The 1970s
The earliest known Forest Ladies Team competed in the Notts and Derby League in the early 1970s.
In 1972/73 they became the first to complete the "Grand Triple" winning the League Championship, the League Knock Out Cup and the League Charity Cup. They were undefeated in 18 games, scored 76 goals, Karen Dawson accounting for 42 of them, and Leslie Haynes, the goalie was awarded "Player of the Season".
Audrey Rigby from this team has been in touch recently from her home in New Zealand. She went on to play in the NZ National Side and became a top coach down under.
The 1980s
The Norwegian Branch of the Nottingham Forest Supporters Club sent a photograph of a team that was around in the 1980s.
Year 1990
After a 12 week training course at the City Ground, a small group of young women advertised for more players in the Forest vs Everton matchday programme. From this the current Forest Ladies Club was formed. Dave Thompson of the Forest Centre of Excellence became their first manager and secretary.
Early/mid 1990s
During the decade they achieved promotion to the First Division only to be relegated back to Division Two after two seasons. They reached the semi-final of the League Cup and took a 3-0 lead against Derby City before suffering defeat at 5-4.
They returned to the First Division and achieved as high as 6th place before it was changed to the Premier Division.
Dave Thompson moved on to become a successful scout with Chesterfield FC.
A sponsorship arrangement was made with Coldseal.
Year 1996
Donna Hilton and Lisa Dawkins, players from the original 1990 side, continued to play while setting up a Forest Ladies Junior Section. They began in season 1996/97 with an Under 12 and an Under 14 team. Help was provided by the City Council, in particular by Ian Hands and Sarah Colbeck, under their "No Limits" support scheme. This was the start of a very long and rewarding relationship with the Council which has continued and strengthened.
The Club name was changed to Nottingham Forest Ladies and Junior Girls Football Club, a bit of a mouthful, hence the subsequent reversion back to the original name.
Season 1996/97
The new Under 12s finished in Runners Up spot, a magnificent achievement in their first season. They also took their division?s Sportsmanship Award, won at the Calverton Tournament and achieved Runners Up at West Bridgford.
Donna Hilton takes on the role as Junior Section Manager.
Season 1997/98
The Under 12s went on to win the League Championship.
Both Donna Hilton and Angie Smith received all three varieties of their Player of the Season awards for their respective teams. This had never happened before. All player awards for the season were presented by Mark Crossley.
Many of our junior players join the County Representative Squads and Centres of Excellence and we have continued to have good numbers in those squads ever since.
Forest coaches, including Donna Hilton, take on the main coaching role at Powerleagues Soccercentre.
January 1998
The Club's first web site is launched under the "Rednet" banner with a promotional article in On The Ball, the glossy women's football magazine.
Shortly after, the "Scoremail" email and web based results and information service is launched with a "Rednet" tag reflecting the Club's involvement in its launch and upkeep.
Easter 1998
Under 14s win the Easter and Spring Festival at Hemsby and also take the Fair Play Award.
Summer 1998
Forest Ladies organised their first Junior Girls' Tournament, the Trentside Trophy, with trophies and support from Nestle. With only six weeks to organise from scratch it included 30 5-a-side teams including some big names such as Everton. It also featured a celebrity presentation with Tina Russell from Channel 5's Family Affairs and Ketil, Chairman of the Scandinavian branch of the Foret Supporters Club.
Season 1998/99
A new Under 10s Team was formed.
A new Reserves Team was formed.
Summer 1999
Under 12s win at the Rotherham Tournament.
A new kit for the First Team is provided by Pinnacle.
Donna Hilton was awarded the highly coveted Midlands FA/Umbro Regional Coach of the Year Award, mainly for helping to set up the Club and the Juniors section. The formal presentation took place at Leicester City but she was also presented at the City Ground.
Season 1999/00
In only their second season, the Under 10s competed in two league competitions and won both of them. The team was awarded a presentation and lap of honour at the City Ground.
The Under 14s won their league title and knock-out cup.
The First Team became winners of their Premiership Knock Out Cup after defeating Loughborough Students on penalties.
An Under 13s side was formed.
Issue 1 of the Club's Newsletter was distributed.
NFLFC adopted Mill Street Playing Fields, the home of Basford United, as its main home ground and training venue for all teams.
