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London Bees

Full name	London Bees
Nickname(s)	The Bees
Founded	1975; 49 years ago (1975) (as District Line Ladies F.C.)
Ground	The Hive Stadium, Canons Park
Capacity	6,500 (5,419 seated)
Chairman	Anthony Kleanthous
Manager	Daniel McKimm
League	FA Women's National League Division One South East
2023–24	FA Women's National League South, 12th of 12 (relegated)
Website	https://www.londonbeesfc.com/
Home colours Away colours
Current season

London Bees is an English women's football club affiliated with Barnet F.C. They play in the FA Women's National League South. The club has been in existence under several names since 1975, originally being called District Line Ladies F.C.. The team were re-branded as London Bees after joining the new WSL 2 for the 2014 season. The club have a first team and a youth academy; both train and play at the Hive Stadium.

History

The club began in 1975 as District Line Ladies FC, then merged with Wembley FC in 1993 to become Wembley Ladies FC. In 1996 Wembley won the League Cup by defeating Doncaster Belles. In 1997 Wembley reached the FA Women's Cup final after defeating Arsenal in the semi-final. However they were unable to beat Millwall Lionesses and lost 1-0 at the Boleyn Ground. In 1997 the club moved to play at Hanwell Town FC but kept the Wembley Ladies name. In 1998, the club became affiliated with Barnet FC, amalgamating with the existing Barnet Ladies FC from the Greater London League to form Barnet FC Ladies.

In March 2010 Barnet F.C. Ladies were announced as an unsuccessful bidder for the FA Women's Super League. In 2013, they were successful in their bid to join the WSL under their new name of London Bees for the 2014 season.

In the 2016 FA WSL summer season, London Bees became the first WSL 2 club to reach the semi-finals of the FA WSL Cup, after notable wins against Chelsea Ladies on penalties and Sheffield Ladies in their quarter-final fixture. They were later defeated in the semi-final by Birmingham City Ladies.

In the 2020–21 season, London Bees finished bottom of the Championship and were relegated to the third tier of English women's football.

Current squad

As of 1 January 2023.

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ENG Megan Lynch 2 DF  ENG Jessica Burke 3 DF  ENG Ryah Vyse 4 MF  ENG Danielle Puddefoot 6 DF  ENG Ellena Finneran 7 FW  ENG Juliet Adebowale 8 MF  ENG Janaye Beaufort 9 FW  ENG Kayla Potter 10 MF  ENG Courtnay Ward-Chambers 11 FW  ENG Nikita Whinnett 12 DF  ENG Amy Jarvis

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 DF  ENG Lisa Milliken 18 FW  ENG Angie Dunbar-Bonnie 19 FW   Akane Miyoshi 21 FW  ENG Summer Roberts 22 FW  ENG Bolu Fisher 23 MF  ENG Ashleigh Goddard 26 DF  ENG Sokhara Goodall 44 GK  ENG Mia North — MF   Ronnell Humes

Current technical staff

Notable former players

Players who played for District Line Ladies, Wembley Ladies, Barnet FC Ladies or London Bees and received recognition at full international level

• Evdokia Popadinova
• Natasha Dowie
• Carol Harwood
• Lesley Higgs
• Kim Jerray-Silver
• Justine Lorton
• Kristy Moore
• Danielle Murphy
• Sarah Reed
• Kelly Smith
• Emma Beckett
• Jemma Connor-Iommi
• Jan Mooney
• Ayala Liran
• Naz Ball
• Eleri Earnshaw
• Sydney Hinchcliffe
• Danielle Oates
• Sally Wade
• Laura-May Walkley
• Ruesha Littlejohn
• Rachel Unitt
• Charlie Estcourt
• Helen Ward

Former managers

Honours

• FA Women's Premier League Southern Division:
  • Winners (2): 1992–93 (as District Line), 2009–10 (as Barnet F.C. Ladies)
• FA Women's Premier League Cup:
  • Winners (2): 1995–96 (as Wembley Ladies)

, 2010–11

• FA WSL Cup:
  • Semi-Finalist: 2016, Continental Cup

Player honours

• FA WSL 2 Golden Boot Award
  • Winner: Jo Wilson with 10 League goals in 2016
• FA WSL 2 Player of the Month (April 2017/18)
  • Winner: Katie Wilkinson
• FA Championship Player of the Month (January 2019/20)
  • Winner: Sarah Quantrill

Manager honours

• LMA Women's Championship Manager of the Month (September 2019/20)
  • Winner: Lee Burch
• LMA Women's Championship Manager of the Month (January 2019/20)
  • Winner: Lee Burch

References

1. Slegg Chris, Gregory Patricia (2021). A History of the Women's FA Cup. thehistorypress pages 142-144. ISBN 9780750996594.
2. "Lincoln Ladies FA Women's Super League bid success". BBC. 22 March 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
3. Leighton, Tony (21 March 2010). "Lincoln City the surprise name in newly formed Women's Super League". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
4. Rowe, Adam (21 August 2019). "Confirmed squad numbers 2019/20 season!". London Bees Official Website.
5. Pete Davies (11 March 1996). "Wembley's flair rewarded in shoot-out". The Independent.

External links

• Official site

• London Bees
• Women's football clubs in England
• Barnet F.C.
• Women's football clubs in London
• 1975 establishments in England
• Women's Championship (England) teams
• FA Women's National League teams