Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.
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| Full name | Doncaster Rovers Belles Ladies Football Club |
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| Nickname(s) | The Belles Donny Belles |
| Founded | 1969 (as Belle Vue Belles) |
| Ground |
Keepmoat Stadium Doncaster |
| Capacity | 15,231 |
| President | Sheila Edmunds |
| Chairlady | Faye Lygo |
| Manager | Emma Coates |
| League | FA WSL 2 |
| 2015 | 2nd |
| Website | Club home page |
Doncaster Rovers Belles Ladies Football Club, previously Doncaster Belles, is an English women's football club that plays in the FA WSL 1, the top tier of women's football in England. The club is based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
They are one of English women's football's most famous and successful clubs, being one of only three non-London teams to have won the FA Women's Premier League National Division, in 1992 and 1994. Founded in 1969 by lottery ticket sellers at Belle Vue, home of Doncaster Rovers Football Club, they have also won the FA Women's Cup six times and reached the final on a further seven occasions.
The club was founded as the Belle Vue Belles in 1969, by Sheila Stocks and other women who sold 'Golden Goals' lottery tickets during Doncaster Rovers home games at Belle Vue. After finding success in informal local competition, the club became Doncaster Belles in 1971 and joined the Sheffield League in 1972. With the demise of the Sheffield League after three seasons, the Belles joined the Nottinghamshire League setup and dominated for over a decade. Following a reorganisation in 1989, the club won the new North East League in both seasons of its existence, before being invited to join the inaugural eight-team National Division in 1991.
Stocks played for the club for 25 years, retiring aged 41 after the victorious 1994 Women's FA Cup final. She later served as physiotherapist and club welfare officer. A teacher by trade, she married future Belles manager Paul Edmunds who worked at the same school. In 2008 Sheila was awarded the FA Special Achievement Award, and received the Doctor of Business of Administration from BPP University following her services to women in sport. Dr Edmunds (née Stocks) currently serves as the club's President and General Manager.
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