Leicester City Launches LCFC Women As The Club Commits To The Women’s Game - Leicester City launches professional women’s team from 2020/21 - Previously established Leicester City Women’s Football Club joins LCFC - Move forms part of a long-term strategy to develop the women’s game in Leicester - LCFC Chairman launches intentions on 10-year anniversary of King Power takeover The Club has undertaken a sustained period of consultation with the independently established Leicester City Women’s Football Club, which has been supported by LCFC since its formation in 2004. The outcome of this collaboration is a long-term strategy for the wide-ranging enhancement of women’s football, from professional level to grassroots participation, throughout the region. King Power International, Leicester City’s parent company, has completed the acquisition of LCWFC, which will now turn professional and join Leicester City’s Senior Men, Under-23s and Under-18s among the core teams within the Club’s football operation. The transfer of the team’s FA Women’s Championship (FAWC) licence to LCFC was approved on Tuesday. General Manager Jade Morgan, Team Manager Jonathan Morgan, 12 members of the playing squad and a number of key support staff will be retained from the previous setup, which will now go full-time. Former LCWFC chairman Rohan Morgan will become an advisor to an LCFC Women’s Football Leadership Group, led by Chief Executive Susan Whelan. Russ Fraser has been appointed to the position of Head of Women’s Football. Russ brings to the Club a wealth of knowledge of the women’s game, built during spells with West Ham United and Reading. Russ will manage football operations for LCFC Women and, together with the LCFC Women’s Football Leadership Group, will develop a strategy to build interest in the women’s game locally, encourage participation, and synchronise the work of the LCWFC Academy and the Leicester City Girls’ Regional Talent Club (RTC) to create a defined development pathway for gifted young female players. Leicester City Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “This is really proud day. The introduction of a women’s team embedded within the Club has been an ambition of ours for some time and today it can start to be realised. “The Club’s co-operation with LCWFC since 2004 has been a valuable gateway to the women’s game. Its chairman, Rohan Morgan, and its staff and players deserve great credit for the solid foundations they have built and we’re really excited to see how we can progress with the setup in-house. “LCFC Women will carry the standard, but our vision for developing the women’s game in Leicester is wide-ranging. We want to build on the recent success of women’s football to inspire a generation of young girls and to ensure opportunities exist for the gifted among them to have a future in the game. “Exactly 10 years on from King Power first arriving in Leicester, this is a significant expansion in our vision for the Club – both in terms of diversification and our dedication to football for all; and in our ongoing commitment to excellence in every one of the Club’s pursuits.” Rohan Morgan said: “This is an amazing step forward, both for our team and for women’s football in the city. For many years now, we have proudly represented Leicester City in the women’s game and tried to build an organisation with solid foundations, high standards and the potential for growth. Officially joining the Leicester City family is the best possible endorsement of that work and I’m extremely proud of every player, member of staff and volunteer – several of whom will be continuing the journey with us – that has helped bring us to this point. Thanks to the belief of Khun Aiyawatt, Susan Whelan and everyone at Leicester City, we have an incredible opportunity to build on that potential and be a part of the Club’s vision for success.” LCFC Women’s 23-player squad for the 2020/21 FAWC campaign, which starts on the weekend of 5/6 September, is complete. This includes 12 players from LCWFC signing their first professional contracts, joined by 11 new additions recruited from both FA Women’s Super League and FAWC clubs. The team will continue to play its home matches at Farley Way Stadium in Quorn during the 2020/21 season, including their outstanding FA Women’s Cup Quarter Final with holders Manchester City. The tie is among those to be played in the early weeks of the new season to ensure the 2019/20 FA Women’s Cup is concluded. The Foxes are the only FAWC team left in the competition, which is due to resume on the weekend of 26/27 September. The team’s new-look website is now live at lcfc.com/women, where you’ll find interviews with manager Jonathan Morgan and captain Holly Morgan, as well as playing squad profiles. Supporters can Leicester City Women on social media channels Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Leicester City is delighted to welcome Foxes legend Emile Heskey back to the Football Club in an ambassadorial role that will see him support the development of the women’s game. Emile, who came through the Academy at Leicester City and went on to represent the Football Club in the Premier League and win 62 caps for England, will become a key figure in the transition of LCFC Women to a full-time professional team. The appointment comes after King Power International underlined its commitment to the long-term development of women’s football in Leicestershire with the acquisition of LCWFC – a move that marked the 10-year anniversary of King Power’s Leicester City takeover. Respected and admired in Leicester and the footballing world, Heskey’s role as ambassador will see him use his expertise and experience to mentor players during their transition to becoming full-time professional players. As a Leicester City Academy graduate, Emile will also use his experience to support Russ Fraser, the Club’s Head of Women’s Football, to develop the women’s academy setup and player pathway as part of a long-term strategy to improve opportunities for young female players in the region. Leicester City Chief Executive Susan Whelan said:“We are delighted to be able to welcome someone of Emile’s experience and record of achievement back to the Football Club. He has a unique understanding of our Club culture, our city, our Academy and what makes Leicester City special. “While a number of our players have backgrounds in the professional game, providing support to players taking their first steps in the full-time model will be vital to the future success of LCFC Women. Emile’s experience and his skills as a mentor will be enormously valuable in that process. “Furthermore, as an LCFC Academy graduate himself, we’re incredibly proud to have Emile on board to help inform the process of developing our pathway for young female players, as part of our commitment to delivering long-term opportunities for talented young girls in the city and county.” New Leicester City Ambassador Emile Heskey said:“I’m absolutely delighted to be back working for Leicester City. Everybody knows how I feel about this Football Club and to be able to have the opportunity to work on such an exciting project from its inception is fantastic. “I’m looking forward to getting started with some great people and I hope that my experience, input and ideas can help Leicester City Women transition to the next level.” LCFC Women General Manager Jade Morgan added:“There is nobody better than Emile to act as a mentor for our players with his wealth of experience at the very highest level and we’re incredibly grateful to be able to call upon him. “As well as the support he can offer to our players, having somebody of Emile’s standing involved in such an influential way can only bring positive things to both Leicester City Women and the wider women’s game in this country.” The former striker’s reputation in the game will also bring added exposure and awareness of the good work being done to develop women’s football in the region, having enjoyed a career that spanned over 800 games for the likes of Leicester City, Liverpool, Birmingham City, Aston Villa and England. Heskey played almost 200 of those games for the Foxes and like current City star Jamie Vardy, is a member of the exclusive ‘Premier League 100 Club’, having scored 110 goals during his top-flight career. Only six players have made more than Emile’s 516 Premier League appearances, while he has also scored seven times in 62 outings for England. His standing among Leicester City supporters and within the game makes him a natural addition to the Club’s Legend’s Programme, which includes the likes of Gerry Taggart, Steve Walsh, Matt Elliott and Peter Shilton, with Emile now joining that programme alongside his work on the development of women’s football. That wider ambassadorial role will support the ongoing work and legacy of Club Ambassador Alan Birchenall, whose incredible efforts over more than 40 years continue to bring the Club and its community closer together.
