Cardiff City LFC – ‘The story so far’……………….

In 92/93 the FA of Wales took an interest in women’s football for the first time, by inaugurating the Welsh Women’s Cup. Cardiff were successful in getting to the final to be held at the prestigious National Stadium as a curtain raiser to the men’s Welsh Cup Final, being the first women’s game ever to be staged there. Cardiff lost 1-0 to Rhyl in an exciting game supported at the end by thousands of noisy Cardiff City supporters. Cardiff first won the Welsh Cup in 1995 against Bangor after a penalty shoot.

Over the years the club has provided many Welsh International players, at both under 19’s and senior level now they are also the pivotal club at under 17 level. The club has had many successful tours to Malta, Majorca and are fellowship members of Cardiff twinning cities Nantes and Stuttgart, exchanging visits in 1991 and 1993. Our junior teams continue with the Cardiff County Councils exchange scheme with Nantes every year.

At the beginning of the season 97/98, the club severed all connections with Inter Cardiff and changed their name to Cardiff County, forming links with Cardiff County Council, until 1999 when they changed their name once more to Cardiff City, but remained an independent outfit. The same season they were promoted to the National League for the first time in their history, but unfortunately could only sustain their position for 2 seasons and were relegated in 2001 in the same year that closer links were forged with the mens club at Ninian Park.

Success in the combination league came in the league cup before they were promoted once again in the 2003/4 season this time with a 100% winning record – the first in the leagues’ history regaining their status in the Premier League Southern Division. At the beginning of the 2003 season the club severed its connection with Ninian Park when its members voted against the mens outfit’s proposals for the running of Cardiff City Ladies FC and became a totally independent outfit once more.

More recently City have been unbeaten in the Welsh cup for seven seasons, bringing with it entry into the UEFA Club Championships, allowing Cardiff to have played International club football in Poland, Croatia, Portugal, Slovakia and Denmark against the best club teams from all over Europe.

For the first time in its history Cardiff were promoted to the FA Premier National League in 2005/6 season. Unfortunately the club was relegated back to the FA Premier Southern Division after enjoying two seasons playing amongst the top 12 teams in the country.

The club owes a lot of their success to the organisation and management of their committee. They run a thriving junior section playing in the South Wales Girls League, at under 16’s, 14’s, as well as under 12’s This is a sound investment as players stream quite confidentially into the senior squad. The club also runs a successful reserve section who play in the FA Reserve League Southern Division.
 
As the oldest and biggest women’s club in Wales, Cardiff City LFC are very proud of its history and in 2005 celebrated its 30th Anniversary, the same season that they were awarded the FAW Bronze accreditation award making it a ‘Charter Club’ and last season achieved its Silver status ensuring a better and safer environment for its players and coaches. This combined with closer school links is proving another successful development for the future growth of Cardiff City Ladies and Welsh women’s football.