Rangers W.F.C.

Football club

Rangers WomenFull name| Rangers Women's Football Club

|

Nickname(s)| The Blue Belles
Founded| 2008
Ground| Broadwood Stadium
Cumbernauld, Scotland[1]
Capacity| 8,086
Owner| The Rangers Football Club Ltd
Chairman| John Bennett
Manager| Jo Potter
League| SWPL 1
2023–24| SWPL 1, 2nd of 12
Website| https://rangers.co.uk

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

|
|

Current season

Rangers Women's Football Club is a women's football team that plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League, the top division of women's football in Scotland. The team is the female branch of Rangers.

## History

[edit]

Paisley City Ladies, formerly Arthurlie Ladies, was founded at the start of the 1999–2000 season. As a new club they started in the third (lowest) tier.[2] In 2001–02 they played in Division One, directly under the Premier League, and stayed there until 2008.[3] In the 2007–08 season they suffered financial problems, and began to search for a partnership with another club.

Rangers L.F.C. was founded in 2008, as Rangers followed the example of Celtic, Hibernian and Aberdeen in developing a women's section. The formation of the team involved a partnership with Paisley City Ladies.[4][5][6] Former Rangers youth academy coach Drew Todd was brought in to coach the team. Scotland player Jayne Sommerville was signed as the new team's first captain.[7][8] They took the league place of Paisley City and many players switched too.[9] Rangers won the league in their debut season.[10] They also reached the final of the Scottish Women's Cup but lost 5–0 to Glasgow City;[11] they were the first side playing in a lower division to reach the final.[12]

Former East Stirlingshire footballer Scott Allison was appointed manager in 2010.[13] The club reached the Cup final again but were beaten 2–1 by Hibernian.[14]

In May 2011, Alana Marshall became the first female Rangers player to be called up by the senior Scotland team.[15]

In February 2012, The Herald newspaper reported that the financial crisis engulfing Rangers also threatened the existence of the club's women's section.[16] The team continued to operate under budgetary constraints, and having appointed Angie Hind as coach (who was able to add quality to the squad using her extensive network of contacts in the women's game)[8] they ended the 2014 SWPL season with a second place finish, the club's best result up to that point.

Ahead of the 2018 season, the official name of the team was changed to 'Rangers Women' from the previous 'Rangers Ladies'.[17] In July 2019, the club announced a significant commitment to women's football by integrating their teams more fully into its operations and providing further financial support with the aim of becoming professional. To this end, the incumbent coach Amy McDonald was installed in a new position as Women's Manager, with former player and youth trainer Grégory Vignal appointed as head coach of the senior team.[18][19] A few months later the team moved their home fixtures to the Rangers Training Centre in Milngavie following improvements made to its facilities, having previously been using New Tinto Park (home of Benburb F.C.) in the Govan area of Glasgow, near to the club's Ibrox Stadium.[20] In January 2020 Malky Thomson was appointed joint first-team coach alongside Vignal,[21] in June of the same year Vignal left the club Thomson was named head of the women's first team.[22] In 2022, an arrangement was reached to play home fixtures at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, due to capacity and parking issues at the training venue.[1]

## Current squad

[edit]

As of 12 June 2024[23]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  SCO | Jenna Fife
2  | DF |  SCO | Nicola Docherty (captain)
3  | DF |  SCO | Leah Eddie
4  | DF |  SCO | Kathryn Hill
5  | DF |  NIR | Laura Rafferty
6  | MF |  NED | Tessel Middag
7  | FW |  SCO | Brogan Hay
8  | MF |  ENG | Charlie Devlin
9  | FW |  SCO | Kirsty Howat
10  | FW |  ENG | Rio Hardy
11  | FW |  NIR | Megan Bell
13  | FW |  SCO | Jane Ross
14  | MF |  SCO | Mia McAulay
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

15  | FW |  SCO | Lizzie Arnot
16  | DF |  SCO | Eilidh Austin
17  | MF |  SCO | Sarah Ewens
19  | MF |  SCO | Chelsea Cornet
20  | MF |  USA | Camille Lafaix
22  | GK |  NZL | Victoria Esson
23  | MF |  SCO | Kirsty Maclean
24  | MF |  ENG | Olivia McLoughlin
26  | FW |  SCO | Jodi McLeary
44  | FW |  ENG | Katie Wilkinson
46  | FW |  SCO | Lily Boyce
53  | FW |  ENG | May Cruft

