Lewie Tilley Sports News

By Lewie Tilley

In the ever-growing landscape of women’s football, few stories capture the essence of community and determination quite like that of Liverpool Feds Women’s Football Club. Formed in the early 1990s by a group of university students with a shared passion for the game, the Feds have quietly built a reputation as one of the most resilient and respected sides in the Northwest.

Since the club’s beginning in 1990, a team formed from a small student team has evolved into a well-established club competing in the FA Women’s National League, providing a vital platform for local talent and a clear pathway into the senior game. Through dedication, teamwork and a commitment to developing women’s football at every level, Liverpool Feds have become much more than just a football club; they are a symbol of pride and progress for Merseyside’s sporting community.

Origins and University roots

The story of Liverpool Feds begins not in a stadium or a training ground, but in the lecture halls of the Liverpool Institute of Higher Education, now known as Liverpool Hope University. In the early 1990s, women’s football was still fighting for recognition, yet a small group of students decided to form a team simply because they loved the game. Among them were Sue Carmichael, Janie Moore and Bill Stewart, who recall the early days as a mix of enthusiasm, improvisation and determination.

Sue said: ‘We’re not sitting back watching the work, we’re doing the work with them and for them, and hopefully show how grateful we are as well.  It’s hard to show how grateful we are; it’s very much knowing that they know that we value what everyone does.’

What started as a casual university team quickly evolved into something more: a space where women could play, compete, and belong. The roots of the club have always been there and have continued to thrive through all levels of the team as more sides are created.

Janie said: ‘I think we’re a very family-oriented club, and I mean from four-year-olds up to I think our oldest player is 65, with the walking football.’

‘It’s very inclusive, it’s a club that people kind of guess as the old members’ club, when you’re a member, you feel a part of it.’

Those early matches laid the foundations for what would grow into one of Merseyside’s most enduring women’s football clubs, with the idea of slowly becoming a team built on friendship, community and the shared belief that women deserved a place in the game

Janie added: ‘The kids are coming to support the first team; they want to wear the same tops as the first team; that is very new.’

‘We used to only ever see kids in the city in Liverpool and Everton shirts; now our girls wear the first team shirts.’

Building a Club from the Ground Up

As the team grew beyond its university roots, Liverpool Feds began to take on the shape of a proper football club, but the journey was anything but easy. In those early years, resources were scarce, pitches were hard to find, and every training session depended on the goodwill of volunteers. Yet, from those challenges came a strong sense of identity and purpose.

Slowly, the Feds established themselves within the local football scene, attracting players from across Merseyside who were drawn to the club’s inclusive spirit and commitment to giving women real opportunities to play.

Feds Chairman Bill Stewart said: ‘We’re not necessarily unique, but the recruitment of people that come to the club is really quite clever.’

‘We also have a group of older girls who are really good players, but the money they’re offered from other clubs isn’t enough to give their careers up.’

Through dedication and perseverance, Liverpool Feds transformed from a student team into a respected grassroots organisation and became one that would soon begin its climb up the football pyramid. However, although these opening stages showed promise, adapting to the challenges of modern-day football proved just as difficult.

He added: ‘We’re going through a major challenge at the club at the moment, it’s the toughest time we’ve ever been in, despite our success, because there’s been a real push to bring in investors so we can continue to compete.’

Climbing the football pyramid

Liverpool Feds’ rise through the ranks of women’s football has been a story of steady progress rather than sudden breakthroughs. After establishing themselves in local and regional leagues, the club began to build momentum, combining homegrown talent with experienced players who shared their vision. Each promotion marked not just a sporting achievement, but a testament to the hard work of those behind the scenes, stemming from coaches and committee members to parents and volunteers.

Their persistence eventually earned them a place in the FA Women’s National League, where they now compete against some of the strongest semi-professional sides in the country. Their most recent achievement saw them play Sheffield United Women in the FA Cup third round. Although the Feds did bow out of the cup at this stage, playing a side in the Women’s Super League two showed massive improvement throughout the club.

Competing at that level has brought new challenges, from travel demands to financial pressures, but it has also reinforced what makes the Feds special. This has proven them to be a club that continues to punch above its weight through togetherness, belief and an unshakable love for the game.

Looking to the Future

From their modest beginnings on a university pitch to competing in the national league, Liverpool Feds’ journey reflects the wider evolution of women’s football in England and demonstrates a side built on passion, perseverance and community spirit.

What started as a handful of students determined to create opportunities for themselves has become a club that provides those same chances to generations of players across Merseyside. The challenges have changed over the years, but the heart of the Feds remains the same. There has and always will be a commitment to progress, inclusion and the love of the game.

As women’s football continues to grow, Liverpool Feds stand as proof that success isn’t only measured in trophies or league positions, but in the lasting impact a club can have on its people, its city and the sport itself.

Featured image courtesy of Naomi Johnson (@njphotography.sports)