2020–21 Birmingham City W.F.C. season

The 2020–21 Birmingham City W.F.C. season was the club's 53rd season in existence and their 10th in the FA Women's Super League, the highest level of the football pyramid, having been founding members of the league in 2011. Along with competing in the WSL, the club will contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Birmingham City
2020–21 season
ChairmanEdward Cheng
Head CoachCarla Ward
StadiumDamson Park, Solihull
FA WSL11th
FA CupQuarter-final
League CupGroup stage
Top goalscorerLeague: Claudia Walker (5)
All: Claudia Walker (8)

Carla Ward was appointed manager ahead of the new season on 13 August 2020, taking over from Charlie Baxter who had been put in charge on an interim basis following the departure of Marta Tejedor during the previous campaign.[1]

On 5 April 2021, it was revealed a formal letter signed by all Birmingham City players had been sent to the club's board with a list of complaints including concerns about working conditions, lack of gym facilities, medical support, travel provisions, squad size and part-time coaching staff which would contradict WSL licensing rules. Numerous requests by the squad to meet with the board had previously been rejected and there was a fear that the club was not committed to funding a full-time team for the following season with only three players under contract past June 2021.[2] The letter received support from the PFA as well as mass social media coverage from former and current players around the WSL.[3] On 8 April, the letter was addressed in a club statement with the board expressing their disappointment an internal issue was made public, refuting the factual accuracy of many of the points reported and citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as context for both the financial strain and practical difficulties with regards to providing adequate facilities but reaffirming they were still committed to supporting the team. The statement also confirmed a deal had been agreed to host the women's team's home games at the club's main St Andrew's stadium for the 2021–22 season.[4]

On 14 May 2021, Ward announced her resignation effective as of the team's final game of the season on 16 May.[5]

Squad

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As of 23 April 2021.[6]

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   ENG Hannah Hampton
2 MF   ENG Sarah Mayling
3 DF   IRL Harriet Scott
4 MF   ENG Ruby Mace[a]
8 MF   ENG Mollie Green
9 FW   GRE Veatriki Sarri
10 MF   SCO Christie Murray
11 FW   SCO Abbi Grant
12 FW   IRL Ruesha Littlejohn
14 FW   ENG Emma Kelly
16 DF   ENG Georgia Brougham (on loan from Everton)
17 MF   ENG Heidi Logan
18 FW   ENG Claudia Walker
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW   ENG Lucy Whipp
20 DF   SCO Jamie-Lee Napier (on loan from Chelsea)
21 GK   ENG Imogen Maguire
22 MF   ENG Connie Scofield
24 GK   ENG Sophie Whitehouse
25 MF   NIR Rebecca Holloway
26 DF   ENG Lily Simkin
29 MF   ENG Ella Powell
30 DF   ENG Gemma Lawley
32 DF   ENG Abi Cowie
35 FW   ENG Emily Murphy (on loan from Chelsea)
GK   POL Daniela Kosinska[b]
  1. ^ Dual registration with Arsenal
  2. ^ Dual registration with Stoke City

FA Women's Super League

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Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
22 3 6 13 15 44  −29 14[a] 0 4 7 6 24  −18 3 2 6 9 20  −11

Last updated: 9 May 2021.
Source: FA WSL

  1. ^ On 7 May 2021, Birmingham City were deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player in a draw against Reading on 25 April 2021.[7]

Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
GroundAHHAAHAAAHAAHHHAHAHHAH
ResultLLLWWLWLLDLDLLLDDLDDLL
Position1011108776778899999991091011
Source: [citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

