Leeds Ladies March On

Leeds Ladies chairman Gary Cooper explains what happened when Leeds United, under new ownership, cut the women’s team loose and withdrew its naming and branding rights. Cooper calls it disappointing rather than shocking: stakeholders knew the risk existed and tried to work with the club, but it soon became clear only they had the determination to ensure women’s football in Leeds was not lost to history. The split, he argues, has made the club stronger and united the wider Leeds family, with long hours from committed volunteers. He praises the support of the West Riding FA, the FA, the FAWPL and Scarborough Ladies, who sponsored a player, and casts the club as a phoenix rising from the ashes. A winning start to the season, he says, felt fantastic.