Chelsea Football Club Women
Chelsea is one of the biggest brands in football, the women of “The Blues” are in top form. Chelsea Football Club Women have been around for almost 3 decades. One of the biggest competitors for the title in the 2018-19 season, they have truly stepped up their game in the last few years. Based in Fulham, England, they currently compete in the top level of English football. The team born out of demand by the fans has been delivering for their fans, and the emblem on their chest.
History of the Club
Chelsea Ladies Football Club was formed in 1992. Fans of Chelsea F.C. insisted on having women represented by the club, and the team was formed. It took over a decade for the Chelsea Ladies Football Club to vote and agree upon being taken over by the Chelsea’s Football in the Community department. After this change in 2004, the team won a promotion as champions from the Southern Division to join the then top level of England in the Premier League National Division. This was the first time Chelsea Ladies participated in the top-tier and have stayed there since.
First season in the league did not go as planned as the coach was replaced and the team finished the season in the bottom of the league. They avoided relegation by beating Liverpool and remained in the league. The 2006-07 season saw the team finish 8th. 2008-09 brought in arguably the best midfielder in the world of women’s football in Lorrie Fair. It was the surprise of the year when Chelsea with their new signings finished the season in third place. The most shocking part was that the team did this with Lorrie Fair was injured for the entire season.
Chelsea Ladies were facing struggles when their funding was cut, but Chelsea F.C. men’s team legend John Terry along with few other players funded and saved the team. In 2011 the club cast their bid to be one of the eight founding teams in the FA Women’s Super League. After being successful the team set their eyes on trophies. The first final came in 2012 when the Chelsea Ladies reached the final of Women’s FA Cup. The loss followed a change in leadership as Emma Hayes took over the team.
Recent Accomplishments
Chelsea Ladies found success in 2014 as they finished second in FA WSL, missing the title with a last game loss to Manchester City. The 2nd place finished brought with it the first appearance in UEFA Women’s Champions League, a first for the club. Same year also saw them reach the semis in FA & Continental Cups.
In 2015 the team transformed announced that majority of their players would be becoming full professionals. In August of the same year, Chelsea won their first ever FA Women’s Cup, and the FA WSL. The double was the first one of the team but would be repeated again in 2017-18. Also, that very same year they reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
In 2018, the team was rebranded to their current name Chelsea Football Club Women. This name was in line with their affiliate Chelsea Football Club.
Current Squad & Staff
Chelsea currently has a 24-woman roster with players from 10 different countries. The goal is protected by the Swedish Hedvig Lindahl, and the top scorers on the team are Erin Cuthbert and Beth England, who both have 4 goals so far in the 2018-2019 season.
The crew is led by the manager Emma Hayes and assistant manager Paul Green. First team coach is TJ O’Leary.
Stadium and Kit
Since the 2017-18 season, Chelsea F.C. Women plays their home games at Kingsmeadow in Norbiton, Kingston upon Thames, London. Kingsmeadow has a capacity of 4,850. The Chelsea Women use the same blue and white colored home jerseys worn by the men’s team. The away jerseys are yellow with blue.