Everton Football Club () is an English women's association football team based in Liverpool, England, that competes in the FA Women's Super League, the top division of English women's football. Formed in 1983 as Hoylake W.F.C., it is now part of Everton and has played home games at Walton Hall Park in Walton since February 2020. As of 2025, they play at Goodison Park, the former home of the Men's Team. The team has won the Premier League National Division once, the Premier League Cup once, and the Women's FA Cup twice.
History Early years The club started as Hoylake WFC in 1983. It merged with Dolphins YC to become Leasowe, then added Pacific to its title in a sponsorship deal. In 1987–88, the team came to prominence by winning the North West Women's League and reaching the 1988 Women's FA Cup final, losing to Doncaster Belles 3–1. They came back the following year to beat Friends of Fulham 3–2. By 1991–92, Leasowe Pacific had won its regional league for five years running, and when the regular national competition was expanded the next season, it was admitted to Division One North, promptly finishing first to join the FA Women's Premier League.
Becoming Everton In 1995, the club became known as Everton Ladies and continued to make its mark. In 1997, it reached the final of the Premier League Cup, but lost to Millwall Lionesses 1–2. The next year, however, the club was crowned National Premier League Champions, its biggest success to date. In 1999, the club lost in the League Cup final, 1–3 to Arsenal Ladies, and in 2005, reached the FA Women's Cup final only to lose 0–1 to Charlton Athletic after a disappointing performance. Revenge of sorts came two years later when Everton pipped Charlton to second place in the Premier League which, as champions Arsenal had already won the UEFA Women's Cup, meant a European debut for Everton in 2007–08. In 2008, it won the Premier League Cup by beating Arsenal in the final. Arsenal was unbeaten in England for two years at the time.
The club's first foray into UEFA competition saw it win its opening game 4–0 against Lithuanian side Gintra. It won further group games against Glentoran and Zulwil without conceding and scoring 20 goals in the process. The campaign was to end in disappointment at the second group stage. Despite beating Valur 3–1 in its final group game, Everton only finished third and failed to progress into the quarter–finals amidst much controversy.
On 10 May 2009, Everton only needed a draw against Arsenal Ladies in the last match of the season to win the Women's Premier League for the second time in its history, but lost 1–0 to finish runners–up on goal difference. Due to the reformatting of the European Cup into the UEFA Women's Champions League, however, the team still qualified for Europe, although it had to enter at the qualifying group stages and was eliminated in the round of 32 by Norwegian team Roa IL. In 2010, Everton beat Arsenal 3–2 to win the FA Women's Cup with Natasha Dowie (niece of Iain) scoring the winner deep into extra time.
In 2011, the club advanced to the quarter–finals of the Champions League, where its best run so far was stopped by German side FCR Duisburg. Everton was one of eight founding teams in the FA WSL in March 2011.
Relegation to FA WSL 2 in 2014
After several seasons finishing mid-table, Everton would struggle to gain form during the 2014 season. The club lost key players Jill Scott and Toni Duggan to Manchester City during the off-season. In September 2014, Everton would lose 2–0 to Notts County, sealing its relegation to WSL 2 after 21 years of top flight football.
The 2014 FA Women's Cup final was the 44th final of the FA Women's Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. The showpiece event was the 21st to be played directly under the auspices of the Football Association (FA). The final was contested between Arsenal and Everton on 1 June 2014 at Stadium:MK in Milton Keynes. This was the last cup final held outside Wembley Stadium. Holders Arsenal made its 14th final appearance, after winning the 2013 final. Everton was appearing in its fifth final.
As FA WSL 1 clubs, both teams entered the competition at the fifth round stage. Arsenal beat Gillingham (2–0), Birmingham City (2–1) and Chelsea (5–3) to reach the final. Everton defeated Cardiff City (3–1), Liverpool (2–0) and Notts County (2–1).
The victory gave Arsenal a rare FA Cup double with the men's team winning the final two weeks before, a feat they accomplished for the third time (also in 1993 and 1998).
FA WSL 2 (2015–2017)
Everton would contend in WSL2, registering back-to-back third-place finishes during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. In anticipation of re-aligning the season with the typical FIFA calendar, the WSL 1 and 2 competed in a truncated 9-match season. The "FA WSL Spring Series" would not have teams compete for promotion or relegation before the full 2017–18 season. Everton won the Spring Series, recording 7 wins from 9 with scoring led by Claudia Walker (7 goals) and Simone Magill (5 goals). The Spring Series title was the first since the FA Women's Premier League National Division 1997–98 season title.
Return to top flight
Prior to the 2017–18 season, Notts County of the WSL 1 folded before the Spring Series, prompting the FA to invite FA WSL 2 clubs to apply and fill the vacancy. Everton was awarded the invitation back into the top flight on 9 June 2017, and would compete in the WSL 1 for the 2017–18 season.
Everton struggled to gain much form during the 2017–18 season. Despite making a run to the semi-finals in the 2017–18 FA Women's Cup, Everton finished 9th in the table (only beating out winless Yeovil Town). However, league structural changes prevented the club from being relegated.
Ahead of the 2019–20 season, the team dropped Ladies from its name. Although now simply called Everton, the club will use Everton Women in a formal capacity when necessary to avoid confusion with the men's team.
Everton reached the delayed 2019–20 FA Women's Cup final, losing to Manchester City 1–3 after extra-time at Wembley on 1 November 2020.
In the 2022–23 season, Everton finished sixth in the Women's Super League table while they ended the 2023–24 campaign in eighth.