### Out on loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

-- | FW |  SCO | Mason Clark (at Motherwell until June 2025)
-- | FW |  SCO | Laura Berry (at Motherwell until June 2025)
-- | MF |  SCO | Sophie Black (at Motherwell until June 2025)
-- | MF |  SCO | Summer Laird (at Livingston until June 2025)
-- | DF |  SCO | Mia McArthur (at Livingston until June 2025)
-- | FW |  SCO | Cacee McKenna (at Spartans until June 2025)
-- | MF |  SCO | Kirsten Love (at Hamilton Academical until June 2025)
-- | FW |  SCO | Sophie Townsley (at Hamilton Academical until June 2025)
-- | DF |  SCO | Abi Tobin (at Hamilton Academical until June 2025)
-- | DF |  SCO | Millie Paton (at Queen's Park until June 2025)
-- | FW |  SCO | Maddie Maxwell (at Gartcairn until June 2025)

## Former players

[edit]

Main page: Category:Rangers W.F.C. players

## Coaching staff

[edit]

Position | Staff

|

Head Coach |  Jo Potter
Assistant Coach |  Jay Bradford
Assistant Coach |  Craig McPherson
Women’s and Girls Managing Director |  Donald Gillies
Goalkeeping Coach |  Daniel Tobin
Head of Women's and Girls Goalkeeping Coach |  Chris Flockhart
Women and Girls' Performance Analyst |  Jake Boon
Sport scientist |  Faye Bennett
Women’s and Girls’ Operations Co-ordinator |  Sara Spiers
Kit Controller |  Heather Renicks

## Season-by-season records

[edit]

Rangers Women F.C. seasons

Season  | League division  | P  | W  | D  | L  | F  | A  | Pts  | Pos  | Scottish Woman's Cup | SWPL Cup | Champions League
2008–09 | Scottish Women's First Division | 18  | 18  | 0  | 0  | 89  | 12  | 54  | 1st | Final  | n/a  | did not qualify
2009 | Scottish Women's Premier League | 11  | 4  | 0  | 7  | 20  | 27  | 12  | 7th  | Final  | Semi-final  | did not qualify
2010 | 22  | 8  | 4  | 10  | 52  | 53  | 28  | 8th  | Third Round  | Quarter-final  | did not qualify
2011 | 20  | 7  | 5  | 8  | 51  | 50  | 26  | 7th  | Quarter-final  | Semi-final  | did not qualify
2012 | 21  | 7  | 3  | 11  | 37  | 41  | 24  | 9th  | Semi-final  | Quarter-final  | did not qualify
2013 | 21  | 10  | 3  | 8  | 55  | 35  | 33  | 5th  | Quarter-final  | First Round  | did not qualify
2014 | 21  | 13  | 4  | 4  | 71  | 24  | 43  | 2nd  | Semi-final  | First Round  | did not qualify
2015 | 21  | 8  | 0  | 13  | 30  | 57  | 24  | 6th  | Third Round  | First Round  | did not qualify
2016 | 21  | 9  | 0  | 12  | 35  | 57  | 27  | 5th  | Semi-final  | Semi-final  | did not qualify
2017 | 21  | 6  | 2  | 13  | 33  | 51  | 20  | 6th  | Second Round  | Quarter-final  | did not qualify
2018 | 21  | 8  | 1  | 12  | 33  | 46  | 25  | 4th  | Semi-final  | Quarter-final  | did not qualify
2019 | 21  | 11  | 1  | 9  | 35  | 57  | 34  | 4th  | Quarter-final  | Semi-final  | did not qualify
2020[24] | 1  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 0  | 3  | x  | no competition | no competition | did not qualify
2020–21 | 21  | 16  | 0  | 5  | 76  | 10  | 48  | 3rd  | no competition | no competition | did not qualify
2021–22 | 27  | 25  | 2  | 0  | 97  | 11  | 77  | 1st | Fourth Round  | Quarter-final  | did not qualify
2022–23 | 32  | 24  | 6  | 2  | 111  | 9  | 102  | 3rd  | Final  | Winners  | Round 2
2023–24 | 32  | 26  | 4  | 2  | 113  | 18  | 82  | 2nd  | Winners[25] | Winners  | did not qualify

## European history

[edit]

Season  | Competition  | Round  | Opposition  | Home  | Away  | Aggregate

|
|
|
|
|
|

2022–23 | UEFA Women's Champions League
Champions Path  | QF Round 1 Semi-final  |  Ferencváros | 3–1
QF Round 1 Final  |  PAOK | 0–4
QF Round 2  |  Benfica | 2-3f | 1–2 (a.e.t.)  | 3–5
2024–25 | UEFA Women's Champions League
League Path  | QF Round 1 Semi-final  |  Arsenal | 0–6
QF Round 1 Third Place  |  Atlético Madrid | 0–3

f First leg.

