Category: Doncaster Rovers Belles

Things were very different three months ago; heatwaves only lasted a day or two, England were set to disappoint at the World Cup, and Doncaster Rovers Belles were celebrating. On 13 May, I was one of a number of Doncastrians standing a hefty goal-kick away from the Thames, applauding Doncaster Rovers Belles as they took the field to face Millwall as FA Women’s Super League 2 champions. Neil Redfearn’s side had lost just once, rattled in three goals a game, and would ultimately finish the season 10 points clear of their nearest challenger. As deserving a title as you could imagine.

Continue reading “Absent Belles” →

On Tuesday 5 December, Doncaster Rovers Belles announced they would not be submitting an application to be part of the newly proposed professional Women’s Super League, stating that to operate in the revamped top tier would be financially ‘beyond their means’. In issue 91 of popular STAND fanzine, Glen Wilson, speculated this would be the case as he looked at what the FA’s proposal for an all-professional women’s top tier meant for the game’s clubs. His article can be found below…

Continue reading “Tolling on the Belles… again” →

Hopefully this will be the last piece I write about the Doncaster Belles which doesn’t have a football match as its focus. With a bit of luck it will also be the last time I have the cause to write the word ‘relegation’ in inverted commas too. Today, following an adjournment a fortnight ago, the Belles will have their appeal heard by the FA, it is D-Day, the ‘D’ being for decency, as this will be the last chance to resolve this issue within the confines of football governance. Continue reading “D-Day at the FA; On the Doncaster Belles’ Appeal” →

Later today, at an undisclosed time, representatives of the Doncaster Belles will be at Wembley to have their appeal against arbitrary ‘relegation’ from the FA Women’s Super League heard by the Football Association. After twenty-two years, the Belles’ status as the only ever-presents at the top-tier of women’s football comes down not to a football match, but to folk in suits with laminated security passes bearing three lions. Whether the Belles are succesful in their appeal or not, seeing a sustainable and historically important football club’s status and future settled in this manner cannot  be for the good of the game in any sense. Continue reading “Appeal of Belles; The Road to Wembley” →

It’s now five days since supporters, protesting against the arbitrary ‘relegation’ of Doncaster Belles as part of the FAWSL’s planned restructure, had a number of items confiscated from them ahead of the FA Women’s Cup Final. Taken from the supporters by Keepmoat Stadium stewards were flyers about a planned minute’s bell-ringing and applause to create awareness of the issue, a petition on the issue, some shirts kindly donated by the Belles kit supplier Jako, bells and our banner (fuller details of which you can read in our previous post on the subject of the Belles). But the question has remained since, under who’s instruction were the items confiscated; Doncaster Rovers or the FA? Continue reading “So Who Did Ban Our Banner?” →