Middlesbrough F.C. Women
Middlesbrough Football Club Women (/ˈmɪdəlzbrə/ ⓘ MID-əlz-brə) is an English women's football club. Founded in 1976, they currently play in the FA Women's National League Division One North, with home games played at Bishopton Road West, Stockton.
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Full name | Middlesbrough Football Club Women | |||
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Nickname(s) | Boro | |||
Short name | MFCW | |||
Founded | 1976 | |||
Ground | Bishopton Road West Riverside Stadium | |||
Capacity | 1,800 (200 seated) Bishopton Road West | |||
Chairman | Steve Gibson | |||
Manager | Michael Mulhern | |||
League | FA Women's National League Division One North | |||
2023–24 | FA Women's National League Division One North, 2nd of 12 | |||
Website | Club website | |||
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Middlesbrough were founding members of the Northern Combination in 1998, and spent much of their early history in the third and fourth tiers of woman's football, aside from a brief spell in the second tier FA Women's Premier League Northern Division from 2002 to 2006. The club officially became affiliated with the men's team in 2023.
Middlesbrough also have a reserve side competing in the FA Women's National League Reserve Northern Division. Their home games are played at Middlesbrough College.[1]
History
Formation and early years (1976–2010)
Middlesbrough Football Club Women was formed in 1976.[2] Originally known as Cleveland Spartans, they played in the Nottinghamshire Ladies League,[3] and were coached by Middlesbrough players Mark Proctor and David Hodgson.[4] The club reached the 1982 WFA Cup Final, losing 2–0 to Lowestoft.[5] Middlesbrough later played in the Yorkshire and Humberside Ladies League.[6]
In 1996 Marrie Wieczorek became full time manager. Under her guidance Middlesbrough won the 2001–02 Northern Combination, and were promoted to the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division.[7] They remained in the Northern Division for four seasons, returning to the Northern Combination following relegation at the end of the 2005–06 season.[8]
Ups and downs (2010–present)
In September 2010, Middlesbrough travelled to North Korea and played two friendly matches against April 25, losing 6–2, and Kalmaegi, losing 5–0.[9] In 2012 Gemma Grainger was appointed manager, and the club finished the 2012–13 season in fourth place.[10] Grainger left the club in 2013 due to commitments to the England U19 team, and was replaced by player-manager Samantha Leigh.[11]

As a result of the restructuring of the FA Women's Premier League for the 2014–15 season, Middlesbrough competed in the newly formed FA Women's Premier League Northern Division One.[12] Under new manager and owner Lindsey Stephenson,[13] the club finished the season in fourth place.[14] Middlesbrough won the 2015–16 Northern Division One, and were promoted to the Northern Premier Division.[15] In their first season back in the third tier of woman's football, Middlesbrough achieved a second-place finish.[16] In June 2017 the club unveiled a new crest.[17]
In January 2020, Ben Fisher was announced as new chairman,[18] while Marrie Wieczorek returned to the club as an ambassador.[19] Middlesbrough reached the semi-finals of the 2019–20 FA National League Plate, losing 2–0 to Watford.[20] On 24 August 2021, former Middlesbrough player Andy Campbell was appointed manager.[21] Middlesbrough were relegated to the National League Division One North at the end of the 2021–22 season.[22]
On 26 May 2023, the club officially became affiliated with the men’s team, and Michael Mulhern was announced as manager.[23] Middlesbrough played their first game at the Riverside Stadium on 17 September, a 0–0 draw against Stockport County.[24]
Kits
Stadium
During the 2000s, Middlesbrough played their home games at Central Avenue, Billingham Synthonia,[31] before moving to Teesdale Park, Thornaby Football Club, in 2010. In July 2018, the club moved to Bedford Terrace, Billingham Town.[32]
Since June 2022, Middlesbrough have played their home games at Bishopton Road West, Stockton Town.[33] The stadium underwent a £1 million redevelopment in 2015, and now includes modern facilities and a 3G pitch.[34] With affiliation into Middlesbrough Football Club in 2023, the team have select matches at the Riverside Stadium.
Players
Current squad
- As of 6 August 2023.[35]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserves
Middlesbrough operate a reserve team who compete in the FA Women's National League Reserve Northern Division, and play home games at Middlesbrough College.[36] The club also operate a development team, who play in the North Riding Women's Premier League.[37]
Club staff
- As of 18 September 2023.[35]
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Managerial history
Dates | Name |
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1996–2012 | ![]() |
2012–2013 | ![]() |
2013–2014 | ![]() |
2014–2018 | ![]() |
2018 | ![]() |
2018–2021 | ![]() |
2021–2023 | ![]() |
2023– | ![]() |
Honours
League
- Northern Combination Football League (level 3)
- Champions: 2001–02
- FA National League Division One North (level 4)
- Champions: 2015–16
References
- "Middlesbrough Women F.C." Middlesbrough Women F.C. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- "Club". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- "Internationals on show at league cup final". Long Eaton Advertiser. 27 April 1978. Retrieved 22 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Marrie Wieczorek joy as Team GB women make history". GazetteLive. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- "History of the Woman's FA Cup Final". The Football Association. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- "Ladies on the ball". East Cleveland Herald & Post. 29 September 1993. Retrieved 22 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Northern Combination – 2001/02 season". Northern Combination Football League. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- "Boro ladies target promotion". GazetteLive. 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- "Middlesbrough Ladies footballers back from North Korea". BBC. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- "Middlesbrough Ladies' team packed with young talent". GazetteLive. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- "MFC Ladies Sammie Leigh". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- "MFC Ladies". Middlesbrough Football Club. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- "Chairman and First Team Manager: Lindsey Stephenson". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- "FA Women's Premier League: Northern Division One 2014/15". The Football Association. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Title 'Means the World' to Boro". SheKicks. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- "Middlesbrough Women aim to make it back-to-back wins against Burton in the cup". GazetteLive. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- @BoroWomen (3 June 2017). "New season. New badge. New memories" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Club Statement: Fisher takes over Middlesbrough Women FC". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- "Marrie Becomes Football Welcomes Women's Ambassador". MFC Foundation. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- "Good Luck to Middlesbrough Women FC In FAWNL Plate Semi-Final". Middlesbrough Football Club. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- "Boro Women Announce Andy Campbell As Manager". Middlesbrough Football Club. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- "Women Preview: Burnley vs. Middlesbrough". Burnley Football Club. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- "Club Welcomes Middlesbrough FC Women". Middlesbrough Football Club. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- "Match Review: Boro Women 0 Stockport County 0". Middlesbrough Football Club. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- "Middlesbrough Ladies Football Club - 2013/2014 Club Sponsor - Wells Solutions". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- "NEWS: New Home Shirt Sponsor". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- @BoroWomen (2 November 2017). "Congratulations to our home shirt sponsor Northern Coffee Co on the official opening" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Middlesbrough Women FC announce new first-team sponsorship with TSL". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- @BoroWomen (8 August 2022). "Middlesbrough Women FC are excited to announce MAP Group UK Ltd will continue to be our first team sponsor for the 2022/23 season" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Durata Are The New Premium Partner Of MFC Women". Middlesbrough Football Club. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- "Middlesbrough Ladies Football Club". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 23 March 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- "Middlesbrough Women announce new Billingham Town base". SheKicks. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- "Home Ground Announcement". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- "New £1m facility in Stockton provides 'best sporting facilities outside pro football in the North-east'". GazetteLive. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- "Teams – Women's". Middlesbrough Football Club. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- "Middlesbrough Women Reserves". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- "Middlesbrough Women Development". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Retrieved 8 January 2023.