Middlesbrough

Full name	Middlesbrough Football Club Women
Nickname(s)	Boro
Short name	MFCW
Founded	1976; 48 years ago (1976)
Ground	Bishopton Road West Riverside Stadium
Capacity	1,800 (200 seated) Bishopton Road West
Chairman	Steve Gibson
Manager	Michael Mulhern
League	FA Women's National League Division One North
2023–24	FA Women's National League Division One North, 2nd of 12
Website	https://www.mfc.co.uk
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Middlesbrough Football Club Women (/ˈmɪdəlzbrə/ ^ⓘ MID-əlz-brə) is an English women's football club. Founded in 1976, they currently play in the FA Women's National League Division One North, with home games played at Bishopton Road West, Stockton.

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]

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 1996 Marrie Wieczorek became full time manager. Under her guidance Middlesbrough won the 2001–02 Northern Combination, and were promoted to the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division.^[7] They remained in the Northern Division for four seasons, returning to the Northern Combination following relegation at the end of the 2005–06 season.^[8]

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]

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]

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.

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.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ENG Laura Wareham 2 DF  ENG Jane Harland 4 MF  ENG Bethany Guy 5 DF  ENG Ellen Packham 6 DF  ENG Abby Towers 7 FW  ENG Ellen Turnbull 8 FW  ENG Jessica Mett 9 FW  ENG Armani Maxwell 10 MF  ENG Lauren Robson

No. Pos. Nation Player 12 MF  ENG Eve Marshall 13 GK  ENG Ruby Cook 14 DF  ENG Emma Foster 15 FW  ENG Amber Rodgers 16 MF  ENG Francesca Ward 17 DF  ENG Millie Bell 18 MF  ENG Sarah Burn (captain) 21 FW  ENG Faye Dale 23 FW  ENG Nicole Havery

Middlesbrough operate a reserve team who compete in the FA Women's National League Reserve Northern Division, and play home games at Middlesbrough College.^[36] The club also operate a development team, who play in the North Riding Women's Premier League.^[37]

As of 18 July 2024.^[35]

Executive Members Role Person Chair of club Steve Gibson General manager Ben Fisher Management & Backroom Staff Role Person First Team Manager Michael Mulhern Assistant Manager Joe Lillie Goalkeeping Coach Iain Longstaff Fitness Coach Lee Phoenix Lead Physiotherapist Sarah Stones Performance Analyst Jason Elgie Under-23's Manager Dom Bylett Under-16's Manager Ben Fisher

Dates	Name
1996–2012	Marrie Wieczorek
2012–2013	Gemma Grainger
2013–2014	Samantha Leigh
2014–2018	Lindsey Stephenson
2018	Kelsey Byrne
2018–2021	Steph Fairless
2021–2023	Andy Campbell
2023–	Michael Mulhern

League

• Northern Combination Football League (level 3)
  • Champions: 2001–02
• FA National League Division One North (level 4)
  • Champions: 2015–16

• Durham W.F.C.
• Newcastle United W.F.C.
• Sunderland A.F.C. Women

• Official website

54°36′7.780″N 1°17′8.452″W / 54.60216111°N 1.28568111°W / 54.60216111; -1.28568111