Middlesbrough were founding members of the Northern Combination in 1998, and spent much of their early history in the third and fourth tiers of woman's football, aside from a brief spell in the second tier FA Premier League Northern Division from 2002 to 2006. The club officially became affiliated with the men's team in 2023.
Middlesbrough also have a reserve side competing in the FA Women's National League Reserve Northern Division. Their home games are played at Middlesbrough College.[1]
History
Formation and early years (1976–2010)
Middlesbrough Football Club Women was formed in 1976.[2] Originally known as Cleveland Spartans, they played in the Nottinghamshire Ladies League,[3] and were coached by Middlesbrough players Mark Proctor and David Hodgson.[4] The club reached the 1982 WFA Cup Final, losing 2–0 to Lowestoft.[5] Middlesbrough later played in the Yorkshire and Humberside Ladies League.[6]
In September 2010, Middlesbrough travelled to North Korea and played two friendly matches against April 25, losing 6–2, and Kalmaegi, losing 5–0.[9] In 2012 Gemma Grainger was appointed manager, and the club finished the 2012–13 season in fourth place.[10] Grainger left the club in 2013 due to commitments to the England U19 team, and was replaced by player-manager Samantha Leigh.[11]
Crest 2017–2023
As a result of the restructuring of the FA Women's Premier League for the 2014–15 season, Middlesbrough competed in the newly formed FA Women's Premier League Northern Division One.[12] Under new manager and owner Lindsey Stephenson,[13] the club finished the season in fourth place.[14] Middlesbrough won the 2015–16 Northern Division One, and were promoted to the Northern Premier Division.[15] In their first season back in the third tier of woman's football, Middlesbrough achieved a second-place finish.[16] In June 2017 the club unveiled a new crest.[17]
In January 2020, Ben Fisher was announced as new chairman,[18] while Marrie Wieczorek returned to the club as an ambassador.[19] Middlesbrough reached the semi-finals of the 2019–20 FA National League Plate, losing 2–0 to Watford.[20] On 24 August 2021, former Middlesbrough player Andy Campbell was appointed manager.[21] Middlesbrough were relegated to the National League Division One North at the end of the 2021–22 season.[22]
On 26 May 2023, the club officially became affiliated with the men’s team, and Michael Mulhern was announced as manager.[23] Middlesbrough played their first game at the Riverside Stadium on 17 September, a 0–0 draw against Stockport County.[24]
Kits
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
Stadium
During the 2000s, Middlesbrough played their home games at Central Avenue, Billingham Synthonia,[31] before moving to Teesdale Park, Thornaby Football Club, in 2010. In July 2018, the club moved to Bedford Terrace, Billingham Town.[32]
Since June 2022, Middlesbrough have played their home games at Bishopton Road West, Stockton Town.[33] The stadium underwent a £1 million redevelopment in 2015, and now includes modern facilities and a 3G pitch.[34] With affiliation into Middlesbrough Football Club in 2023, the team have select matches at the Riverside Stadium.
Players
Current squad
As of 18 July 2024.[35]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^"Middlesbrough Women F.C." Middlesbrough Women F.C. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
^"Club". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^"Internationals on show at league cup final". Long Eaton Advertiser. 27 April 1978. Retrieved 22 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Marrie Wieczorek joy as Team GB women make history". GazetteLive. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
^"History of the Woman's FA Cup Final". The Football Association. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
^"Ladies on the ball". East Cleveland Herald & Post. 29 September 1993. Retrieved 22 October 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Northern Combination – 2001/02 season". Northern Combination Football League. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
^"Boro ladies target promotion". GazetteLive. 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
^"Middlesbrough Ladies footballers back from North Korea". BBC. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
^"Middlesbrough Ladies' team packed with young talent". GazetteLive. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
^"MFC Ladies Sammie Leigh". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
^"MFC Ladies". Middlesbrough Football Club. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^"Chairman and First Team Manager: Lindsey Stephenson". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^"FA Women's Premier League: Northern Division One 2014/15". The Football Association. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
^"Title 'Means the World' to Boro". SheKicks. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
^"Middlesbrough Women aim to make it back-to-back wins against Burton in the cup". GazetteLive. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
^@BoroWomen (3 June 2017). "New season. New badge. New memories" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^"Club Statement: Fisher takes over Middlesbrough Women FC". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^"Marrie Becomes Football Welcomes Women's Ambassador". MFC Foundation. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
^"Good Luck to Middlesbrough Women FC In FAWNL Plate Semi-Final". Middlesbrough Football Club. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^"Boro Women Announce Andy Campbell As Manager". Middlesbrough Football Club. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^"Women Preview: Burnley vs. Middlesbrough". Burnley Football Club. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
^"Club Welcomes Middlesbrough FC Women". Middlesbrough Football Club. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
^"Match Review: Boro Women 0 Stockport County 0". Middlesbrough Football Club. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
^"Middlesbrough Ladies Football Club - 2013/2014 Club Sponsor - Wells Solutions". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^"NEWS: New Home Shirt Sponsor". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^@BoroWomen (2 November 2017). "Congratulations to our home shirt sponsor Northern Coffee Co on the official opening" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^"Middlesbrough Women FC announce new first-team sponsorship with TSL". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^@BoroWomen (8 August 2022). "Middlesbrough Women FC are excited to announce MAP Group UK Ltd will continue to be our first team sponsor for the 2022/23 season" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^"Durata Are The New Premium Partner Of MFC Women". Middlesbrough Football Club. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^"Middlesbrough Ladies Football Club". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 23 March 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
^"Middlesbrough Women announce new Billingham Town base". SheKicks. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^"Home Ground Announcement". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^"New £1m facility in Stockton provides 'best sporting facilities outside pro football in the North-east'". GazetteLive. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
^ a b"Teams – Women's". Middlesbrough Football Club. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
^"Middlesbrough Women Reserves". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^"Middlesbrough Women Development". Middlesbrough Women F.C. Retrieved 8 January 2023.