Club History
This page houses a brief history of how Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Lightning was established.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Women’s Performance Team
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Students Women’s Football Club has always offered a competitive playing opportunity for its players. The performance team competes in the British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) Northern Premier League (the highest level of University Sport). This programme prides itself on its support of players as people, students, and athletes holistically. In 2020 when discussions started between the University and Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Foxes representatives it was this section of the University football programme that enabled the Lightning team to form.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Foxes
Gail and Paul Fox founded Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Foxes in 1999, known then as Shepshed Foxes until 2002.
For 15 years, Foxes played in local leagues, before being promoted to the FA Women’s Northern Premier Division (the 3rd ranked tier of women’s football) in 2015.
After the first season they suffered relegation but managed a promotion in 2018 to return to tier 3 football. This feat was a club record for the Foxes who won the Midlands Division One title by winning 22 games and drawing one.
Work begun behind the scenes in 2020 between Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Foxes and Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ officials to explore a future possible collaboration.
In 2021 this hard work culminated in the inaugural season of the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Lightning franchise. The Foxes are still very much a part of the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ family and continue to be a key community focused partner of the University with their youth development pathway and women’s football teams.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Lightning Established 2021
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Lightning is the women’s high performance football team, who train and play their games at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ world class facilities. Born out of the foundations laid by both the University women’s football club and Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Foxes this new franchise aims to support the women’s side to grow and develop to new heights.
The Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Lightning programme aims to provide women’s performance athletes with an opportunity to be empowered and supported through their culture of sporting excellence. We are delighted to be a part of the Lightning franchise family who proudly field teams at the highest level in sport in Netball, Wheelchair Basketball, Rugby, and Cycling.