Bronte L.F.C. was an English

women's football Women's football most often refers to: * Women's association football (hannah jones ). Women's football may also refer to: * Women's gridiron football * Women's Australian rules football * Ladies' Gaelic football * Women's rugby league * Women's ...

club based in

Bradford Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...

in West Yorkshire. Founded by

Bradford City FC Bradford City Association Football Club is an English professional football club in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The team competes in League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system and are currently managed by Mark Hughes. ...

director Bill Roper in 1968, the club began playing in the Yorkshire League before joining the

North West Women's League The North West Women's League (NWWL) was a women's football league, representing the top level of play in North West England. The league was founded in 1970 and originally consisted of eight teams, including Fodens Ladies F.C. Later teams in the ...

in 1973. Bronte were invited to join the new Division One (North) in 1991 and won promotion into the national Premier League at the first attempt. However, Bronte finished bottom of the League with seven points in 1992–93. After a disastrous Northern Division campaign in 1995–96 which yielded only two points, Bronte folded during 1996–97.

History

When the Women's Football Association formed a National League in 1991–92, North West Women's Regional Football League Bronte were admitted to the new

Northern Division Northern Division or North Division can refer to: Sports * Northern Division (Rugby Union) Leagues of England * Queensland Rugby League Northern Division * Southern League Northern Division of the Southern Football League in England * FA Women's ...

. The club narrowly beat Sheffield Wednesday to the title and took their place in an enlarged 10-team National Division for

1992–93 Year 199 ( CXCIX) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was sometimes known as year 952 ''Ab urbe condita''. The denomination 199 for this year has been used since th ...

. However Bronte's stalwart defender and

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Clare Taylor left for Knowsley United in the close season and without her the team performed poorly in the top division. A violent altercation on the team bus saw

Chantel Woodhead Chantel Marie "Channy" Woodhead (born 17 September 1974 in Leeds, England) is a former English international football player. She played as a left back for clubs including Doncaster Belles and Everton Ladies. Woodhead won a single cap for the se ...

being throttled and

Samantha Britton Samantha Britton (born 8 December 1973) is an English retired footballer, and former England international player. An extremely versatile performer, Britton was equally at home playing in defence, midfield or attack. Britton played for England ...

punching the assailant. The club were relegated and in the subsequent player exodus Woodhead signed for

Doncaster Belles Doncaster Rovers Belles Ladies Football Club, previously Doncaster Belles, is an English women's football club that currently plays in the , the fourth tier of women's football in England. The club's administration is based at the Eco Power St ...

, Britton and Rebecca Lonergan signed for

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

and Issy Pollard joined Millwall Lionesses.

Former players

''For details of all former players with a Wikipedia article, see :Bronte L.F.C. players.''

References

;General references * Defunct women's football clubs in England Association football clubs established in 1968 Association football clubs disestablished in 1997 1968 establishments in England 1997 disestablishments in England Defunct football clubs in West Yorkshire {{England-footyclub-defunct-stub