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6 September 2020 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–0 Birmingham City Crawley
14:00
Report
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Rob Whitton
13 September 2020 2 Birmingham City 2–5 Manchester United Solihull
14:00
Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Lucy Oliver
4 October 2020 3 Birmingham City 0–1 Chelsea Solihull
14:30 Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Abigail Byrne
11 October 2020 4 Reading 0–1 Birmingham City Reading
14:00 Report
Stadium: Madejski Stadium
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Sarah Garratt
18 October 2020 5 Bristol City 0–4 Birmingham City Bath
14:00
Report
Stadium: Twerton Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Stacey Pearson
8 November 2020 6 Birmingham City 1–2 West Ham United Solihull
14:00
Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Richie Watkins
14 November 2020 7 Aston Villa 0–1 Birmingham City Walsall
14:30
Report
Stadium: Bescot Stadium
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Rebecca Welch
6 December 2020 8 Arsenal 3–0 Birmingham City Borehamwood
14:00
Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Referee: Cristiana Hattersley
13 December 2020 Birmingham City P–P Everton Solihull
14:00 Stadium: Damson Park
Note: Postponed due to waterlogged pitch[8]
20 December 2020 Birmingham City P–P Manchester City Solihull
14:00 Stadium: Damson Park
Note: Postponed due to waterlogged pitch[9]
10 January 2021 9 Tottenham Hotspur H–W Birmingham City Canons Park
14:00 Stadium: The Hive
Note: Postponed due to Birmingham player shortage.[10] On 18 March 2021, an independent tribunal awarded three points to Tottenham after Birmingham were deemed to have breached Rule 11.3.18. in failing to fulfil the fixture. No scoreline was specified.[11]
17 January 2021 10 Birmingham City 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Solihull
14:00 Report Kerkdijk   64' Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Helen Conley
20 January 2021 Birmingham City P–P Everton Solihull
19:00 Stadium: Damson Park
Note: Rescheduled from 13 December 2020 due waterlogged pitch. Postponed due to waterlogged pitch.[12]
24 January 2021 11 Manchester United 2–0 Birmingham City Leigh
12:00
Report
Stadium: Leigh Sports Village
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Stacey Pearson
7 February 2021 12 Everton 1–1 Birmingham City Liverpool
14:00
Report
Stadium: Walton Hall Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Lisa Benn
10 February 2021 Birmingham City P–P Aston Villa Solihull
18:00 Stadium: Damson Park
Note: Postponed due to frozen pitch[13]
28 February 2021 13 Birmingham City 0–4 Manchester City Burton upon Trent
14:00
Report
Stadium: St George's Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Helen Conley
Note: Rescheduled from 20 December 2020 due to waterlogged pitch. Venue changed by WSL Executive Operations Committee after Damson Park was deemed not to meet requirements.[14]
7 March 2021 14 Birmingham City 0–4 Arsenal Burton upon Trent
14:00
Report Stadium: St George's Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Jane Simms
Note: Venue changed by WSL Executive Operations Committee after Damson Park was deemed not to meet requirements.[15]
11 March 2021 15 Birmingham City 0–4 Everton Burton upon Trent
19:00
Report
Stadium: St George's Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Lisa Benn
Note: Rescheduled from 20 January 2021 due to waterlogged pitch. Venue changed by WSL Executive Operations Committee after Damson Park was deemed not to meet requirements.
17 March 2021 16 West Ham United 2–2 Birmingham City Dagenham
19:30
Report
Stadium: Victoria Road
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Stacey Pearson
28 March 2021 17 Birmingham City 1–1 Bristol City Solihull
16:00
Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Kirsty Dowle
4 April 2021 18 Chelsea 6–0 Birmingham City Kingston upon Thames
12:30
Report
Stadium: Kingsmeadow
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Jane Simms
25 April 2021 19 Birmingham City 1–1 Reading Solihull
14:00
Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Lucy May
Note: On 7 May 2021, Birmingham were deducted the point earned from this game having fielded Ruesha Littlejohn in error, thinking the player had served her league suspension in the FA Cup game seven days earlier. The club were also fined £400 and Littlejohn was forced to serve a one match ban.[7]
28 April 2021 20 Birmingham City 1–1 Aston Villa Solihull
18:00
Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Jane Simms
Note: Rescheduled from 10 February 2021 due to frozen pitch
2 May 2021 21 Manchester City 4–0 Birmingham City Manchester
15:00
Report Stadium: Academy Stadium
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Emily Heaslip
9 May 2021 22 Birmingham City 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur Solihull
14:30
Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Lisa Benn

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
8 Tottenham Hotspur 22 5 5 12 18 41 −23 20
9 West Ham United 22 3 6 13 21 39 −18 15
10 Aston Villa 22 3 6 13 15 47 −32 15
11 Birmingham City 22 3 6 13 15 44 −29 14[a]
12 Bristol City (R) 22 2 6 14 18 72 −54 12 Relegation to the Championship
Source: FA WSL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ On 7 May 2021, Birmingham City were deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player in a draw against Reading on 25 April 2021.[16]

Women's FA Cup

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As a member of the top two tiers, Birmingham City will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper. Originally scheduled to take place on 31 January 2021, it was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.[17][18] Due to the delay, the competition only reached the fifth round before the end of the season. It resumed at the quarter-final stage the following season on 29 September 2021, at which point Scott Booth was Birmingham City manager.