## Honours

[edit]

* Scottish Women's Premier League: 2021–22[26]
* Runners-up: 2014,[27] 2023-24
* Scottish Women's First Division: 2008-09[28]
* Scottish Women’s Cup: 2023-24[29]
* Runners-up: 2008–09, 2010, 2022-23[30]
* Scottish Women's Premier League Cup: 2022–23,[31] 2023–24[32]
* City of Glasgow Women's Cup: 2022[33] 2023[34]

## See also

[edit]

* Old Firm

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Rangers: SWPL1 champions to host games at Broadwood Stadium, BBC Sport, 2 August 2022
2. ^ "Paisley City Ladies Football Club | Womens Football". Archived from the original on 22 October 2009.
3. ^ "Index of /NicsSeniorTimelines". scottish-football-historical-archive.com. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
4. ^ "Gers Launch Women's Team". Rangers FC. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2011.[permanent dead link]
5. ^ "Rangers Womans Team - Rangers Football Club - Info and club news". wordpress.com. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
6. ^ dailyrecord Administrator (15 July 2008). "Rangers launch women's team as female Old Firm clash looms". dailyrecord. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
7. ^ Spiers, Graham (15 July 2008). "Rangers dip their toes into women's game". The Times. Retrieved 2 August 2011.[dead link]
8. ^ a b The Story Of Women's Football In Scotland, Rangers FC on YouTube, 21 August 2023
9. ^ Steve Dinneen (28 June 2008). "Exclusive: Female Old Firm clash on cards as Rangers set to launch woman's team". dailyrecord. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
10. ^ "Rangers Ladies & Rangers Girls - Archiv - Qiumi - Das Fußballforum von Fans für Fans". qiumi.de. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
11. ^ "Ladies Lose Final". Rangers FC. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2011.[permanent dead link]
12. ^ "Rangers Ladies & Rangers Girls - Archiv - Qiumi - Das Fußballforum von Fans für Fans". qiumi.de. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
13. ^ Dixon, Andrew (14 April 2010). "Spotlight on new Rangers Ladies Head Coach". SFA. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
14. ^ "Women's Scottish Cup glory for Hibernian". BBC Sport. 14 November 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
15. ^ "Scotland Call Up For Marshall". Rangers FC. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.[permanent dead link]
16. ^ Campbell, Alan (18 February 2012). "Arsenal come calling for Glasgow City". The Herald (Glasgow). Retrieved 18 February 2012.
17. ^ "McDonald Excited At Progression". Rangers F.C. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
18. ^ "Rangers Women: Gregory Vignal made head coach as club aim to add pro players". BBC Sport. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
19. ^ "Rangers Women's Programme Investment Increased". Rangers F.C. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
20. ^ "New Academy Stand Opens". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers FC. 2 August 2019. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
21. ^ Shaw, Louise (28 January 2020). "Malky intrigued by challenge". rangers.co.uk. Rangers FC. Retrieved 4 October 2022.malky Thomson said the intrigue of a new challenge attracted him to becoming Joint Head Coach of Rangers Women
22. ^ Thomson, Nick (24 June 2020). "Vignal to vacate role". rangers.co.uk. Rangers FC. Retrieved 4 October 2022.gregory vignal will today vacate his role as Joint Head Coach of Rangers Women’s first team
23. ^ "Women's Team". Rangers Football Club. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
24. ^ Lewis, Jane (29 July 2020). "SWPL season declared null and void after one round of games". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
25. ^ "Report: Rangers 2-0 Hearts Women".
26. ^ Rangers end 14 years of Glasgow City dominance with historic SWPL title win, Rangers News, 8 May 2022
27. ^ "SWPL 1 Women 2014 Standings - Football/Scotland". www.flashscore.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
28. ^ "Scottish Premier League 2008/2009 :: Scotland :: Edition profile :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
29. ^ "Watch: Women's Scottish Cup final - Rangers v Hearts". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
30. ^ "Scotland (Women) - List of Cup Winners". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
31. ^ "Sky Sports Cup final - Rangers 2-0 Hibernian: Lizzie Arnot scores screamer and Kirsty Howat adds second to seal victory". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
32. ^ "Rangers Women 4-1 Partick Thistle Women: Jo Potter's side retain Sky Sports Cup with comfortable win at Tynecastle". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
33. ^ "Rangers claim first-ever City of Glasgow Women's Cup with win over Celtic". Glasgow Times. 24 July 2022.
34. ^ "Rangers mount late comeback to win Glasgow Cup over Celtic". heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023. "Rangers put down an early season marker after retaining the Glasgow Cup with a last gasp winner at Broadwood yesterday afternoon."

