Luton Town Ladies Football Club (/ˈluːtən/) is a semi-professional women's football club based in the town of Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Founded in 1997, Luton compete in the Eastern Region Women's Football League, with home games played at Sharpenhoe Road, Barton Rovers.[1] The club are affiliated with the Bedfordshire County Football Association.[2]
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| Full name | Luton Town Ladies Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Hatters | ||
| Founded | 1997 | ||
| Ground | Sharpenhoe Road Kenilworth Road | ||
| Capacity | 4,000 (160 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Mark Wareham | ||
| Manager | Myles Maddix (interim) | ||
| League | Eastern Region Women's Football League | ||
| 2022–23 | Eastern Region Women's Football League, 2nd of 11 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Luton achieved successive promotions from the fifth tier Southern Region Division One South, and the fourth tier Southern Region Premier Division during the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons. The club were promoted to the second tier after winning the 2008–09 South East Combination, but were relegated after just one season. After nine years in the FA Women's National League South East Division One, the club were relegated at the end of the 2018–19 season.
History edit
Formation and league development (1997–2010) edit
Luton Town Ladies Football Club was founded in 1997. After forming a partnership with Luton Town in 2000, the name Luton Town Belles was adopted in 2001, before the current name in 2006.[3] The club achieved a third place finish in their inaugural season, the 2001–02 Southern Region Division One North.[4] Luton were promoted to the Southern Region Premier Division after finishing the 2003–04 season as runners-up.[5] The club achieved a second promotion to the South West Combination following a runners-up finish in the 2004–05 season.[6] The club won the 2008–09 South East Combination, and were promoted to the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division. Luton were relegated back to the South East Combination at the end of the 2009–10 season.
Recent history (2010–present) edit
As a result of the restructuring of the FA Women's Premier League for the 2014–15 season, Luton competed in the newly formed FA Women's Premier League South East Division One. The club made their debut at Kenilworth Road on 15 October 2014,[7] with a 2–1 win against Bedford.[8] Luton reached the final of the 2017–18 FA Premier League Plate, but lost 5–0 to West Ham United.[9] The club were relegated to the Eastern Region Football League at the end of the 2018–19 season.[10] Rob Burton was appointed manager in June 2022.[11] Luton won the 2022–23 Eastern Region League Cup, beating Stevenage 2–1 in the final.[12]
Stadium edit
For much of Luton's history, the club played their home games at Stockwood Park Athletics Centre.[13] In January 2019, the club moved to the Brache, the training ground of the men's team.[14] In October 2022, the club moved to Sharpenhoe Road, Barton Rovers. With their partnership with the men's team, Luton also play some home games at Kenilworth Road.
Players edit
Current squad edit
- As of 14 January 2024.[15]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Managers edit
- As of 14 January 2024.
| Dates | Name |
|---|---|
| 2001–2013 |  David Baker
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| 2013–2022 | Nikki Baker
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| 2022–2024 | Robert Burton
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| 2024- | Myles Maddix (interim)
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Honours edit
League
- South East Combination League (level 3)
- Champions: 2008–09
Cup
- Eastern Region League Cup
- Champions: 2022–23
References edit
- ^ "Luton Town Ladies FC - Home Grounds". lutontownladiesfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ Association, The Football. "Female Teams". bedfordshirefa.com.
- ^ "Club history". Luton Town L.F.C. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ "Club history 2001/02". Luton Town L.F.C. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Club history 2003/04". Luton Town L.F.C. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Club history 2004/05". Luton Town L.F.C. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Kenilworth Road Host Luton Ladies Tonight". Luton Town. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Ladies Football: Kane bags Hatters winner". Luton Today. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "West Ham United Ladies win WPL Plate with Luton victory". West Ham United. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Luton Ladies stars stayed to get us back to where we belong, says boss Baker". The Lutonian. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Burton appointed Luton Town Ladies boss as Baker moves upstairs". Luton Today. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Cup Final Special – Stevenage FC Women v Luton Town Ladies". Women's Football East. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Luton Town Belles F.C." Luton Town Belles F.C. Archived from the original on 12 February 2003. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ @LTLFC_Official (21 January 2019). "Breaking News: New Home Ground for First Team" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Luton Town Ladies First". The Football Association. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