18 April 2021 Fourth round Birmingham City 5–1 Coventry United Solihull
14:00
Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
16 May 2021 Fifth round Birmingham City 3–2 Southampton Solihull
12:30
Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
29 September 2021 Quarter-final Birmingham City 0–4 Chelsea Birmingham
19:45 Report
Stadium: St Andrew's
Referee: Elizabeth Simms
Note: Managed by Scott Booth

FA Women's League Cup

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7 October 2020 Group stage Blackburn Rovers 0–1 Birmingham City Bamber Bridge
19:45 Report
Stadium: Irongate
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
9 December 2020 Group stage Birmingham City 0–0
(5–6 p)
Leicester City Solihull
14:00 Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Referee: Sarah Garratt
Penalties
Note: Rescheduled from 18 November 2020 following positive COVID-19 test by Birmingham player.[19]

Group E

Pos Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Leicester City 2 1 1 0 0 5 2 +3 5 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 Birmingham City 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 +1 4 Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3 Blackburn Rovers 2 0 0 0 2 2 6 −4 0
Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

Ranking of second-placed teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W WPEN LPEN L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 A Durham 3 2 0 1 0 12 3 +9 7 2.33 Advanced to knock-out stage
2 F Crystal Palace 3 2 0 0 1 10 6 +4 6 2.00
3 D Reading 3 2 0 0 1 6 3 +3 6 2.00
4 E Birmingham City 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 +1 4 2.00
5 C Everton 3 2 0 0 1 3 3 0 6 2.00
6 B Arsenal 3 1 1 0 1 7 6 +1 5 1.67
Source: thefa.com

Squad statistics

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Appearances

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As of 29 September 2021

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No. Pos Nat Player Total FA WSL FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   ENG Hannah Hampton 23 0 21 0 0+1 0 1 0
2 MF   ENG Sarah Mayling 21 3 18 0 2 3 0+1 0
3 DF   IRL Harriet Scott 23 0 20 0 1+1 0 1 0
4 MF   ENG Ruby Mace 13 2 11 2 2 0 0 0
8 MF   ENG Mollie Green 21 2 11+6 1 2 1 2 0
9 FW   GRE Veatriki Sarri 3 1 0+1 1 2 0 0 0
10 MF   SCO Christie Murray 20 2 15+1 2 2 0 0+2 0
11 FW   SCO Abbi Grant 4 0 0+2 0 0+1 0 1 0
12 FW   IRL Ruesha Littlejohn 11 0 11 0 0 0 0 0
14 FW   ENG Emma Kelly 19 0 8+8 0 1 0 2 0
16 DF   ENG Georgia Brougham 23 0 19 0 1+1 0 2 0
17 MF   ENG Heidi Logan 1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
18 FW   ENG Claudia Walker 25 8 20+1 5 2 2 1+1 1
19 MF   ENG Lucy Whipp 24 0 12+8 0 2+1 0 1 0
20 DF   SCO Jamie-Lee Napier 23 1 17+2 1 2 0 2 0
21 GK   ENG Imogen Maguire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 MF   ENG Connie Scofield 10 0 6+2 0 0 0 1+1 0
24 GK   ENG Sophie Whitehouse 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
25 MF   NIR Rebecca Holloway 26 0 20+1 0 3 0 1+1 0
26 DF   ENG Lily Simkin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 MF   ENG Ella Powell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 DF   ENG Gemma Lawley 9 0 2+3 0 2 0 2 0
32 DF   ENG Abi Cowie 1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
35 FW   ENG Emily Murphy 13 3 8+3 1 0+2 2 0 0
GK   POL Daniela Kosinska 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Joined during 2021–22 season but competed in the postponed 2020–21 FA Cup:
1 GK   IRL Marie Hourihan 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
4 DF   IRL Louise Quinn 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
8 MF   SCO Lisa Robertson 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
11 FW   ENG Jade Pennock 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
14 MF   IRL Jamie Finn 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
22 FW   IRL Eleanor Ryan-Doyle 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
23 FW   IRL Emily Whelan 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Players who appeared for the club but left during the season:
4 DF   SCO Rachel Corsie 9 1 7 1 0 0 1+1 0
7 MF   NIR Chloe McCarron 12 0 4+6 0 0 0 2 0
23 MF   ENG Destiney Toussaint 8 0 1+5 0 0 0 1+1 0

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date Position Nationality Name From Ref.
21 August 2020 MF   Christie Murray   Liverpool [20]
28 August 2020 MF   Chloe McCarron   Linfield [21]
6 September 2020 MF   Destiney Toussaint   London Bees [22]
7 September 2020 MF   Mollie Green   Manchester United [23]
7 January 2021 FW   Veatriki Sarri   Sheffield United [24]
16 January 2021 FW   Ruesha Littlejohn   Leicester City [25]
30 January 2021 GK   Sophie Whitehouse   Tottenham Hotspur [26]

Loans in

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Date Position Nationality Name To Until Ref.
28 August 2020 DF   Rachel Corsie   Utah Royals 15 January 2021 [27][28]
4 September 2020 DF   Georgia Brougham   Everton End of season [29]
4 September 2020 DF   Jamie-Lee Napier   Chelsea End of season [30]
7 October 2020 GK   Daniela Kosinska[a]   Stoke City End of season [31]
16 January 2021 FW   Emily Murphy   Chelsea End of season [32]
2 February 2021 MF   Ruby Mace[a]   Arsenal End of season [33]
  1. ^ a b Dual registration

