Rotherham United Women have had their future secured after the club came within days of closure.
Local businessmen Phil Smith and Scott Thorpe stepped in to save the East Midlands League Premier Division club, moving quickly to appoint Francesca Ross as chairwoman and begin building a more ambitious football, commercial and community structure.
The immediate target is back-to-back promotions. The longer-term objective is deliberately ambitious: to create the standards, structure and visibility needed to build towards the Women’s Super League over the next five years.
The message from the new ownership group is clear: survival is no longer the ambition. Survival was the starting point.
The team’s story goes back to 1969, when Kilnhurst Shooting Stars was founded, later becoming known as Rotherham United WFC and competing for a couple of seasons in the FA Women’s National League Northern Division, which was the second tier of the pyramid back in 2008.
The new owners have paid tribute to Valerie Hoyle, who spent 57 years connected to the club before stepping down at the end of the season. Her commitment helped protect the club’s identity across generations and gives the new era a powerful link to its past.
The new ownership group will build around two linked priorities: football performance and community purpose. On the pitch, the aim is to create a competitive environment capable of winning, developing players and progressing through the football pyramid. Off the pitch, the focus will be stronger governance, commercial growth, sponsorship, matchday visibility, affordable merchandise, digital media and deeper links with schools, grassroots clubs and community organisations.
Francesca Ross will become chairwoman, leading the club with a focus on standards, culture, visibility and community connection. Further appointments across football, operations and community engagement will be announced as the new structure is developed.
Phil Smith said: “This club was on the brink of disappearing, and that simply could not be allowed to happen. Rotherham United Women has history, heart and people who have fought to keep it alive.”
“Scott and I saw a club with huge potential and felt we had a responsibility to step in. But this is not a rescue mission built around survival. It is a new era built around ambition – back-to-back promotions, a five-year WSL ambition and a club the whole town can get behind.”
Scott Thorpe said: “This is one of those moments where people either talk about community or actually do something for it.”
“The club was days away from going out of business. Now it has local backing, a proper structure, a football
plan, a business plan and serious ambition.”
“We want sponsors, supporters, schools, families and grassroots clubs to look at Rotherham United Women and think: this is going somewhere, and I need to be part of it.”
Francesca Ross said: “This is a new beginning for Rotherham United Women. The club has come through a really uncertain period, but now it has energy, investment and a clear plan behind it.”
“My focus will be on helping create a club with high standards, strong values and a clear identity – one that
supports its players, inspires young girls and represents Rotherham with pride.”
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