Coventry City Ladies Football Club

Hi Lionel, Bernard is trying to contact you, he says he has sent you a message but got an error message. Do you want to contact me directly and send me your email address (click contact under my name on the left)

Thank you Anne! I am now in touch with Bernard who has supplied some very interesting information. Apparently Coventry Bantams had five international players during his managerial spell and the team was one of the best in the Midlands, competing in the Heart Of England Women's League. Bernard was formerly manager of Renold Chain Ladies F.C. During World War One this company raised a ladies team in 1917 from its vast number of female munition workers, to compete with the likes of representative sides from the Humber, Daimler and Rudge-Whitworth factories, to name a few. The female munition workers teams created a firm foundation which resulted in the formation of Coventry City Ladies in 1921. This club only lasted one year due to the Football Association imposing a nationwide ban on women's football in 1921. Coventry Bantams Ladies was formed in 1967 by two enthusiastic female Sky Blues supporters who stood in the West End for home matches. Many of their friends joined the group to establish the club, the team at this time played in all sky blue. Other players joined in later years and in 1971 the team played in green & black. The club survived until about 1980. Coventry City Ladies was resurrected around 1992 and that club is still in existence although today they play under the title of Coventry United Ladies, due to their recent amalgamation with the corresponding male team. We have a rich history of ladies football in Coventry and it is sad the female game does not get the credit or acknowledgement it deserves.

Glad it all worked out Lionel. My grandad worked at Renold Chain, not sure when but you never know he may have known some of the ladies!