Summer 2000
Player awards for the season were presented by Frank Winfield.
Forest Ladies featured as "Club of the Month" in On The Ball, the glossy women's football magazine.
Forest Ladies join with Fay Glover in the running of the Victoria Trophy in its 19th glorious year.
Pinnacle replaced an Under 10s kit that had been lost in a car theft.
Three junior teams won their respective age groups at the Cotgrave Tournament and we also had a Runners Up.
At the AGM the Club agreed to gear up for the top FA Charter Standards award which was then the Development Standard, Level 2. We also agreed to work with BUFC on a joint application to upgrade pavilion buildings providing we could negotiate a lease extension.
Season 2000/01
Last season's successful Under 10s moved up to Under 11 and achieved the League Runners Up spot. A new Under 10s Team was formed and went on to win their league competition.
The Under 12s finished Runners Up. The Under 14s moved up to Under 17 and won their League and Cup competitions. A new U14s is formed and they attain the Sportsmanship award. Three of our teams, U10 vs Gedling, U11 vs Sherwood Lions and U17 vs Welbeck all won cup finals on 22nd April.
The Women's First team finished third in the league and were again victorious in their Premiership Cup beating Lincoln City. Lincoln, however, won promotion to the Midlands Combination and have since moved up to the Northern Premiership.
A new team, Nottingham Forest Medics, was formed made up entirely of medical students from Queens Medical Centre. They suffered some heavy defeats but began to improve towards the end of the season. Unfortunately the season overran and they were unable to complete their fixtures due to players moving away from Notts at the end of term.
Summer 2001
Lisa Dawkins and Catherine Lawson take part in a GoTalk TV commercial with Gabby Yorath. Lisa Dawkins took over from Ernie Johnson as Club Chair and Ernie became an "unofficial Club President".
July 2001
The Victoria Trophy was expanded to include over 130 teams including Under 10s. Both the women's team and the Under 12s were victorious, the first time in 20 years that Forest Ladies had come away with winners trophies from the event (the U12s achieved Runners Up in 1997). Overseas teams (3 from Texas) were featured for the first time.
Season 2001/02
Under 10s players moved up to Under 11s and again won the League Championship. Two Under 12s teams formed and they finished Champions and Runners Up respectively. An Under 13s Team was formed that finished a creditable third in their first season. A new Under 16s Team competed in one League as Under 16 for the first half of the season. They then went on to compete against Under 16s and Under 18s in the second half. Incredibly, they won both competitions.
For the second season running we had three cup winners on a single day, 28th April - U11s vs West Bridgford, U12s vs Wilford Mavericks and U13s vs Rise Park.
The First Team reached the finals of the County Cup but went down 2-1 to Chaffoteaux. The Reserves finished Runners Up in Division 1 but were unable to win promotion as our First Team already occupied a spot in the higher division.
No fewer than eight of our players are selected for the County U16 Rep Squad.
25th November was a memorable day for the club in that five of our teams (U11,U12 Blue, U12 Yellow, U13 and Women's First team) were victorious in cup ties with a combined score of 36-2.
Catherine Lawson is called up to represent England at Under 18 and competes in Ireland and at other venues.
January 2002
A joint NFLFC/BUFC presentation is made to the FA, City Council, County Council and Football Foundation. The main feature is an outline proposal for a new or refurbished pavilion at Greenwich Avenue. Between them Lauren Cresswell and Sophie Digva reached a total tally of 300 goals in mainstream competitions playing together in the U10s, U11s and U12s.
Spring 2002
A new Constitution was formulated and accepted with 100% of those voting being in favour. The main theme was One Player-One Vote but reference was also made to new policies covering health and safety, player development, publicity, child protection and an extensive code of conduct. A new five-year development plan was also adopted by the Committee.
Part of the reason for the new constitution was to obtain the top Charter Standard which had now become a condition of moving forward with a bid to the Football Foundation for funding for a new pavilion.
Lea Cobham is called up to the England U16s. Unfortunately for the Club, at the end of the season, Lea left Forest Ladies to play for Lincoln City.
