South Yorkshire has a long and illustrious history with women’s football, but how did each of the top clubs form? Thanks to research from the Stoppage Time project as well as our own, SYWF retells the origins of each of the top clubs in the region.
Sheffield United – 2002/1993
Sheffield United officially began in 2002, after the side Sheffield Inter was close to folding. Sheffield United Community Girls and Ladies took their place in the League system, and under the Sheffield United name, the club gained its first promotion in 2005/06, thanks in large part to Jodie Michalska, who scored 75 goals in 25 games that season.
The club eventually made their way up to the National League Division One Midlands in 2017 and finished third. However, after the FA removed relegation and promotion for the year, and based the criteria for promotion on off-field strength, the side was promoted to the second tier for 2018.
However, while Sheffield United officially dates back to 2002, the club actually has roots back to the 90s with Sheffield Hallam United, which was a collaboration between Sheffield United and Sheffield Hallam University, which you can find out more about below.
Read More – The story of the first Sheffield United Women side, told by one of its first players – SYWF
Sheffield Wednesday – 1971
The Owl’s origins in women’s football date all the way back to the 70s, when the side was founded as Star Inn Ladies in 1971. Why were they called this? Well, the club was formed in the Star Inn Pub in Rotherham.
The club changed their name to Sheffield Ladies in 1981, and ten years later continued their trend by becoming Sheffield Wednesday Ladies. They wrote a letter to Wednesday asking them for sponsorship and they obliged, which allowed the side to become founder members of the new National Women’s Football League.
Since then the club have gone on to win the County Cup three times, and were promoted to the top flight after winning the Northern Combination League in 2007.
Recent years have seen the club slowly drift away from the edges of the professional game, however they were promoted to the sixth tier in 2024.
Barnsley FC – 2020
Barnsley are one of the newest clubs within South Yorkshire, and have seen an incredible rise since their inaugural season. Affiliated with Barnsley FC, the side was founded in 2020. Despite their first season being abandoned due to the pandemic, the side still finished 1st and gained promotion, their first of three in four years. The club now sit in the fourth tier and are looking to kick on after a mid-table finish in 2025.
Barnsley WFC – 1982
Barnsley Women’s FC were founded in 1982, originally as Barnsley Ladies Football club until changing to Women’s FC in 2018. They had ties to Barnsley FC throughout their history until a split in 2018 after what CEO Stephen Maddock described as an ‘ultimatum’.
The Club have had a particularly impressive last ten years, making the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in 2020, and winning the County Cup three times in four years between 2015 to 2019.
Doncaster Rovers Belles – 1969
The club was founded in 1969 as Belle Vue Belles after a group of Doncaster Rovers fans, led by Sheila Stocks, decided to create a women’s team. They began playing informally, however decided to rename as Doncaster Belles in 1971, and enter the newly created Sheffield Ladies League in 1972.
Despite the League folding in the mid 70s, the club lived on in the Nottinghamshire Leagues and dominated, which along with four FA Cup victories, led to their invite to the inaugural National Division in 1991.
The side won the top flight twice and added two further FA Cup’s. The club remained a stalwart of women’s football until their relegation to the third division in 2018 despite winning WSL 2.
Read More – Why were Doncaster Rovers Belles relegated in 2018, even though they won the League?
Rotherham United – 1969
Rotherham United also have ties back to the 60’s, beginning in 1969 as a youth team called Kilnhurst Shooting Stars. They won the Sheffield League Cup in 1975, and had three of their players be called up for the England squad in Cathy Hamstead, Vicky Exley and Leanne Hall.
Kilnhurst eventually morphed into Rotherham United in 2003. The club were as high as the third tier in 2011, however relegations in 2012 and 2018 put them in the fifth tier, where they remain today.
However, after a third place finish and League Cup final appearance in 24/25, the club appear to be on the right track under the tutelage of Adam Rawlings.
Sheffield FC – 2003
Despite being affiliated with the oldest club in football, the women’s side aren’t quite the oldest in the world, however they still have an illustrious history. The side have roots back to the 90s with Norton Ladies, however officially came under the Sheffield FC name in 2003.
The club won the NER Division 1 South in 2008 and then gained back to back promotions between 2010-2011 to make it to the FA Women’s Premier League North.
In their first season the side finished 2nd to Manchester City, however went one better in 2013 to win the division. After winning the division three years on the spin, the side was eventually rewarded with promotion to WSL 2 in 2015 thanks to a play-off victory over Southern champions Portsmouth.
After a few tough years due to changes in FA requirements, the side have momentum on their side once again after claiming a League and Cup double in 24/25.
SJR Worksop – 2015
SJR initially formed as Worksop Town Ladies in 2015, however split and decided to come under the SJR name in 2020 following Worksop Town’s decision to start “charging the women £350 a game.” While progress was initially slow, the side have gone from strength to strength in the past couple of years, winning the East Midlands Regional Women’s League Division One North (Tier Six) in 2023/24, consolidating their Tier Five position in 2025, and also winning the League Plate.
Kiveton Park – 2019
Kiveton Park Football Club began as a men’s side in 1881; however, they only formed a women’s team in 2019. With their first two seasons abandoned due to COVID, the club finally completed their first season in 2021/22, where they gained promotion with a second place finish.
Another promotion in 2023 sees them now compete in the North East Regional Women’s League, while they also competed in the FA Cup for the first time that same year.
