History of Huddersfield Town Ladies Football Club
04 Jul 2009

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN LADIES A HISTORY OF THE CLUB
The club was originally founded on 15 June 1988 as Huddersfield Ladies FC and joined the North-East Regional League Division 2 where, in their first season, they won the league Cup and were promoted to Division one as champions.

Over the next few seasons there were signs that an exciting team was beginning to emerge and season 1992-3 saw them 3rd in the league and runners-up in the League Cup to a very experienced Doncaster Town. Rumours of town�s exciting style of play began to attract players from else where during the close season and the 1993-4 season began with a 2 1 victory over Doncaster Belles whose side included at least eight players who were to go on to win the WFA Cup that year. The average age of the side was 20 and the team were recognised across the region with several players winning representative honours at Open age and under 21 levels.

At the end of 1992-3 season, Huddersfield ladies merged with Huddersfield Town Juniors, becoming Huddersfield Town Ladies FC. The immediate benefit was that the new club boasted competitive teams at Open age (2), Under 16, Under 14 and Under 12 levels.

Season 1993-94 saw the 1st team carry all before them, losing only once all season and winning the League championship, the league cup, the Yorkshire cup, Arco 7-a-side cup, the regional 5-a-side trophy and at Woking they were crowned National 5-a-side champions. Leading scorer was Tina Brammar whose 103 goals earned her an entry in the Guinness Book of records. With strike partner Jacky Knight also chipping in with over 50 goals, both girls were duly called up for England during the season and went on to win their first International caps.

The following season saw the 1st team retain the league championship, winning all 16 league matches and scoring 101 goals in the process, only conceding 14. Although failing to retain the Knock-out cup, Town held on to the Yorkshire Cup, beating a strong Newcastle side 5 3 in the final. In the W.F.A. Cup, the club reached the quarter finals, only to go out to Bristol City by the odd goal in seven in injury time. However the club were elected to the Womens Premier League through success in the play-offs.

In the following season Town were runners up in the division to Tranmere. However, in subsequent seasons we were never able to mount a sustained challenge although this was in part offset by good runs in the W.F.A. Cup.

Eventually Town were relegated twice over successive seasons to the Yorkshire and Humberside Premier League. However, in the same period a lot of time and effort was invested in producing a new crop of talented young players from within our own junior ranks. Last season saw the team, containing several teenagers; qualify for the more prestigious North East Premier League. As the juniors gained experience, under the guidance of former England World Cup Player, Clare Taylor, so the results improved, with the team going on long unbeaten runs over the second half to the season and reaching 3 semi finals.

During the 2006/7 season Town�s first team finished in second place in the first season of the North East Premier League and reached the final of the West Riding Women�s Cup, losing 2 1 to a controversial Bradford City goal.

For the last two or three years Town Ladies have been re-building. Managed for the last 10 years by Micky Booth, he commented recently that this is the strongest squad of players that he has managed, with many more to come through the junior ranks.

The first team squad of 2010/2011 had an average age of only 21 a celebrated their best season for many years.
They lost narrowly to Rotherham United in the final of the Sheffield & Hallamshire County cup.
From there they went on to win the league and cup double, beating Whitley Bay in the league cup final and coming from 17 points behind Barnsley to snatch the league title in the last game of the season gaining promotion from the North East Regional Women's Premier Division to the Northern Women's Combination league.

Town Ladies became officially linked with Huddersfield Town AFC in March 2010 and today wear the official Town kit.

For the 2011/12 season Town ladies will run the following teams:

Open Age 1st Team - minimum age 16 years
League: Northern Women's Combination League
Home matches played at Canalside Sports Complex, Leeds Road, Huddersfield

Open Age Reserve Team - minimum age 16 years
League: West Riding County Women's Football League
Home matches played at Grange Moor Football Club

Under 16s as at 1st Sept
League: West Riding Girls League
Home matches played at Grange Moor Football Club

Under 14s as at 1st Sept
League: Sheffield & Hallamshire Girls League
Home matches played at Grange Moor Football Club


Under 12s as at 1st Sept
League: Sheffield & Hallamshire Girls League
Home matches played at Grange Moor Football Club