Southampton Saints have played in the national league and competitions since the founding of the women’s competitive game many decades ago.
Southampton Saints who derived from Southampton WFC (who folded in 1985/86) and Red Star appeared in 10 of the first 11 finals and in 1976, Southampton WFC were the only team to have the women’s and men’s FA Cup winners at the same time.

This record has now been broken... by the now mighty Arsenal Ladies! who have won it twice in the same year as the men’s side in 1998 and 1993
The club began in 1979 as Red Star Southampton, competing in the Home Counties League then the Southern Regions League. In 1991 Red Star won the Southern Region Division One and became founder members of the FA Women's Premier League National Division. In August 1991 the club were in Russia as guests of FC Spartak Moscow during the collapse of the Soviet Union. The first season at national level saw Red Star finish second in the League to Doncaster Belles and also lose the 1992 WFA Cup final 4–0 to the same opponents.

Red Star failed to build on their promising start and were relegated from the top flight in 1994–95. In summer 1995 the club became known as Southampton Saints due to affiliation with Southampton F.C., winning promotion as Southern Premier League champions in 1995–96.

However the club's second spell in the top-flight lasted only a season, as 1996–97 ended in another relegation. Southampton Saints then won the 1997–98 Southern Premier League and secured a mid-table finish in the 1998–99 National Premier League – being named Most Improved Side at the annual FA Awards. In 1999 the club reached its second FA Women's Cup final (not including the ten reached by Southampton W.F.C. in the first 11 years of the competition). This time they were beaten 2–0 by Arsenal Ladies, before a crowd of 6,450 at The Valley.

As part of the Southampton FC affiliation process the Saints' long-serving manager Vanessa Raynbird was controversially sacked to make way for a male coach. The club was relegated in 2002–03 and this time was unable to bounce straight back, missing out on promotion by a point in 2003–04. Sue Lopez had been appointed manager in 2003. In 2005 Southampton FC were relegated from the men's Premier League after financial difficulties and withdrew their support for Southampton Saints as a result.

The team continued as an independent outfit, but were relegated to the South West Combination in 2006–07 after a shambolic season in which they won just once and were unable to field a team for a match in February. They had evaded relegation by a point in 2005–06.

Yet another relegation saw the club playing at Southern Region level from 2008 until 2010, when they returned to the South West Combination as champions under the guidance of new manager Adam Lee.

Women's football is the fastest growing sport in England and it's now the most popular female sport and there are some good reasons why.
• It's fun
• It helps you to maintain your fitness
• It encourages teamwork
• It promotes a sense of achievement
• It's a good way to meet people

Join Southampton Saints Ladies

If you think you could be good enough to play for one of the Saints Ladies teams then get in touch.
Or you can visit us at Training although it's worth contacting us first.

We also require additional committee members and sponsors.
Contact Tracey Wheeler for details: twheelersaintsglfc@gmail.com

As a Saints player you will get the following benefits:
• All training taken by managers and coaches with at least Level 1 qualifications
• Goalkeeper coaching by Level 2 GK coach
A Saints Ladies club e-mail addresses and access to our members only web facilities
• Training every Thursday whatever the weather!