Football Club was formed in 1992 after supporters of Chelsea FC expressed demand for a women's side. In June 2004, Chelsea Ladies voted to be taken over and funded by Chelsea FC's Football in the Community department. The club then won promotion as champions from the Southern Division in 2004–05 to the Premier League National Division and have participated at the top level ever since.
After starting 2005–06 with one point from six games, manager George Michealas was fired in September after four years in charge. They finished bottom of the league that season under Shaun Gore, but won a promotion/relegation play-off against Northern Division runners-up Liverpool 4–1 on aggregate to stay in the Premier League National Division. During the season the club had been linked with a transfer bid for North American star players Tiffeny Milbrett and Christine Sinclair.