When it comes to the Women’s FA Cup and South Yorkshire, one name immediately stands out: Doncaster Rovers Belles. A true powerhouse of the early decades of the competition, their six FA Cup victories set a benchmark for others to aspire to. But the Belles’ glorious history is just one chapter in the FA Cup stories of the region’s clubs. Here’s each of the top South Yorkshire clubs’ best runs in the historic tournament.
- Doncaster Rovers Belles – WINNERS x6 – 1983, 1987,1988, 1990, 1992, 1994
The Belles of course top the list as South Yorkshire’s most successful club in the competition, and are in fact the third most successful club in the country, behind only Arsenal (14) and the Southampton Ladies (8) side of 70s. The Belles first won the competition back in 1983, beating St Helens 3-2 in front of 1,500 fans in Lincoln of all places. Two goals from founder of the club, Sheila Edmunds, along with a Jill Hanson goal were enough to topple the club who folded in 2006.
The Belles lost three successive finals before getting their hands on the trophy again in 87’, where they once again defeated St Helens. The club made it back-to-back cup triumphs with a 3-1 victory over Leasowe Pacific in 88’, and then picked up their fourth cup in 90’ with a 1-0 victory over Friends of Fulham.
Belles legend Karen Walker scored a hat trick in the 92 final over Red Star Southampton, a hat trick that meant Walker astonishingly scored a hat-trick in every round of the cup that year. The Belles’ final triumph came in 94, where they beat Knowsley United 1-0 thanks to a goal once again from Walker.
The Belles made the Final in 2000, losing 2-1 to Croydon in front of 3,400 fans at Bramall Lane, and lost once more in 2002, this time against Fulham in front of over 10,000 fans at Selhurst Park. Since then, the Belles have failed to make any more finals. However, the 2013 final was held at the Eco-Power as Arsenal beat Bristol 3-0.
2. Sheffield Wednesday – Quarter Final – 1998/99
The second most successful side in the county is the Owls, who made it all the way to the Quarter-Final just before the turn of the millennium. While the Owls were eventually defeated 5-0 by Southampton Saints, the Owls defeated Leeds, Doncaster Rovers, Ilkeston and Langford on their run to the Quarters. Southampton Saints went on to make the final that year, where they lost 2-0 to Arsenal. Since then, the Owls have made it to the Fifth Round three times in 2004, 2005 and 2011, however have failed to make it to the Last Eight again.
3. Sheffield United – Fifth Round x2 – 2018/19 and 2020/21
Sheffield United are next up and are narrowly behind their City neighbours as they’ve made it to the Fifth Round twice, in 2019 and 2021. The Blades were edged out in 2019 by Aston Villa 5-3 on penalties after drawing 3-3 with the Birmingham side, and lost 2-1 to Spurs in 2021, having taken the tie to extra time.
4. Sheffield FC – Fifth Round – 2014/15
Sheffield FC are next up, having made the Fifth Round once in 2015 where they lost 2-0 to Aston Villa. Prior to the Villa clash, Sheffield had made light work of their opposition, putting 8 past Leicester, 5 past C&K Basildon and 4 past Radcliffe Olympic. It meant FC scored 17 goals and had conceded none on route to Round Five.
5. Rotherham United – Fourth Round x2 – 2007/08 and 2008/09
The Millers are fifth in the standings, having made it to the Fourth Round in back to back years between 2008 and 2009. However, on both occasions they only actually won one game, having entered in the Third Round due to league standings. In 2007/08 they came out on top 6-3 in a 9 goal thriller against Rochdale, before a narrow 4-3 loss to Portsmouth. The next season, The Millers saw off York City in the Third Round before a heavy defeat to Chelsea in the Fourth Round.
6. Barnsley Women’s FC – Fourth Round – 2019/20
Barnsley Women’s FC have also made it to the Fourth Round, with their solitary appearance coming in the 2019/20 season, where they made it all the way from Second Round Qualifying to the Fourth Round, defeating five sides in the process. Despite an eventual 5-0 loss to WSL side Spurs, fourth division Barnsley beat Bradford, Leeds and Crewe before taking on South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield FC. Despite being a division below FC, Barnsley ran riot knocking four past them. They then beat fellow fourth division side Brighouse in the fourth Round to set up their blockbuster clash with Spurs.
7. Handsworth – Second Round – 2024/25
Handsworth Ladies are next up having made a remarkable run to the Second Round Proper this season just gone. While they were eventually undone 4-0 by Mancunian Unity, the side who started in First Round Qualifying, saw off four teams on route to the Second Round Proper. They kicked off their run with a 9-0 victory over Hessle Rangers from the division below before an impressive 4-2 away victory over Gainsborough Trinity. In the Third Qualifying Round, squeezed past Brunsmeer Athletic with a 3-2 victory, before a victory for the ages over York City who sit two divisions above Handsworth. Two goals in two minutes set them on route to a famous victory and a spot in the Second Round.
8. SJR Worksop – Third Qualifying Round x2 – 2023/24 and 2024/25
League Cup plate winners SJR have twice made it through to the Third Qualifying Round, in 2023/24, along with this year. A 3-1 victory over Kiveton saw them through in 2023/24, while this year it was a 3-2 victory over York Railway institute that saw them into the Third Qualifying Round.
9. Barnsley FC Women – Third Qualifying Round – 2022/23
The other Barnsley side have actually only ever made one appearance in the FA Cup since their inauguration in 2020. The side lost 3-1 to Osset United in Second Round Qualifying in 2023, and then entered in the Third Round this season, however withdrew meaning bizarrely, their best campaign was a one in which they didn’t play a game…
10. Kiveton Park – 2nd Qualifying Round – 23/24
Kiveton made it past the First Qualifying Round and into the Second in the 2023/24 campaign. A 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday Ladies saw them past the First Qualifying Round, however as mentioned, local rivals SJR Worksop trumped them 3-1.
