2020–21 Birmingham City W.F.C. season

Birmingham City
2020–21 season
Chairman	Edward Cheng
Head Coach	Carla Ward
Stadium	Damson Park, Solihull
FA WSL	11th
FA Cup	Quarter-final
League Cup	Group stage
Top goalscorer	League: Claudia Walker (5); All: Claudia Walker (8)
	← 2019–20 2021–22 →

The 2020–21 Birmingham City W.F.C. season was the club's 53rd season in existence and their 10th in the FA Women's Super League, the highest level of the football pyramid, having been founding members of the league in 2011. Along with competing in the WSL, the club will contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

ChairmanEdward Cheng

Head CoachCarla Ward

StadiumDamson Park, Solihull

FA WSL11th

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Carla Ward was appointed manager ahead of the new season on 13 August 2020, taking over from Charlie Baxter who had been put in charge on an interim basis following the departure of Marta Tejedor during the previous campaign.^[1]

On 5 April 2021, it was revealed a formal letter signed by all Birmingham City players had been sent to the club's board with a list of complaints including concerns about working conditions, lack of gym facilities, medical support, travel provisions, squad size and part-time coaching staff which would contradict WSL licensing rules. Numerous requests by the squad to meet with the board had previously been rejected and there was a fear that the club was not committed to funding a full-time team for the following season with only three players under contract past June 2021.^[2] The letter received support from the PFA as well as mass social media coverage from former and current players around the WSL.^[3] On 8 April, the letter was addressed in a club statement with the board expressing their disappointment an internal issue was made public, refuting the factual accuracy of many of the points reported and citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as context for both the financial strain and practical difficulties with regards to providing adequate facilities but reaffirming they were still committed to supporting the team. The statement also confirmed a deal had been agreed to host the women's team's home games at the club's main St Andrew's stadium for the 2021–22 season.^[4]

On 14 May 2021, Ward announced her resignation effective as of the team's final game of the season on 16 May.^[5]

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Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
22	3	6	13	15	44	−29	14^{^[a]}	0	4	7	6	24	−18	3	2	6	9	20	−11

6 September 2020 1	Brighton & Hove Albion	2–0	Birmingham City	Crawley
14:00	Connolly 58' Kaagman 60'	Report	Holloway 66' Scott 71' Napier 81' Mayling 90+1'	Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Rob Whitton

13 September 2020 2	Birmingham City	2–5	Manchester United	Solihull
14:00	Walker 14' McManus 27' (o.g.)	Report	Ross 5' Zelem 36' Toone 47' Hanson 60', 79'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Oliver

4 October 2020 3	Birmingham City	0–1	Chelsea	Solihull
14:30		Report	Kirby 9'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Abigail Byrne

11 October 2020 4	Reading	0–1	Birmingham City	Reading
14:00		Report	Scott 64' Walker 72' Scofield 82'	Stadium: Madejski Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Sarah Garratt

2020–21 Birmingham City W.F.C. season

Squad

FA Women's Super League

Results summary

Results by matchday

Results

League table

Women's FA Cup

FA Women's League Cup

Squad statistics

Appearances

Transfers

Transfers in

Loans in

Transfers out

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
Ground	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	A	A	H	A	A	H	H	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H
Result	L	L	L	W	W	L	W	L	L	D	L	D	L	L	L	D	D	L	D	D	L	L
Position	10	11	10	8	7	7	6	7	7	8	8	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	10	9	10	11

18 October 2020 5	Bristol City	0–4	Birmingham City	Bath
14:00	Matthews 27'	Report	Corsie 16', 74' Green 32' Walker 50' Murray 65' (pen.) Grant 90' 90+7'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Stacey Pearson

8 November 2020 6	Birmingham City	1–2	West Ham United	Solihull
14:00	Walker 9' Murray 90'	Report	Vetterlein 31' Walker 43' (o.g.) van Egmond 73' Daly 90+3'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Richie Watkins

14 November 2020 7	Aston Villa	0–1	Birmingham City	Walsall
14:30	Hutton 38'	Report	Walker 72' Scofield 76'	Stadium: Bescot Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Rebecca Welch

