Leeds Ladies FC: An introduction, and why they are an important cog in the city of Leeds’ machine

Editor’s note: As mentioned earlier this morning, we’ve signed our 11th staff writer for 2017 in Maz Brown. Maz is known online and elsewhere as a Leeds Ladies superfan, and she has agreed to bring Leeds Ladies coverage to our portfolio here at Through it All Together. We’re more than excited to have her help, and we think you’ll love what she brings to the table in this new year. (And if you’d like to join her in covering Leeds Ladies, just let us know.) #MOT.

Leeds Ladies were formed from the ashes of “Leeds United Ladies” when Massimo Cellino decided that Leeds United no longer needed a women’s football team. Gary Cooper, along with a few other people, decided that Massimo’s notion was incorrect and therefore came up with the idea of forming a club under the name Leeds Ladies FC. A few players from the Leeds United Ladies team came to join the newly formed club with players like captain Emma Bentley and Fiona Berry amongst others that wanted to carry on playing under the Leeds name.

And play they did.

The history of Leeds United Ladies should be mentioned before we move on, as without the likes of Sue Smith, Amanda Bell, and Lucy Ward, the former going on to play for Doncaster Rovers Belles, we may never have had the chance to play at a high level. We reached the FA Cup final twice in 2006 and 2008, and while we might not have won those matches, we still showed that Leeds could compete with teams.

I know for a fact that, under Leeds Ladies, we can do it again now.

As Leeds United fans, we need Leeds Ladies FC to become big again to show women’s football that Leeds are still capable of challenging if we get backed, if we get supporters in and if we can get players in to the side as well (which we have had no trouble in doing, I will elaborate on this in the future).

If by consistently writing about them, sharing the word about the club, and giving them as much coverage as possible (which as a “Superfan” I hope I am already doing), maybe, just maybe, we can do it. Support your local club, support your Leeds United, and support your Leeds Ladies. MOT.

To follow Leeds Ladies online, visit their website, their Facebook page, or their Twitter account.