Transfers out

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Date Position Nationality Name To Ref.
28 May 2020 MF   Brianna Visalli   Houston Dash [34]
1 June 2020 DF   Adrienne Jordan   OL Reign [35]
4 June 2020 DF   Freya Gregory   Aston Villa [36][37]
MF   Abbey Jones   Aston Villa
7 June 2020 MF   Olivia Rabjohn   Aston Villa
10 June 2020 GK   Alexandra Brooks   Blackburn Rovers [38][39]
19 June 2020 MF   Chloe Arthur   Aston Villa [40][41]
MF   Lucy Staniforth   Manchester United [40][42]
30 June 2020 DF   Kerys Harrop   Tottenham Hotspur [43][44]
MF   Laura Brown   Aston Villa [45]
FW   Missy Goodwin   Aston Villa [46]
1 July 2020 FW   Rachel Williams   Tottenham Hotspur [47][48]
15 January 2021 MF   Destiney Toussaint   Coventry United [49]
23 April 2021 MF   Chloe McCarron   Glentoran [50][51]

References

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  1. ^ "Carla Ward appointed Women's Head Coach". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  2. ^ Garry, Tom (5 April 2021). "Special WSL report: Birmingham Women hit out at club for 'preventing us doing our jobs'". The Telegraph.
  3. ^ "Birmingham City Women: PFA supports players over complaints to club board". Sky Sports.
  4. ^ "Club Statement: Blues Women". Birmingham City Football Club.
  5. ^ Garry, Tom (14 May 2021). "Carla Ward resigns as Birmingham City Women manager". The Telegraph.
  6. ^ "Women's Team". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Blues Women deducted one point". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Birmingham against Everton postponed". BBC Sport.
  9. ^ "Birmingham-Man City falls victim to weather". BBC Sport.
  10. ^ "Birmingham's game at Tottenham Hotspur called off due to injuries". www.eurosport.com.
  11. ^ "Spurs vs Birmingham Independent Tribunal Verdict". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Birmingham v Everton in WSL postponed". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "Second City Derby: Postponed". Birmingham City Football Club.
  14. ^ "Pitch problems for Birmingham Women force FA to step in and move game". The Guardian. 26 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Venue Change: Blues Women v Arsenal". Birmingham City Football Club.
  16. ^ "Blues Women deducted one point". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  17. ^ "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.
  19. ^ "Club Statement: Player tests positive for COVID-19". Birmingham City Football Club.
  20. ^ "Christie Murray joins Blues Women". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Blues bag McCarron". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Toussaint in at Blues Women". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  23. ^ "Mollie Green signs for Blues". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Veatriki Sarri signs for Blues". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  25. ^ "Ruesha Littlejohn Signs". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Sophie Whitehouse Signs". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Rachel Corsie joins Blues Women". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  28. ^ "Corsie's Birmingham City loan cut short". BBC Sport.
  29. ^ "Brougham returns to Blues Women". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  30. ^ "Napier signs for Blues Women". Birmingham City Football Club.
  31. ^ "Birmingham City confirm signing of former Villa goalkeeper on dual registration terms". FAWSL Full-Time. 8 October 2020.
  32. ^ "Birmingham loan Chelsea's Murphy". BBC Sport.
  33. ^ "Ruby Mace joins Blues". Birmingham City Football Club.
  34. ^ "Dash sign free agent midfielder Brianna Visalli". www.houstondynamo.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  35. ^ "Jordan leaves Blues Women". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  36. ^ "Gregory leaves City". www.newschain.uk.
  37. ^ "Freya Gregory joins Aston Villa". Freya Gregory. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  38. ^ "Brooks to leave Blues". Birmingham City Football Club.
  39. ^ "Brooks makes Rovers return!". www.rovers.co.uk.
  40. ^ a b "Lucy Staniforth and Chloe Arthur to leave Blues Women". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  41. ^ "Chloë Arthur signs for Villa Women". www.avfc.co.uk.
  42. ^ "Man Utd Women sign midfielder Lucy Staniforth". www.manutd.com.
  43. ^ "Kerys Harrop set to leave the Club". Birmingham City Football Club.
  44. ^ "Kerys Harrop completes move to Spurs Women". Tottenham Hotspur.
  45. ^ Frith, Wilf (9 February 2022). "Laura Blindkilde Brown commits to Aston Villa Women until 2025". SheKicks.
  46. ^ "Goodwin: I Could Not Wait To Join The Foxes". www.lcfc.com.
  47. ^ "Williams leaves Blues". Birmingham City Football Club.
  48. ^ "Rachel Williams signs for Spurs Women". Tottenham Hotspur.
  49. ^ "Destiney Toussaint Departs". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  50. ^ "Chloe McCarron departs". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  51. ^ "NI midfielder McCarron joins Glentoran". BBC Sport.