Summer 2002
The City Council's Girls' Festival of Football is merged into the Victoria Trophy. An Awards for All grant of £5,000, City Council, FA and County Council backing was provided and for the first time the tournament finished in surplus to help stage future events. The event is described as the Jubilee Victoria Trophy and with the extra resources it expanded to include 210 teams playing some 700 ten minute 5-a-side games.
A helicopter was sponsored for the club to take aerial photos of the Mill Street Ground and surrounding area to help with a new sponsorship campaign and the bid for upgrading facilities.
NFLFC officials are heavily involved in setting up the new Notts Girls and Ladies League including obtaining a maximum Awards for All grant.
Dave Evans took over from Lisa Dawkins as Club Chair leaving Lisa free to concentrate on a new role as First Team Player/Manager.
Donna Hilton retired from the Club to concentrate on her increasing vocational role. Apart from playing, Donna was a founder of the Club and had taken on numerous mainstream roles over 12 years including highly successful junior section management. She received a retirement gift and the Clubs annual award for exceptional service.
Autumn 2002
The first meetings of the NFLFC/BUFC Umbrella Committee take place with the first priority being the joint application for FA Charter Standards. The Committee will go on to develop and promote refurbishment and new building projects as well as oversee the daily upkeep of the home ground.
Ellis Guilford School obtains Sports College recognition and Forest Ladies takes up their offer to use training facilities including their two new all weather surfaces.
New sponsorship arrangements are adopted including Sublime Services, CMB Plumbing and Heating and Mobile Training Technology.
November 2002
A new U11s Mixed Recreational Mini Soccer club is formed on Saturday mornings at Ellis Guilford. This is jointly run by NFLFC and BUFC with help from New College Nottingham.
December 2002
In conjunction with Basford United FC, our home ground hosts, NFLFC is awarded the FA Charter Standards Community Club Award, the highest of the three Charter Standard levels. The Award was presented to Colleen Mulvany, Club Secretary and Dave Evans, Club Chairman at the City Ground on 21st December just before kick off in a game between Forest and Reading.
Following certain training courses, NFLFC helps to run a first taster training session for disability football. About ten girls took part at Manning School.
Five NFLFC members signed up to the EEC/County Council Sport Direct "buddy" scheme to accompany disabled coaches on training courses.
During 2002, NFLFC also instigated, as part of the Charter Community Standard, a NEW SPECIAL NEEDS FOOTBALL GROUP who played a major part in the launch of a new £200,000 disability football programme when they played a game at half time at meadow lane.
Again the Forest Ladies and Nottingham City Council Victoria Trophy was a huge
Success with the event attracting over 200 teams from around the UK.
A new committee was elected at the Club A.G.M in June 2003 and the existing Chairman stepped aside for P.J Andrews to assume the role of Club Chairperson. P.J (Paula) Andrews had had a long history with Forest Ladies since starting as a player in 1990. During this time P.J has also contributed to various initiatives and fund raising events including Presentation Evenings, Raffles and Team Building . P.J had won silverware with the 1st Team in Cup Finals and Promotion Titles and has been team and Club Captain for both the 1st Team and Senior Reserves. P.J also was instrumental in the negotiation process with Lisa Dawkins in gaining sponsorship from Coldseal and P.J also introduced the Forest Ladies Club branding on merchandise, which has continued on to this day.
2002/2003 Club Results
UNDER 10'S (MANAGER, MARK BROWN)
Runners up in the league, Runners up in the cup final
U12'S WHITE (MANAGER, RUSSELL (BERNIE) BOULTBY)
Champions - won the under 12 blue league championship.
UNDER 12 RED (MANAGER, SCOTT CUNNINGHAM)
Champions and cup winners
UNDER 14B (MANAGER - GARY CRESSWELL)
Runners up in the league and cup
UNDER 14A (MANAGER, RICHARD MARSHALL)
Finished in a strong top four in a high quality league.
RESERVES (MANAGER - CATH JONES)
League runners up - promoted. Runners up in cup
FLAGSHIP 1 ST TEAM (MANAGER LISA DAWKINS, ASSISTANT MGR ALAN BIRD, COACH - ANDREW MILLER)
Champions, (Unison East Midlands league) and Cup final runners up twice.