## External links

[edit]

* Fixture list on Rangers website
* Soccerway

* v
* t
* e

Scottish Women's Premier League

2024–25 teams|

| SWPL 1|

* Aberdeen
* Celtic
* Dundee United
* Glasgow City
* Heart of Midlothian
* Hibernian
* Montrose
* Motherwell
* Partick Thistle
* Queen's Park
* Rangers
* Spartans

|

SWPL 2|

* Ayr United
* Boroughmuir Thistle
* Gartcairn Women
* Hamilton Academical
* Kilmarnock
* Livingston
* Rossvale
* St Johnstone

Seasons|

| SWPL 1|

* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

|

SWPL 2|

* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

Cup competitions|

* Scottish Women's Premier League Cup

Categories|

* Managers
* Players
* Venues

* v
* t
* e

Rangers Football Club

* Players
* Internationals
* Managers
* Chairmen
* B Team & Academy
* Records and statistics
* Honours
* Current season
* Ownership

History|

* Club history
* Hall of Fame
* Past seasons
* Europe
* Nine in a row
* Administration and liquidation
* Notable matches

Home stadium|

* Fleshers' Haugh (1873–1875)
* Burnbank Park (1875–1876)
* Kinning Park (1876–1887)
* First Ibrox Park (1887–1899)
* Ibrox Stadium (1899–present)

Training ground|

* Rangers Training Centre

Incidents|

* 1902 Ibrox disaster
* 1971 Ibrox disaster
* 2008 UEFA Cup final riots

Supporters|

* Rangers F.C. supporters
* Club 1872
* Rangers Fans Fighting Fund

Rivalries|

* Old Firm
* Aberdeen rivalry
* Original Glasgow derby (Queen's Park)

Media|

* Rangers TV

Others|

* Broxi Bear
* Iron Curtain
* Superleague Formula team
* Rangers Women's team
* Rangers Charity Foundation
* Blue Heaven
* Signing policy

* v
* t
* e

Football in Glasgow

SPFL teams|

* Premiership: Celtic
* Rangers
* Championship: Queen's Park
* Partick Thistle
* League Two: Clyde

Lowland League teams|

* Broomhill

West of Scotland League teams|

* Premier Division: Benburb
* Drumchapel United
* Pollok

* First Division: Ashfield
* Petershill
* St Roch's
* Vale of Clyde

* Second Division: Caledonian Locomotives
* Maryhill
* St Anthony's

* Third Division: Finnart
* Glasgow Perthshire
* Glasgow United (formerly Shettleston)
* Glasgow University

* Fourth Division: BSC Glasgow
* Easterhouse
* Giffnock SC (formerly Harmony Row)
* Knightswood

Amateur teams|

* Drumchapel Amateurs

Women's teams|

* SWPL1: Celtic
* Glasgow City
* Partick Thistle
* Queen's Park
* Rangers
* SWPL2: Glasgow Women
* Rossvale

Youth teams|

* St Patrick's Sports Academy (formerly Celtic Boys Club)
* Celtic Academy
* Rangers Academy

Defunct League teams|

* Cowlairs
* Linthouse
* Northern
* Third Lanark
* Thistle

Venues|

* Cathkin Park
* Celtic Park
* Firhill Stadium
* Hampden Park
* Ibrox Stadium
* Lesser Hampden
* Lochburn Park
* Newlandsfield Park
* Petershill Park
* Saracen Park
* Toryglen Regional Football Centre

Other topics|

* All clubs
* Glasgow Cup
* Glasgow FA
* Old Firm
* Scottish Football Museum
* SJFA West Region

Teams in italics are no longer based in, or do not currently play home games in, Glasgow
*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template