Arsenal L.F.C.
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| Full name | Arsenal Ladies Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | The Gunners | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Meadow Park, Borehamwood (Capacity 4,502 (600 seated)) |
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| Manager |  Vic Akers |
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| League | FA Women's Premier League National Division |
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| 2007–08 | FA Women's Premier League, 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's football club affiliated with Arsenal FC. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football; the team have won the FA Women's Premier League ten times, the FA Women's Cup eight times, and the Women's League Cup nine times. In 2006-07 they won all three domestic trophies and the UEFA Women's Cup to complete a unique quadruple, as well as winning every single game of their League season.
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[edit] History
The club were founded in 1987 by Vic Akers, the kit manager for the Arsenal men's team, who today is still the club's general manager. They won their first major honour, the Women's League Cup in 1991-92. Later in 1992 they became founder members of the FA Women's Premier League and won the inaugural title; as of 2008 they have won ten of the 15 League titles[1] – the most of any club – and have won five titles in a row between 2004 and 2008.[2]
As of 2008 Arsenal have won the FA Women's Cup nine times, and the Women's League Cup nine times.[1] This includes four League and FA Women's Cup Doubles, in 1994-95, 2003-04, 2005-06 and 2007-08, and three domestic Trebles, in 1992-93, 2000-01 and 2006-07. Arsenal have represented England a total of six times in the UEFA Women's Cup, and had previously reached the semi-finals twice (in 2002-03 and 2004-05).
The 2006-07 season was Arsenal's most successful ever, having won not just all three domestic trophies but also the 2006-07 UEFA Women's Cup, beating Umeå IK in the final 1-0 on aggregate; this was the first time any British club has won the competition. This win was all the more remarkable because Arsenal's opponents were full-time professional players, whereas most of the Arsenal team had full-time jobs.[3] Additionally, Arsenal won all 22 games they played in the Premier League that season, scoring 119 goals and conceding just 10.[4] In recognition of the achievement, the team were honoured with The Committee Award by the Sports Journalists' Association in the 2007 Sports Journalists' Awards.[5]
Arsenal were unable to retain their European crown in 2007-08, after being knocked out by Olympique Lyonnais in the quarter-finals, but reached the League Cup Final (losing to Everton) and are top of the league with 17 wins out of 18, as of April 2008. Arsenal's last League defeat came against Charlton Athletic on October 15, 2003, meaning the club have been unbeaten in the league for over four and a half years. Additionally, during that spell Arsenal won a record 51 league games in a row, in a spell between November 2005 and April 2008.
[edit] Players
Initially founded as an amateur side, Arsenal Ladies turned semi-professional in 2002. Many of the club's players represent their international side; four of the first team, including England's biggest women's football star, Kelly Smith, were in the England squad for the 2005 European Championship. Ten of the current squad have played for England at the highest level;[6] the club also boasts internationals for Wales, Scotland and Republic of Ireland, with a total of fifteen members of the current squad having represented their country.[6]
Arsenal LFC also operate a reserve team, which is mainly formed from Academy players. The reserves have won four FA Women's Premier Reserve League titles and five FA Women's Premier Reserve League Cups in their history.
[edit] Stadiums
Arsenal Ladies play most of their home matches at Meadow Park, home of Isthmian League side Boreham Wood, in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. It has a capacity of 4,502, although attendances for most league matches are in the hundreds. Some home games are played elsewhere; some of Arsenal's UEFA Women's Cup matches are played at Clarence Park, home of St Albans City, and county cup and reserve matches, are played at Parkfield, home of Potters Bar Town.
[edit] Link with Arsenal FC
The Ladies side have the full backing and support of Arsenal Football Club. David Dein, the former vice-chairman of Arsenal FC, held the position of club President until he left the club on 18 April 2007, and was replaced by Keith Edelman Arsenal's managing director, until his departure from the club on May 1, 2008.
A number of the playing staff are employed by Arsenal to develop and co-ordinate the women's teams and club Academy. Ties between the two are close; sponsorship by Emirates and Nike is shared, and the Ladies club have been entitled to play at Arsenal's home stadium (Highbury until 2005-06, Emirates Stadium since then).
[edit] Current squad
As of February 2, 2008:[7]
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[edit] Honours
As of the end of the 2007-08 season.[1]
- 1992-93, 1994-95, 1996-97, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08
- 1992-93, 1994-95, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2000-01, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08.
- 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2004-05, 2006-07.
- 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006
- London County FA Women's Cup: 6
- 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1999-00, 2003-04, 2006-07
- AXA Challenge Cup: 1
- 1998-99
- National League South: 1
- 1998-99
- Highfield Cup: 1
- 1990-91
- Addidas Cup: 2
- 1991-92, 1995-96 1997-98
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Arsenal Ladies Honours. Arsenal.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
- ^ "Arsenal Ladies 4-1 Chelsea", Arsenal.com, 2008-04-28. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
- ^ Tony Leighton. "Arsenal boss hails Uefa Cup win", BBC Sport, 2007-04-29. Retrieved on 2007-05-06.
- ^ FA Women's Premier League : Table 2006-07.
- ^ Sports Journalists' Awards 2007. sportsjournalists.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
- ^ a b Arsenal Ladies History. Arsenal.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
- ^ Ladies Squad 2007/2008. Arsenal.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
[edit] External links
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Arsenal Football Club
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