Curzon Ashton L.F.C.

Curzon Ashton Ladies

Full name	Curzon Ashton Ladies Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Blues
Founded	1988 (as Oldham Athletic LFC)
Ground	Tameside Stadium (Capacity: 4,000)
Chairperson	Heather Bellingham
Manager	Glyn Jones
League	WPL Northern Division
2009–10	WPL Northern Division, 5th
Home colours Away colours

Curzon Ashton Ladies Football Club is an English women's football club affiliated with Curzon Ashton F.C.. The club were known as Oldham Curzon Ladies Football Club until June 2005.^[1] They currently play in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division. In 2008–09 they finished in tenth place, two points clear of relegation.

The club has youth teams from U10s and a reserve team. They also host the Greater Manchester girl's Centre of Excellence.^[2]

History

The club was founded in 1988 as Oldham Athletic Ladies FC and began playing in the North West women's league in 1990.^[2] Several promotions were won over the following seasons and the club set up youth squads.^[2] In 1998 they moved to Ashton-under-Lyne and changed their name to Oldham Curzon Ladies FC.

A third-placed finish followed in 1998–99, in the club's first season in the Northern Combination. Then in 1999-00 Oldham Curzon won the Northern Combination and promotion to the Premier League Northern Division.^[2]

In 2000–01 Oldham Curzon were runners-up to Leeds United, then they finished third in the following two seasons. In 2003–04 and 2004–05 the club finished lower down the league, before the club name changed to Curzon Ashton Ladies FC in 2005. Performances did not improve and the club flirted with relegation in 2005–06 and dropped back into the Northern Combination in 2007.

Curzon Ashton won the 2007–08 Northern Combination and sealed the title with a 15–0 home win over Hull City Ladies.^[3] Mark Bradshaw took over as manager and led the club to Premier League Northern Division safety that season.^[4]

Colours and badge

The playing colours of Curzon Ashton Ladies are identical to those of Curzon Ashton men.

Stadium

In summer 2005 the club moved into the £4m Tameside Stadium, a Conference compliant stadium including a separate third-generation full-size all-weather facility. The ground was built for the Club by Tameside MBC assisted by a £500,000 grant from The Football Foundation.^[1][2]

Current squad

Players used in season 2009–10

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 GK Lauren Bracewell GK Freya Lees DF Gail Pennington MF Kate Hooley DF Sophie Riley DF Sophie Turrell DF Kellie-Ann Leyland MF Leanne Smith MF Carla Cleworth MF Charlotte Robertson MF Jodie Redgrave MF Hannah McDonough

No. Position Player MF Aimee Henry MF Becky Lee MF Amanda Goodwin (captain) FW Emma Lambourne FW Isabella Hayes FW Shelley James FW Nicky McLeod FW Nicky Maylett FW Kate Bryan FW Ashley Ellams MF Charlotte Higginson MF Kim Hines MF Patrice Shirley

Notable former players

• Kay Hawke

Honours

^[2]

• FA Women's Premier League Northern Division:
  • Runners-up (1): 2000–01

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Oldham Curzon Change Name". Fair Game. http://www.fairgamemagazine.net/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=1637. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "A Brief History". Curzon Ashton LFC. http://www.curzonashtonlfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=53. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
3. ^ "Curzon Ashton Finish In Style". Fair Game. http://www.fairgamemagazine.net/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=4797. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
4. ^ "Interview:Mark Bradshaw/Curzon Ashton". She Kicks. http://www.shekicks.net/flog/blogs/post/76. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 

External links

• Official site