2003/2004
During the closed season between June and September 2003 the new committee initiated contact with NFFC and presented the Forest Ladies aspirations and ambitions to both NFFC and their sponsor, Capital One. This was the start of a much closer liaison with all parties that has since blossomed with many benefits for Forest Ladies.
By September 2003, every team within Forest Ladies were fully kitted out in both the home and away replicre kits courtesy of Capital One. In addition, and driven, in particular by P.J, all Team Manager's were fully kitted out in Coach Wear ensuring that each member of NFLFC looked professional in promoting the Forest, Capital One and Forest Ladies Brands.
This alleviated funds, put aside for new kits, to be utilised for other club initiatives and the effect of such had a positive motivational effect on the club, hence such a successful season for all teams on the pitch also.
U10's - League Champions (Manager - Ketan Patel)
U11B - 4th in the League (Manager - Rachael Evans)
U11A - League Runners Up, Cup Finalist Runners Up (Manager, Mark Brown)
U13's - League Champions, Cup Finalist Runners Up - (Manager - Russell Boultby)
Under 14's - League Runners Up - (Manager - Scott Cunningham)
Under 15's - League Champions, League Cup Winners, Skegness Cup Winners (Manager - Gary Cresswell)
Under 16's - League Champions (Manager - Richard Marshall)
Reserves - 6th in League - (highest ranked Reserve Side in the East Midlands ) (Manager - Cath Jones)
1 st Team - Joint 1 st in Midlands Combinations (Runners up on Goal Difference), County Cup Winners, National FA Womens Cup Quarter Finalists (Manager, Lisa Dawkins)
2004/2005
The Club continues to build on the support given by NFFC and Capital one and the committee negotiates support and the co-ordination of the first trip away as part of their pre-season preparations.
The club appoints Dave Regis (ex Notts County player and awaiting A Licence assessment) to support and coach the 1st Team squad. And Mark Brown moves up to assist Lisa Dawkins in the Management roles.
The 1st Team squad and Backroom staff travel to Washington D.C with the Mens Team and stay for a 5 day tour including two games vs. the world renowned Washington Freedom Ladies Team. In searing the heat at the 60,000 capacity D.C United Stadium the 1 st Team lost 8-0 vs. the Freedom who are probably one of the best league teams in the world. The second game gave Forest a chance to get on the score sheet and Dani Duffy scored consolatory goal as the girls again got beat by 7-1. The experience, however, including some great team building was instrumental in the success of the 1 st team for the rest of the season.
The Victoria Trophy was deemed to be one of the best ever in closer links with Nottingham City Council with over 250 teams entering.
At the end of the season, and with various changes in personnel and players across the whole club, there was a mixed bag of results on the field of play:
CLUB ACHIEVEMENTS
UNDER 11'S - RUNNERS UP OUT OF 9 TEAMS
Also Divisional Sportsmanship award voted by opponents.
(Manager - Ash Nehra)
UNDER 12's RED - 7 th Out of 14
(Manager - Nigel Wildgust)
UNDER 12's WHITE - 13 th out of 14
(Manager - Hedley Saunderson (took over from Rachael Evans halfway through the season)
UNDER 14'S RED - CHAMPIONS Out of 13
(Manager - Calvin Thomas)
UNDER 14's WHITE - 9 th Out of 13
(Manager - Keith Taylor)
UNDER 16'S - 4 TH OUT OF 11
(Manager - Chris Rossington)
SENIOR RESERVES - 3 RD OUT OF 9
(Manager - Gary Cresswell)
1 ST TEAM - CHAMPIONS OUT OF 12
(Manager - Lisa Dawkins)
Most significantly is the result of the 1 st Team who finally get promoted to the National Northern Premier League. From small acorns grow trees as they say, and the destiny of the club is always susceptible to change (both for the better or the worse) but for now the club prepares across all age groups to develop and maintain continually high standards and build further to progress to the top flight. The promotion to the Northern Premier is a superb achievement for all concerned and one to be proud of for all associated with NFLFC. However, whilst there continues to be a constant struggle in attracting sponsors to help finance the ambition of the club, the future will always be uncertain. In the meantime, NFLFC, will do as it always has done, and pull on its great club and team spirit to push forward, and in current pre-season preparations the outlook is positive...... Bring on the 2005/2006 season!
