Lincoln City Football Club is delighted to announce that from 1st June 2019, the current Nettleham Ladies FC team, will become Lincoln City Women.
The move is a rebranding of Nettleham Ladies, meaning the current coaching staff, players and committee will continue their tremendous work but now become part of the Lincoln City football family.
Nettleham Ladies have had success at grass roots level and currently play against the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion in the FA Women’s National League Division 1 Midlands League, which is step four of the women’s football pyramid and are aiming for further success. This led their manager, and former Imps’ player, Richard Cooper, to contact Lincoln City Football Club officials.
Roger Bates, Vice Chairman of Lincoln City Football Club is delighted to announce the rebrand alongside Nettleham Ladies manager, Richard Cooper, and commented it is right for the City, the community, both clubs and furthermore aids the future growth of women’s football in Lincolnshire.
Roger said: “As a board at the Football Club, we had it in mind that we might look at introducing a women’s team at some point. Richard approached to see if we could help by allowing them to become Lincoln City Women. Bringing women’s football to Lincoln City was something that was in our minds for the future, but suddenly as a result of the conversations with Richard and Nettleham it quickly came to the forefront of our thinking.
“The board were very quick to acknowledge it was a good thing to do, we have a significant female supporter base and we’re proud to have such a high percentage of women amongst our supporters. Women’s football continues to go from strength to strength and we felt it was something that ought to be part of our club."
Nettleham Ladies manager, Richard Cooper, said that the rebrand gives the Ladies team a perfect opportunity to grow and more importantly, allows them to look forward to a brighter future.
Richard said: “We raised the potential for a closer link with Lincoln City FC back in October last year and the prospect of a name change.
“It is imperative that the excellent work and achievements by all concerned behind the scenes were recognised and loyalty is shown for getting the team to where it is now. The team is overseen and operated by a passionate group of individuals that are fully supportive of the team flourishing as Lincoln City Women FC.”
“This came about due to the progress of the team into the FA Women’s National League Division 1 Midlands. For the team to focus on promotion in the near future we had to consider match day facilities that would meet certain ground regulations, that we currently can’t achieve. It was felt that it would be a shame if this held back the development and progress of the leading women’s team in Lincolnshire and so plans were discussed for the prospect of a Lincoln City Women’s team.
“This is a fantastic development for female football in Lincoln and the wider community, which will further create opportunities for women and girls to become involved with the team and Lincoln City Football Club.”
Lincoln City Ladies home stadium will be the Sun Hat Villas and Resorts Stadium on Ashby Avenue, the home of Lincoln United, and their chairman Rob Bradley is delighted to help the new look team.
“We are pleased to work with the Imps in several areas already and being able to help in terms of a providing a venue for the women’s team hopefully cements that working relationship even more.
“The growth of women's football is a phenomenon and Lincoln United are delighted to play a small but significant part in helping that happen in the city. The fact that the team we'll be hosting is a Lincoln City one is all the more reason to help.”
Further details will be announced in due course.