6 December 2020 8	Arsenal	3–0	Birmingham City	Borehamwood
14:00	Foord 57' Roord 62' Little 87' (pen.)	Report	Scott 43'	Stadium: Meadow Park Referee: Cristiana Hattersley

13 December 2020	Birmingham City	P–P	Everton	Solihull
14:00				Stadium: Damson Park
Note: Postponed due to waterlogged pitch^[8]

20 December 2020	Birmingham City	P–P	Manchester City	Solihull
14:00				Stadium: Damson Park
Note: Postponed due to waterlogged pitch^[9]

10 January 2021 9	Tottenham Hotspur	H–W	Birmingham City	Canons Park
14:00				Stadium: The Hive
Note: Postponed due to Birmingham player shortage.^[10] On 18 March 2021, an independent tribunal awarded three points to Tottenham after Birmingham were deemed to have breached Rule 11.3.18. in failing to fulfil the fixture. No scoreline was specified.^[11]

17 January 2021 10	Birmingham City	0–0	Brighton & Hove Albion	Solihull
14:00		Report	Kerkdijk 64'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Helen Conley

20 January 2021	Birmingham City	P–P	Everton	Solihull
19:00				Stadium: Damson Park
Note: Rescheduled from 13 December 2020 due waterlogged pitch. Postponed due to waterlogged pitch.^[12]

4 April 2021 18	Chelsea	6–0	Birmingham City	Kingston upon Thames
12:30	Kerr 25', 45', 45+3' Kirby 61', 90+1' Reiten 73' Spence 80'	Report	Littlejohn 45+2'	Stadium: Kingsmeadow Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Jane Simms

2 May 2021 21	Manchester City	4–0	Birmingham City	Manchester
15:00	Kelly 10', 23' Morgan 85' Mewis 90+4'	Report		Stadium: Academy Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Emily Heaslip

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
8	Tottenham Hotspur	22	5	5	12	18	41	−23	20
9	West Ham United	22	3	6	13	21	39	−18	15
10	Aston Villa	22	3	6	13	15	47	−32	15
11	Birmingham City	22	3	6	13	15	44	−29	14^[a]
12	Bristol City (R)	22	2	6	14	18	72	−54	12	Relegation to the Championship

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Leicester City	2	1	1	0	0	5	2	+3	5	Advanced to knock-out stage
2	Birmingham City	2	1	0	1	0	1	0	+1	4	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3	Blackburn Rovers	2	0	0	0	2	2	6	−4	0

24 January 2021 11	Manchester United	2–0	Birmingham City	Leigh
12:00	Harris 5' Galton 46' Toone 67', 81' A. Turner 88'	Report	Littlejohn 45+3' Murphy 90+2'	Stadium: Leigh Sports Village Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Stacey Pearson

7 February 2021 12	Everton	1–1	Birmingham City	Liverpool
14:00	Turner 22' Scott 88'	Report	Napier 34' McCarron 41' Holloway 66' Kelly 87' Littlejohn 90+3'	Stadium: Walton Hall Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lisa Benn

10 February 2021	Birmingham City	P–P	Aston Villa	Solihull
18:00				Stadium: Damson Park
Note: Postponed due to frozen pitch^[13]

28 February 2021 13	Birmingham City	0–4	Manchester City	Burton upon Trent
14:00	Littlejohn 63'	Report	Mewis 40', 52' Hemp 53' Weir 66'	Stadium: St George's Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Helen Conley
Note: Rescheduled from 20 December 2020 due to waterlogged pitch. Venue changed by WSL Executive Operations Committee after Damson Park was deemed not to meet requirements.^[14]

7 March 2021 14	Birmingham City	0–4	Arsenal	Burton upon Trent
14:00	Foord 37', 39' Williamson 50' Miedema 76' Evans 90+3'	Report		Stadium: St George's Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Jane Simms
Note: Venue changed by WSL Executive Operations Committee after Damson Park was deemed not to meet requirements.^[15]

11 March 2021 15	Birmingham City	0–4	Everton	Burton upon Trent
19:00	H. Scott 82'	Report	MacIver 13' J. Scott 36' Lehmann 45' Emslie 50' Magill 88'	Stadium: St George's Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lisa Benn
Note: Rescheduled from 20 January 2021 due to waterlogged pitch. Venue changed by WSL Executive Operations Committee after Damson Park was deemed not to meet requirements.

