Bradford City WFC vs Middlesbrough LFC Programme

Today’s opposition: Middlesbrough LFC
Middlesbrough shocked the division last Sunday
with a 6-0 win over last season’s champions,
West Bromwich Albion.
The Teessiders arrive at Eccleshill United FC this
afternoon looking to continue their winning
ways, with this to be their first encounter with
Bradford City in the FAWPL.
So, just who are today’s visitors?
History
Middlesbrough were formed in the late 1970s
and entered the Premier League for the first
time in 2002, having won the Northern Combination
title.
They spent four years in the league before dropping
back down to combination level, unable to
work their way back up with
a best finish of third between
2007 and 2014.
Speaking ahead of the 2015-16 season, manager
Lindsey Stephenson oozed confidence.
“This season we will look for promotion,” she
said. “That’s our aim.
“We built our team last season into the strongest
side we have had in years. We finished in
fourth place and we believe that we can win the
league this season.”
Middlesbrough went on to do exactly that. They
lost just two games all year, picking up 54 points
from 22 games to finish eight points clear at the
summit and earn promotion to the Northern
Division.
One to watch—Bianca Owens
As shown last week, the main strength of this
team is their attack; and Bianca Owens is more
than key here.
The forward, who scored in the 6-0 win last Sunday,
twice scored eight goals in single cup ties
last season—amassing an incredible 38 in 22
league games on the side.
The restructuring to the FA
Women’s Premier League
meant Boro competed in the
Northern Division One in
2014-15, and their fourth
placed finish that season
would provoke ambition
from the club and the coaching
staff alike.
Bianca Owens scored 49 goals in all FAWPL competitions last term.
Ambitions achieved
Owens was responsible for 42 per cent of her
team’s goals on the way to their league title, and
she will be the one to watch for the visiting team
this afternoon.
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