Bronte; Cowgate Kestrels; Davies Argyle; Town & County: these are some of the intriguing names of clubs that made up the three divisions of The Women’s Football Association National League’s inaugural 1991-92 season.
What’s also intriguing is the number of name changes that clubs underwent in the early days of the FAWNL. And sadly, how some of them have ceased to exist.
In case you don’t recognise the names of the aforementioned clubs - and if you wonder in which part of the country they were based - Bronte were from Bradford; Cowgate Kestrels eventually (after five name changes) became Sunderland AFC; Davies Argyle were Nottingham based; and Town & County were a Northamptonshire club.
Only two of the 24, Ipswich Town and Arsenal, were founded with the same name by which they are still known.
Here’s the list of those founder member clubs and their name changes plus, for a few of them, their demise.
National Division
Doncaster Belles: formed in 1969 as Belle Vue Ladies; name changed to Doncaster Belles in 1971; name changed to Doncaster Rovers Belles after affiliating with the men’s club in 2003.
Ipswich Town: formed in 1985, no name changes.
Knowsley United: formed as Newton Ladies in 1989; name changed to Knowsley United in 1991; name changed to Liverpool in 1994.
Maidstone Tigresses: expunged from the League by the FA in 1995 after refusing to move up to the top flight having won promotion as Southern Division champions.
Millwall Lionesses: founded in 1972; affiliated with men’s club Millwall FC mid-1980’s; split with Millwall FC in 2019 to become London City Lionesses, but in the same year within Millwall FC a new Millwall Lionesses team was formed.
Notts Rangers: merged with Spondon in 1992 to form Stanton Rangers; amalgamated with (and took the name of) Ilkeston Town in 1995.
Red Star Southampton: formed in 1979; name changed to Southampton Saints in 1995 following affiliation with men’s club Southampton FC; 2005 Southampton FC withdrew their support; 2019 club dissolved.
Wimbledon: formed as Friends of Fulham in 1974; name changed to Wimbledon in 1991; name changed to AFC Wimbledon in 2003 after Wimbledon men’s club re-named itself following the transfer of its Football League standing to become Milton Keynes Dons.
Northern Division
Bronte: founded in 1968, folded during the 1996-97 season.
Cowgate Kestrels: formed in 1989 as five-a-side team The Kestrels; name changed to Cowgate Kestrels, then changed to RTM Newcastle Kestrels in 1995; changed to Blyth Spartans Kestrels in 1996; and to Sunderland AFC when affiliating with the men’s club in 2000.
Davies Argyle: formed in 1990; changed name to Nottingham Argyle in 1992; relegated from League in 1995.
Sheffield Wednesday: formed in 1971 as Star Ladies; name changed to Sheffield Ladies and then Sheffield Wednesday after affiliating with the men’s club in 1984.
Spondon; formed in 1985; amalgamated with Notts Rangers in 1992 to form Stanton Rangers; amalgamated with (and took the name of) Ilkeston Town in 1995.
Sunderland: relegated from League in 1993; effectively folded when Blyth Spartans Kestrels became Sunderland AFC Women in 2000.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: formed in 1975 as Heathfield Rovers; changed name to Wolverhampton & Wednesbury Tube in 1978; changed name in 1984 to Wolverhampton Ladies; changed in 1993 to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Villa Aztecs: formed in 1973 as Solihull LFC; name changed to Villa Aztecs when becoming (men’s club) Aston Villa’s official women’s team in 1989; changed name to Aston Villa in 1996.
Southern Division
Abbeydale Alvechurch: formed in 1970 as Tildown LFC; changed name to Windsor, then to Batchley and then Abbeydale Alvechurch as they joined the WFA League in 1991; name changed to Abbeydale Ladies in 1992; name changed to Solihull Borough in 1994; relegated from League in 1995; disbanded in 1996.
Arsenal: formed in 1987, no name changes.
Brighton & Hove Albion; founded in 1967 as Brighton GPO; name changed to Brighton & Hove Albion when affiliating with the men’s club in 1990.
Broadbridge Heath: formed as Horsham LFC in 1981; changed name to Broadbridge Heath in 1991; name reverted to Horsham in 1992; changed name to Three Bridges in 1995; club disbanded after relegation in 2000.
Hassocks Beacon: Formed in 1978 as Hassocks Girls; name changed to Hassocks Beacon in 1991; changed back to Hassocks in 1993; relegated from League in 1994.
Milton Keynes: founded 1971; relegated from League in 1993.
Reigate: name changed to Epsom & Ewell Ladies in 1992; disbanded in 1994.