17 March 2021 16	West Ham United	2–2	Birmingham City	Dagenham
19:30	Flaherty 14' van Egmond 46' Svitková 73'	Report	Murphy 9' Whipp 28' Mace 90+4'	Stadium: Victoria Road Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Stacey Pearson

28 March 2021 17	Birmingham City	1–1	Bristol City	Solihull
16:00	Holloway 23' Littlejohn 42' Murray 58'	Report	Wellings 13', 64' Evans 83' Skeels 85'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Kirsty Dowle

25 April 2021 19	Birmingham City	1–1	Reading	Solihull
14:00	Mace 6' Littlejohn 78'	Report	Bartrip 28' Williams 52' Rowe 63'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy May
Note: On 7 May 2021, Birmingham were deducted the point earned from this game having fielded Ruesha Littlejohn in error, thinking the player had served her league suspension in the FA Cup game seven days earlier. The club were also fined £400 and Littlejohn was forced to serve a one match ban.^[7]

28 April 2021 20	Birmingham City	1–1	Aston Villa	Solihull
18:00	Kelly 33' Mayling 40' Sarri 90+6'	Report	Gregory 28' Hutton 42' Silva 90+4'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Jane Simms
Note: Rescheduled from 10 February 2021 due to frozen pitch

Related Articles

"Carla Ward appointed Women's Head Coach"

"Blues Women deducted one point"

"Spurs vs Birmingham Independent Tribunal Verdict"

"Second City Derby: Postponed"

"Venue Change: Blues Women v Arsenal"

"Club Statement: Player tests positive for COVID-19"

"Christie Murray joins Blues Women"

"Mollie Green signs for Blues"

"Veatriki Sarri signs for Blues"

"Rachel Corsie joins Blues Women"

"Brougham returns to Blues Women"

"Napier signs for Blues Women"

"Lucy Staniforth and Chloe Arthur to leave Blues Women"

"Kerys Harrop set to leave the Club"

9 May 2021 22	Birmingham City	0–1	Tottenham Hotspur	Solihull
14:30	Scott 88'	Report	Graham 71'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lisa Benn

18 April 2021 Fourth round	Birmingham City	5–1	Coventry United	Solihull
14:00	Walker 3', 77' Murphy 66' Mayling 90+1', 90+3'	Report	Stevens 90+2'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

16 May 2021 Fifth round	Birmingham City	3–2	Southampton	Solihull
12:30	Green 37' Murphy 58' Mayling 67'	Report	Morris 84' Pusey 87'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

29 September 2021 Quarter-final	Birmingham City	0–4	Chelsea	Birmingham
19:45		Report	Kerr 61' Kirby 70', 72' Harder 90+3'	Stadium: St Andrew's Referee: Elizabeth Simms
Note: Managed by Scott Booth

7 October 2020 Group stage	Blackburn Rovers	0–1	Birmingham City	Bamber Bridge
19:45		Report	Walker 81'	Stadium: Irongate Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

9 December 2020 Group stage	Birmingham City	0–0 (5–6 p)	Leicester City	Solihull
14:00		Report	Barker 35'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Sarah Garratt
	Penalties
	Murray Walker Hampton Brougham Corsie Scofield		Allen Devlin Smith Plumptre Blanchard Everett
Note: Rescheduled from 18 November 2020 following positive COVID-19 test by Birmingham player.^[19]

Pos	Grp	Team v t e	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	PPG	Qualification
1	A	Durham	3	2	0	1	0	12	3	+9	7	2.33	Advanced to knock-out stage
2	F	Crystal Palace	3	2	0	0	1	10	6	+4	6	2.00	Advanced to knock-out stage
3	D	Reading	3	2	0	0	1	6	3	+3	6	2.00
4	E	Birmingham City	2	1	0	1	0	1	0	+1	4	2.00
5	C	Everton	3	2	0	0	1	3	3	0	6	2.00
6	B	Arsenal	3	1	1	0	1	7	6	+1	5	1.67

