Kilmarnock FC Women
Full nameKilmarnock FC Women
Nickname(s)Killie
Founded1961 (as Stewarton Thistle)
GroundRugby Park, Kilmarnock
Capacity15,003
ChairmanDavid Howie
Head CoachJim Chapman
LeagueSWPL 2
2022–23SWPL 2, 4th of 8
WebsiteClub website

Kilmarnock FC Women is a women's football team based in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire that plays in the SWPL 2. Founded as Stewarton Thistle, the club is the oldest women's football team in Scotland and celebrated its 50th anniversary in July 2011.[1]

History

Stewarton Thistle

Local historian Alastair Barclay wrote in 1973 that a girls' soccer team was founded in Stewarton 12 years previously "more or less for laughs" but had quickly eclipsed the modest achievements of the town's male teams.[2]

Sue Lopez recorded in her Women on the Ball book (1997) that the club was formed in 1961 at the Lord Provost's request, to raise money for the Freedom from Hunger campaign. The club enjoyed local success and, with star player Rose Reilly, reached the final of the first ever Women's FA Cup in 1971. Played under the auspices of the English Women's Football Association, the competition admitted Scottish and Welsh teams in its early years. Stewarton Thistle lost 4–1 to Lopez's Southampton at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.[3] A few months later, however, Thistle did manage to defeat Southampton in the final of the Deal International Tournament, which featured teams from across Europe.[4] In the same year, Stewarton Thistle won the inaugural edition of the Scottish Women's Cup, winning 4-2 over Aberdeen Prima Donnas in the final.[5]

In 1972 they reached the Women's FA Cup final again, playing under the name of Lee's Ladies due to a naming–rights sponsorship deal. Southampton beat them again, 3–2 at Eton Park in Burton upon Trent.[6]

Kilmarnock

In 1999 the club became known as FC Kilmarnock Ladies.[7] The early part of the 2000s saw manager Jim Chapman assemble a strong squad with several Scotland women's national football team players.[8] The club won the league championship twice[9] and was Scotland's representative in the UEFA Women's Cup in 2002–03 and 2003–04.

Later in the decade Kilmarnock were much less successful, with a young and inexperienced side who often suffered heavy defeats. May 2010 saw a 29–0 loss at champions Glasgow City.[10] In 2011 they finished last in the Scottish Women's Premier League but were spared relegation because of a shortage of teams.[11] The team's only win of the season, 2–0 against Falkirk, was changed to a 3–0 defeat when it emerged one of Kilmarnock's players was six weeks short of her 15th birthday and ineligible for senior football.[12] However, in the 2012 season, they finished bottom again and they were relegated.

In 2017, former Kilmarnock player Shelley Kerr became the Scotland Women's national coach.[13]

In the 2018 SWPL season, newly promoted Kilmarnock lost their first league match of the season at home against Motherwell 2-1. After the match Kilmarnock complained that Motherwell had not followed correct SWF procedures. Kilmarnock were subsequently rewarded with a 3-0 win over Motherwell. The result put them top of the SWPL2.[14]

In January 2020, FC Kilmarnock Ladies was brought in house and under full control by Kilmarnock Football Club and was re-branded as Kilmarnock FC Women with former Rangers coach Andy Gardner being appointed as the team's new head coach ahead of the 2020 season.[15]

In July 2022, Kilmarnock Women's playing squad signed their first ever professional contracts in a landmark move for the club.[16] Former head coach Jim Chapman would also make a return for a second spell in charge ahead of the team's move into the newly formed Scottish Women's Premier League.[17]

First team squad

As of 12 January 2024[18]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Scotland SCO Holly Kerrigan
2 DF Scotland SCO Reese McCulloch
5 MF Scotland SCO Kerri Halpin
6 MF Scotland SCO Georgia Crooks
7 FW Scotland SCO Kirsty Munro
9 FW Scotland SCO Dionne Brown
10 MF Scotland SCO Abby Robinson
11 MF Scotland SCO Mhairi Fyfe
12 FW Scotland SCO Kelsy Crainie
14 DF Scotland SCO Laura McLaughlin (captain)
15 FW Scotland SCO Lauryn Reside
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF Scotland SCO Lucie Burns
17 DF Scotland SCO Alex Middleton
18 MF Scotland SCO Louise Cowan
19 MF Scotland SCO Arwen O'Brien
20 FW Scotland SCO Mary Jackson
21 DF Scotland SCO Rebecca Galt
23 FW Scotland SCO Georgina McTear
24 MF Scotland SCO Jordan McLintock
25 FW Scotland SCO Mhairi Crooks
31 GK Scotland SCO Ellie Currie (on loan from Hamilton Academical)

Former players

For details of former players, see Category:F.C. Kilmarnock Ladies players.

Honours

References

  1. ↑ "Stewarton Thistle/Kilmarnock Ladies 50th Year Celebrations". Scottish Football Association. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Football is the name of the game". Stewarton.org. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  3. ↑ Lopez 1997, p. 76
  4. ↑ "The Deal International Tournament". Women's Football Archive. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "Obituary - Susan Newlands, pioneer of women's football". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  6. ↑ Lopez 1997, p. 78
  7. ↑ "FC Kilmarnock". Scottish Women's Premier League. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Killie Ladies shine for Scotland". Killiefc.com. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  9. 1 2 Schoggl, Hans (30 April 2010). "Scotland (Women) - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Fraser (7 May 2010). "Glasgow City become record breakers as they smash incredible 29 goals past Kilmarnock". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  11. ↑ Smith, Lizzie (10 February 2012). "Kilmarnock FC: FC Killie ladies stay in Scottish top flight with new coach". Kilmarnock Standard. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  12. ↑ Smith, Lizzie (21 October 2011). "Kilmarnock FC: FC Killie Ladies to fight for SWPL survival". Kilmarnock Standard. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "Kerr confirmed as Scotland Women coach". BBC Sport.
  14. ↑ "SWF Statement – Thursday 22nd February, 2018". 22 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "Andy Gardner: Kilmarnock Women's Head Coach". kilmarnockfc.co.uk. Kilmarnock F.C. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  16. ↑ "Kilmarnock Ladies sign first professional contracts". kilmarnockfc.co.uk. Kilmarnock FC. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Kilmarnock: Seven sign professional contracts as Jim Chapman returns as boss". bbc.com. BBC Sport. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  18. ↑ "Women's Squad". kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  19. ↑ "#SBSSWPL : Glasgow City on verge of title". 22 October 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  20. ↑ "Kilmarnock Ladies Promoted To #SBSSWPL 2". 3 October 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  21. 1 2 Schoggl, Hans (24 September 2010). "Scotland (Women) - List of Cup Winners". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  22. ↑ "Stewarton's First Star Remembered". 25 May 2016.

Bibliography

  • Lopez, Sue (1997). Women on the Ball: A Guide to Women's Football. London, England: Scarlet Press. ISBN 1857270169.
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