Birmingham City

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Lore & Background

The rivalry between Birmingham City and Leicester City has been defined by tightly contested matches and shifting fortunes over decades. Both clubs have traded blows in the second tier and occasionally met in the top flight, with memorable encounters often decided by narrow margins. The derby's intensity reflects the shared regional pride and competitive spirit of the Midlands.

In Their Own Story

The turning point of the modern era arrived on 4 April 2021, when Leicester City Women secured promotion to the FA Women's Super League with a decisive 2–0 victory over London City Lionesses. This triumph capped a successful Championship campaign and marked their return to the top flight for the first time in their history. The following season saw them make their WSL debut on 4 September 2021, suffering a narrow 2–1 loss to Aston Villa but eventually securing their first top-flight win just months later with a 2–0 home victory over Birmingham City on 19 December 2021, thanks to goals from Sophie Howard and Sam Tierney. The club's resilience was further tested in cup competitions, reaching the semi-finals of the FA Women's League Cup in 2020–21 before falling to Bristol City, and achieving a historic run to the FA Cup semi-finals in 2023–24 after defeating Liverpool.

Reader's Guide

Leicester City Women compete in the Women's Super League 2, having been relegated from the top flight after their debut WSL campaign. Their home ground is primarily the King Power Stadium, though they utilize Pirelli Stadium as an alternative when scheduling conflicts arise with the men's team. The club's infrastructure supports a robust development pathway, featuring a Reserves team and a Development Centre that expanded in 2017 to cater to players from under-9s up to under-18s. Since their acquisition by King Power in August 2020, the club has operated as a fully professional entity, with former men's striker Emile Heskey appointed as Head of Women's Football Development in October 2021. Manager Lydia Bedford took over from Jonathan Morgan in November 2021, guiding the team through their transition into the national landscape.

Did You Know?

• Leicester City Women won all 22 of their league games in the 2015–16 season, a record perfect run that secured promotion.
• The club's first-ever on-pitch relegation occurred in May 2013 after finishing bottom with just four points from 16 games.
• Leicester reached the semi-finals of the FA Women's League Cup in the 2021–22 season, their best run in that competition to date.
• Emile Heskey, a former England striker, was appointed as Head of Women's Football Development in October 2021.
• The club achieved four successive promotions between 2004 and 2008, rising from the Leicestershire County League to the National Division.

Rapid Early Ascension and Local Dominance

Founded in 2004, Leicester City Women achieved four successive promotions in their first four seasons, climbing from the Leicestershire County League to the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division by 2008. This ascent was accompanied by domestic cup dominance, winning seven consecutive Leicestershire & Rutland County FA Cups starting in 2006 and claiming League Cups in 2005, 2006, and 2007. They reached the Fifth Round of the 2007–08 Women's FA Cup, facing top-tier side Everton. Although an application to join the inaugural FA Women's Super League failed in March 2010, the club consolidated their position in the third tier with consistent finishes.

Turbulence and the Perfect Season Resurgence

The period from 2013 to 2018 saw the club navigate relegation and rebuilding. After finishing bottom of the Northern Division in May 2013, manager Jonathan Morgan took sole charge following a management trio experiment. The 2015–16 season became legendary as Leicester won all 22 league games in the Midland Division to secure promotion back to the Northern Division. The title was sealed on the final day with a 91st-minute winner from Helen Busby against Wolves. Under Morgan, they finished second in the 2017–18 Northern Division and reached the FA Women's Premier League Cup final.

Strategic Licensing and National Tier Return

In May 2018, Leicester were one of five teams awarded a license to join the inaugural FA Women's Championship, returning to the second tier after eight years. They opened the season with a 2–0 away win over Crystal Palace and finished seventh in their first campaign. The following season ended in sixth place due to a shortened schedule caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they reached the quarter-finals of the Women's FA Cup for the first time. On 4 April 2021, a 2–0 win over London City Lionesses secured promotion to the FA Women's Super League.

Holistic Development and Corporate Integration

The club operates a Reserves team and an expanded Development Centre covering under-9s through to under-18s. On 22 August 2020, King Power acquired the club from independent ownership, making it fully professional. Since then, they have competed in the WSL, playing their first top-flight match on 4 September 2021 against Aston Villa. In October 2021, Emile Heskey was appointed Head of Women's Football Development, and Lydia Bedford took over as manager in November 2021.