Oxford United W.F.C.

Oxford United Women's Football Club is an English women's football club affiliated with Oxford United, and founded in the 1991–92 season. Although there were earlier women's football clubs playing in the Oxfordshire area with an Oxford name, the 1991–92 season represents the inaugural season of Oxford Ladies F.C., which would go on to be formally affiliated to Oxford United F.C. just one year later. On affiliation to the men's club before the 1992–93 football season, Oxford Ladies changed their name to Oxford United Ladies to maintain a one-club ethos. Whilst initially playing at Witney Town's Marriotts Stadium, the first women's football match played at The Manor Ground was against Horsham Ladies F.C. on 25 October 1992 and this was also the first Oxford United women's team match to be televised on Central Television.

The success of Oxford United Women's F.C. is recognised and promoted by Oxford United.

History
For the 1991–92 season, the women's team played in the Home Counties League Southern Section, which they won at the first attempt (losing only one league match in the entire season), whilst also reaching the Home Counties League Cup final against Red Star Southampton Ladies Reserves. The League Cup final score was level at full time, as well as after extra time, with Red Star going on to win the penalty shootout by 4 goals to 3. In the Women's FA Challenge Cup, Oxford Ladies reached the third round, losing narrowly at home to Frome Ladies by 3 goals to 2.

In the 1992–93 season they were promoted to the Women's FA National League Southern Section, which was the second tier in English women's football at the time (jointly with FA Women's National League Northern Section) and the club's name officially became Oxford United Ladies. The club was now eligible for the FA Women's National League Cup, but found the competition much tougher, losing in the first round to Epsom & Ewell Ladies by 2 goals to 1. They fared better in the Women's FA Cup, reaching the fourth round before losing to Rainworth Miners Welfare Ladies, by 2 goals to 0.

In 1993–94 the club's name officially changed to Oxford United Women F.C.

In 1995–96, the league changed its name to FA Women's Premier League Southern Division, in which Oxford they finished in 3rd place, as well as reaching the semi-final of the FA Women's Premier League Cup, and again reaching the fourth round of the Women's FA Cup, losing at St Helens Garswood Ladies by 2 goals to 1.

After a number of turbulent years, whilst much development occurred in women's football, the club re-emerged as Oxford United Ladies in the 2005–06 season, playing in the Thames Valley Counties League Division 1, which they won at the first attempt. They were also winners of the Thames Valley Counties League Cup and Oxfordshire FA Women's Cup. Not to be outdone, the Reserves side won the Thames Valley Counties League Division 2 North. As a result, the first team were promoted to the Southern Region Women's Football League Division 1 for the 2006–07 season, and the Reserves rose to the Thames Valley Counties League Division 1, with a third Development side playing in Thames Valley Counties League Division 2.

The first team then floated between the Southern Region Division 1 and Southern Region Premier Division for the next few seasons, but by 2011–12 the club won the Southern Region Women's Football League Premier Division and were again promoted in 2012–13 where they won the South-West Combination and were elected as inaugural members of the Women's Super League 2nd division (WSL 2).

Oxford United Ladies have won the Ladies Oxfordshire Senior Cup, beating Henley Town Ladies 2–1 at Bicester Town F.C. The scorers were Lauren Allison and Stacey Coles five minutes from time. "Credit must go to the girls for the win," said ladies boss Ben Thomas after the match.

Honours

 * South-West Combination: Winners
 * 2012–13


 * Thames Valley Division Two: Winners
 * 2009–10


 * Oxfordshire FA County Cup : Runners up
 * 2009–10


 * Southern Region Division One :Runners up
 * 2008–09


 * Southern Region Division One: 1
 * 2006–07


 * Thames Valley Division One: 1
 * 2005–06


 * Thames Valley League Cup: 1
 * 2005–06


 * Oxfordshire FA County Cup: 1
 * 2005–06