Middlesbrough L.F.C.



Middlesbrough Ladies Football Club are the women's side of Middlesbrough FC. They currently play their matches in the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division One (2016/17 season), with home games played at Thornaby's Teesdale Park ground.

The club has close links with Middlesbrough College who are the team's away sponsors this season and also Teesside University. Over the last couple of seasons the team has been able to attract support from Sarah Borwell, Comedian Patrick Monahan and also Jason Steele (footballer).

Middlesbrough LFC also have a reserve side competing in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Reserves Division.

History
Middlesbrough LFC (originally known as Cleveland Spartans) was formed in the late 1970s, and was coached in the early days by then Middlesbrough FC players Mark Proctor and David Hodgson. In 2001–02, Middlesbrough LFC carried off the Northern Combination title for the first time and were promoted to the Northern Division of the Premier League, where they remained for four seasons. Since being back at Combination level, their best season came in 2010–11 when they finished third.

As a result of the restructuring of the FA Women's Premier League for the 2014–15 season, Middlesbrough LFC competed in the newly formed FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division One where they finished 4th. For the 2015–16 season, manager Lindsey Stephenson stated that the team's aim was promotion to the Premier League Northern Division.

Managers
Marrie Wieczorek (originally a talented central midfielder for the side) was manager for some 20 years, during much of the early development of Middlesbrough LFC. She was welcomed back as honorary president/chairman in 2012.

Lindsey Stephenson is the current manager (2015–16 season) and is also a football coach. She has over ten years experience in the women's game.

Other Middlesbrough LFC managers include UEFA A qualified, Middlesbrough born, Gemma Grainger who progressed to work with the national England Women's set-up for The Football Association as U20's assistant coach. 

Players
Jenni Duffy is captain of the side and is a sports coach and plays left back/centre midfield and Sarah Manning is the longest serving member of the current team who has been at the club since joining as a youngster back in 1997. Sarah is a determined, strong and tall player with a fantastic ability to control midfield. Sarah first joined Middlesbrough Ladies FC at age 13 but wasn't allowed to play until reaching 14 years old due to the FA rules that were in place. Marrie Wieczorek – Boro Ladies' long serving manager – saw her play at Boldon Girls FC and invited her to go training. Sarah made her debut for the first team just before her 16th birthday and once completing her undergraduate degree at Liverpool John Moores University, Sarah returned home and rejoined in 2008. A year later she was made captain.

On 11 October 2015, Bianca Owens scored eight goals in the 11–0 win against Lowick United in the third qualifying round of the SSE Women's FA Cup. She repeated the feat one month later on 15 November 2015 in the 10–2 league victory over Stockport County LFC.

Local rivalry
Norton and Stockton Ancients are a neighbouring team of Middlesbrough LFC and currently compete in the same league (2015–16 season).