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		FA WSL		FA Cup		League Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	Hannah Hampton	23	0	21	0	0+1	0	1	0
2	MF	ENG	Sarah Mayling	21	3	18	0	2	3	0+1	0
3	DF	IRL	Harriet Scott	23	0	20	0	1+1	0	1	0
4	MF	ENG	Ruby Mace	13	2	11	2	2	0	0	0
8	MF	ENG	Mollie Green	21	2	11+6	1	2	1	2	0
9	FW	GRE	Veatriki Sarri	3	1	0+1	1	2	0	0	0
10	MF	SCO	Christie Murray	20	2	15+1	2	2	0	0+2	0
11	FW	SCO	Abbi Grant	4	0	0+2	0	0+1	0	1	0
12	FW	IRL	Ruesha Littlejohn	11	0	11	0	0	0	0	0
14	FW	ENG	Emma Kelly	19	0	8+8	0	1	0	2	0
16	DF	ENG	Georgia Brougham	23	0	19	0	1+1	0	2	0
17	MF	ENG	Heidi Logan	1	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0
18	FW	ENG	Claudia Walker	25	8	20+1	5	2	2	1+1	1
19	MF	ENG	Lucy Whipp	24	0	12+8	0	2+1	0	1	0
20	DF	SCO	Jamie-Lee Napier	23	1	17+2	1	2	0	2	0
21	GK	ENG	Imogen Maguire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	MF	ENG	Connie Scofield	10	0	6+2	0	0	0	1+1	0
24	GK	ENG	Sophie Whitehouse	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
25	MF	NIR	Rebecca Holloway	26	0	20+1	0	3	0	1+1	0
26	DF	ENG	Lily Simkin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
29	MF	ENG	Ella Powell	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
30	DF	ENG	Gemma Lawley	9	0	2+3	0	2	0	2	0
32	DF	ENG	Abi Cowie	1	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0
35	FW	ENG	Emily Murphy	13	3	8+3	1	0+2	2	0	0
	GK	POL	Daniela Kosinska	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Joined during 2021–22 season but competed in the postponed 2020–21 FA Cup:
1	GK	IRL	Marie Hourihan	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
4	DF	IRL	Louise Quinn	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
8	MF	SCO	Lisa Robertson	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
11	FW	ENG	Jade Pennock	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
14	MF	IRL	Jamie Finn	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
22	FW	IRL	Eleanor Ryan-Doyle	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
23	FW	IRL	Emily Whelan	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Players who appeared for the club but left during the season:
4	DF	SCO	Rachel Corsie	9	1	7	1	0	0	1+1	0
7	MF	NIR	Chloe McCarron	12	0	4+6	0	0	0	2	0
23	MF	ENG	Destiney Toussaint	8	0	1+5	0	0	0	1+1	0

Date	Position	Name	From	Ref.
21 August 2020	MF	Christie Murray	Liverpool	^[20]
28 August 2020	MF	Chloe McCarron	Linfield	^[21]
6 September 2020	MF	Destiney Toussaint	London Bees	^[22]
7 September 2020	MF	Mollie Green	Manchester United	^[23]
7 January 2021	FW	Veatriki Sarri	Sheffield United	^[24]
16 January 2021	FW	Ruesha Littlejohn	Leicester City	^[25]
30 January 2021	GK	Sophie Whitehouse	Tottenham Hotspur	^[26]

Date	Position	Name	From	Until	Ref.
28 August 2020	DF	Rachel Corsie	Utah Royals	15 January 2021	^[27]^[28]
4 September 2020	DF	Georgia Brougham	Everton	End of season	^[29]
4 September 2020	DF	Jamie-Lee Napier	Chelsea	End of season	^[30]
7 October 2020	GK	Daniela Kosinska^[a]	Stoke City	End of season	^[31]
16 January 2021	FW	Emily Murphy	Chelsea	End of season	^[32]
2 February 2021	MF	Ruby Mace^[a]	Arsenal	End of season	^[33]