A warm welcome to the Loughborough University Stadium today as we host Northampton Town FC.
Women for our first home game of the 23/24 FAWNL season. Firstly and on behalf of the players and staff, I want to thank you for your support. Whether that’s here at the University Stadium, on the road
at away games or following across digital channels, your support doesn’t go unnoticed and we hope to give back some amazing memories and moments throughout this new season.
On that, I’d like to take the opportunity to welcome our newest additions to the Lightning family who have already hit the ground running through pre-season and the start of our league and cup campaigns, contributing with big performances, goals and assists. We welcome a vast amount of ability and experience as well as great people, which will only add to the special environment created and nurtured by Lightning players and staff past and present. Built around our core values, this remains a staple and a constant driver for us collectively to compete in what will be challenging season. We are
ambitious in terms of the high standards we hold ourselves and each other accountable for but we are under no illusion as to the size of the task ahead of us this season. There is nowhere to hide in this league and nothing is a given – everything we do will be hard earned and fought for.
It’s a huge week for us with a 3-game week and an opportunity to continue our league and cup
momentum. In the league, we come in to today following a hard-earned point on the road against a strong Sheffield team. This was followed by a great result and big performance away to Sutton
Coldfield, turning out 7-2 winners as part of the League Cup campaign. Whilst we continue to build our rhythm, we remain focused on the importance of points and results at this early stage of the season, starting today.
All the best, Kayleigh
The Cobblers had been promoted into Tier 4 as East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier champions, remaining undefeated and winning all but two of their 18 league fixtures the previous campaign. They had scored 78 and only conceded eight goals.
Key results included a 9-2 win at home to Rotherham United at Sixfields Stadium, a 1-0 victory away to Lincoln United and a 2-0 success away to Mansfield Town. There were also a number of big scorelines such as an 8-0 win away to Loughborough Students, a victory by the same margin away to Leicester City Ladies and an 11-1 success at home to Rise Park. Leah Cudone ended the season as Northampton’s top goalscorer in the league, netting 22 times. Alex Dicks was close behind her teammate, bagging 20.
There was also success in cup competitions as the Cobblers went on their record Vitality Women’s FA Cup run, knocking-out Rise Park, Tamworth, Bedworth United and Lye Town
before succumbing to higher-level Lincoln City in the third round proper. They also reached the EMWRFL Cup semi-finals and won the Northamptonshire FA Women’s Cup, defeating Peterborough United 2-1 in the final.
Josh Oldfield and Liam Williams’ side finished in a respectable fifth place in their inaugural campaign in the FAWNL Division One Midlands, earning 36 points in 22 games and ending on a goal difference of 19. Jade Bell and Dicks were Northampton’s joint-top scorers in the league, each finding the back of the net on 14 occasions. The Cobblers made a slow start to the season as they took time to find their feet at a new level. The campaign was kick-started by a 7-0 win at home to Long Eaton United, and they were able to climb the table thanks to results such as the important 2-1 victories at home to Peterborough and away to Solihull Moors and Sporting Khalsa. They ended the season on a high after an impressive 2-0 success away to the historic Doncaster Rovers Belles at the Eco-Power Stadium.
Gail and Paul Fox founded Loughborough Foxes in 1999, known then as Shepshed Foxes until 2002.
For their first 15 years, Foxes played in local leagues, before being promoted to the FA Women’s Northern Premier Division (the 3rd ranked tier of women’s football) in 2015. After the first season they suffered relegation but managed a promotion in 2018 to return to this tier. Winning this Midlands Division One title was actually a club record for Foxes, winning 22 games and drawing just 1.
Women’s Football Club offers many competitive opportunities. The performance team compete in the British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) Northern Premier League. When possible, players are also supported to play “external football” alongside the programme, most notably with our partner Loughborough Foxes (Tier 3), but also other Tier 3 and Championship clubs.
Each year Loughborough University invests a million pounds in performance sport, and a million pounds in facilities. Thanks to this investment, Director of Football Richard Allen is able to lead a professional programme of coaching and support.
As a first team performance squad member you will receive expert coaching, access
to our world class facilities, heavily discounted Powerbase gym membership, strength and conditioning training, nutrition, sports science and sports medicine support. Within the programme players also have access to Performance Lifestyle support and our top athletes can apply for scholarships.
The University’s performance team and the Loughborough Foxes have officially combined to launch a new Lightning programme that will compete nationally against some of the biggest names in the sport.
The clubs have worked in close collaboration for a number of years now with Head Coach Issy Martin overseeing both programmes since her appointment at the University in September 2019.
Lightning will compete in the FA Northern Premier League where it will face teams including Burnley, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, and West Bromwich Albion.
While the league proved challenging, we were successful in our run in the Leicestershire County Cup where we claimed our first silverware under the Loughborough Lightning brand, coming away with the trophy. Looking ahead to the upcoming season, new staff and new players mean that we are hopeful in our advancements in the Division One Midlands Tier.
We’re the record breakers, we’re the volunteers, we’re the supporters, we’re the history makers. United together through the love of sport and the moments that matter.
Be part of Loughborough Sport, be part of history.
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