Originally founded in 2013 as Coventry City Ladies, the club merged with non-League football club Coventry United F.C. to form Coventry United Ladies Football Club in 2015.[1] Prior to the 2022–23 season, the club was renamed Coventry United Women Football Club. In June 2023, following the club's relegation from the Women's Championship, the second tier of women's domestic football in England, Coventry United F.C.'s association with the women's team was terminated and the club relocated from Coventry to Rugby and was given its present name, affiliating with Rugby Borough F.C.[2]
In addition to the first team squad, the club operates a reserve team as well as youth teams at a variety of levels including under-11, under-13, under-15, under-16 and under-18.
History
Coventry United Ladies logo, used prior to the 2022–23 season
After three consecutive runners-up finishes, Coventry won the Midland Combination again in 2010 – scoring 66 goals in 22 league games.[3]
The club played at Coventry University Sports and Conference Centre, Westwood Heath and at Coventry Sphinx FC, before moving to the Oval, Bedworth. In August 2014 the club announced a move to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry for the 2014–15 season.[4] Midway through the 2014–15 season, Coventry Ladies were forced out of the Ricoh Arena after the arrival of Wasps RFC to the Ricoh. They found themselves playing at the Bedworth Oval once again.[citation needed]
In July 2015 they merged with Coventry United and moved into the Butts Park Arena, home of Coventry R.F.C. where Coventry United play. April 2019 saw the side win the National League South, the third tier in the women's game, seeing them gain promotion to the FA Women's Championship. There followed two hard-fought seasons in 2019/20 and 2020/21 where the club established themselves in the FA Women's Championship with a 9th and 10th-place finish respectively.[citation needed]
In 2021 Steve Quinlan, Paul Marsh and Darren Langdon bought a 49% stake in the club.[5] The club announced plans to turn professional and are beginning their first season as a fully professional club in 2021/22. The club announced plans to liquidate on 23 December 2021 however the club never entered into liquidation.[6] The club's last fixture before the announcement on 23 December 2021 was a 1–0 home victory over fellow FA Women's Championship side, Watford.[7] With a formal deadline set for 4 January 2022, investors Angels Group, headed up by CEO Lewis Taylor, made a bid to acquire the club and clear the debts to ensure the club could complete the season.[8] The offer was accepted and the club was rescued although the FA handed down a 10 points deduction for triggering an insolvency event although the club did not officially enter liquidation.[9] Coventry United Women appealed the decision on various grounds, however the appeal was unsuccessful. With few games to play in the Women's Championship, the points deduction was the equivalent of a 21 points deduction in the Men's Champions due to the available points difference.
In February 2022 Jay Bradford managed her 150th game as manager of Coventry United.[10]
United managed to stay up in the FA Women's Championship, despite the 10 point deduction, thanks to a famous Mollie Green free kick in the 97th minute to beat and relegate Watford.
At the end of the 2021/22 season, Head Coach Jo Potter, left her role followed by Manager, Jay Bradford. On 1 July, Assistant Manager, Kate Rowson also left her post. During the closed season, Coventry United Women FC announced plans to run a hybrid model, supporting both part time and full time players in a bid to stabilise the club's finances and focus on off-field structure. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine ongoing, this affected the club owners ability to invest larger sums. Coupled with increasing costs within the club, it was decided to run a hybrid model for 12 months whist rebuilding and becoming a sustainable club. Plans are to return to a full time professional model by the 2023/24 season.
The club updated its name from Coventry United Ladies to Coventry United Women, ahead of the 2022/23 season.
In July 2022, the club announced a triple appointment in Jack Heaselden, General Manager, Lee Burch, Head Coach and Sian Osmond, Assistant Manager. These key appointments helped to lay the foundations behind the club's 'project rebirth', designed to professionalise the club from within.
Players
Current squad
As of 7 December 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