The 2024–25 season saw Everton beat Manchester City for the first time ever in December 2024. The match ended 2–1 after two first half goals by Everton.
Stadium Everton had Rossett Park as its home ground starting in 1998, sharing with non-league side Marine in Crosby. Rossett Park would be the Blues' home ground for 15 years.
In 2013, the team moved to Halton Stadium (previously known then as "Select Security Stadium"), also used by its Merseyside rivals Liverpool. The move was prompted by needing improved technical requirements for the developing WSL standards and providing increased capacity.
Ahead of the 2018–19 season, Everton announced that they would play the first half of the season at Haig Avenue and ended up staying for the whole season.
In 2019, it was announced that the club would play its last game at the Haig Avenue on 29 September, before moving to Walton Hall Park, but delays meant the team would not move until February 2020.
In May 2025, it was announced that the club would move permanently to Goodison Park after the men's team move out at the end of the 2024–25 season. The first home league tie contested there was a match versus Tottenham Hotspur Women on 14 September 2025.
Current squad
Out on loan
Staff Current Staff
+NameJob Title Alan McTavishChief Executive Officer Scott PhelanManagerJennifer FosterWomen's First Team Coach Phil JevonsInterim First Team Coach Ian McCaldonGoalkeeping CoachChloe EdwardsPhysical Performance CoachJacob ArnoldSports ScientistCatherine WrightDirector of Women's Football OperationsConnor WagstaffSports TherapistAlice StratfordPerformance PsychologistRuth MaddocksKit LeadGary FeatherstoneSafeguarding & Player Care ManagerKeris McRobertsOperations LeadAmy LewtasPlayer Care Lead
Former players
Honours For a detailed international record see English women's football clubs in international competitions
FA WSL 2 Spring Series: Winners (1): 2017 FA Women's Premier League National Division: Winners (1): 1997–98 Runners-up (5): 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10 FA Women's Cup: Winners (2): 1988–89 (as Leasowe Pacific), 2009–10 Runners-up (4): 1987–88 (as Leasowe), 2004–05, 2013–14, 2019–20 FA Women's Premier League Cup: Winners (1): 2007–08 Runners-up (2): 1996–97, 1998–99 FA Women's Community Shield: Runners-up (2): 2006–07, 2008–09 Liverpool County FA Cup: Winners (3): 2006, 2007, 2008
Managers As of 4 February, 2026: NameTenureMWDLWin %HonoursRefs Keith Marley 1998 – 2002 1 National Division Mo Marley 2002 – 13 October 2012 206 129 26 51 62.2% 1 FA Cup,1 Premier League Cup Andy Spence 14 November 2012 – 10 June 2015 51 16 13 22 31.4% Nicola Anderson (interim) 10 June 2015 – 15 December 2015 14 5 4 5 35.7% Andy Spence 15 December 2015 – 7 November 2018 45 19 5 21 42.2% 1 WSL2 Jennifer Herst (interim) 7 November 2018 – 1 December 2018 2 0 0 2 0.0% Willie Kirk 1 December 2018 – 16 October 2021 70 29 7 34 41.4% Jean-Luc Vasseur 29 October 2021 – 1 February 2022 6 1 2 3 16.7% Chris Roberts (interim) Claire Ditchburn (interim) 1 February 2022 – 1 July 2022 13 3 3 7 23.1% Brian Sorensen 1 July 2022 – 4 February 2026 83 27 14 42 32.5% Scott Phelan 4 February 2026 – 0 0 0 0
Awards Player of the Season
2006 – Jody Handley 2007 – Fara Williams 2008 – Lindsay Johnson 2009 – Fara Williams 2010 – Jill Scott 2011 – Natasha Dowie 2012 – Rachel Brown 2013 – Toni Duggan 2014 – Nikita Parris 2015 – Simone Magill 2016 – Kelly Jones 2017 – N/A 2018 – Angharad James 2019 – Simone Magill 2020 – Danielle Turner 2021 – Izzy Christiansen 2022 – Gabby George 2023 – Nathalie Björn 2024 – Courtney Brosnan 2025 – Sara Holmgaard 2026 – Courtney Brosnan
Supporters player of the season
2007 – Rachel Unitt 2008 – Rachel Brown 2009 – Danielle Hill 2010 – Fara Williams 2011 – Fara Williams 2012 – Toni Duggan 2013 – Toni Duggan & Lizzie Durack (tied) 2014 – Nikita Parris 2015 – Danielle Turner 2016 – Simone Magill 2017 – Gabby George 2018 – Angharad James 2019 – Simone Magill 2020 – Lucy Graham 2021 – Izzy Christiansen 2022 – Gabby George 2023 – Megan Finnigan 2024 – Clare Wheeler
Young Player of the Season
2019 – Chloe Kelly 2020 – Molly Pike 2021 – Poppy Pattinson 2022 – Hanna Bennison 2023 – Jess Park 2024 – Heather Payne 2025 – Martina Fernandez 2026 – Ruby Mace
Spirit of the Blues Award 2021 - Megan Finnigan 2022 - Aurora Galli 2023 - Nicoline Sørensen & Courtney Brosnan 2024 - Clare Wheeler & Lucy Hope 2025 - Justine Vanhaevermaet
Other EFC teams
Everton F.C. (men's) Everton Reserves and Academy
See also
List of women's association football clubs in England and Wales Women's football in England List of women's association football clubs
References
External links
Official website