Scarborough Ladies FC link up with Women’s Premier League team

Scarborough Ladies Football Club is embarking on an exciting new link-up with Women’s Premier League team Leeds Ladies.
Chelsea Calvert, back centre, celebrates her sponsorship from Scarborough Ladies FC with some of the club's young starsChelsea Calvert, back centre, celebrates her sponsorship from Scarborough Ladies FC with some of the club's young stars
Chelsea Calvert, back centre, celebrates her sponsorship from Scarborough Ladies FC with some of the club's young stars

The club is teaming up with Leeds Ladies FC, who were formerly affiliated to Leeds United FC prior to this summer when the women’s set-up funding was cut by the Elland Road club’s foundation.

As part of the link-up, Scarborough Ladies FC is sponsoring a Leeds Ladies player - who is also one of their own.

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Chelsea Calvert played for Scarborough Ladies at under-14 level between 2008 and 2010. Following a successful trial she moved on in the summer of 2010 to the North Yorkshire Girls Centre of Excellence, and then subsequently last year to Leeds United Ladies, playing in their development squad.

The 18-year-old midfielder played seven times, scoring once for the team, and this year hopes to break into the Women’s Premier League Division One Squad.

As part of the player sponsorship, the club will have their name in the match programmes each game, and feature on a sponsor’s banner at the club’s match home and away, as well as receive season tickets to Leeds Ladies games in the northern section of the WPL Division One. The first team is currently playing games at Harrogate Railway and Knaresborough, with the development squad playing at Harrogate Town.

Scarborough Ladies FC Chairman James Hunter said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring Chelsea, and supporting Leeds Ladies FC.

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“The club’s officials, players and fans have been through a rough period, being left in the lurch, having to find funding to carry on, as well as a squad, a manager, a ground and everything else needed to run two teams, all in a very short space of time.

“Chelsea started playing football locally and came to our club in 2008, as was part of the successful team run by Pete Ryall and coached by Katie Welham. Ironically Chelsea could well play against Welham this season, as the Whitby-born striker plays for Leeds’ rivals Guiseley Vixens.”

Hunter, who has also helped Leeds Ladies by designing their matchday programme for the season, hopes the link-up will progress over time.

“I’d love to see more of our youngsters move on to centre of excellences and academies. Our philosophy is to give Scarborough’s girls the tools both to progress as players, but also as people. If any of our girls get chosen as future Women’s Premier League players it will give us all a great deal of pride.

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“We wish Chelsea and her teammates all the best for the season.”

Leeds Ladies opened their season on August 24 with a 4-2 win over Stockport County LFC.

Scarborough Ladies FC start their season on September 6. Visit pitchero.com/clubs/scarboroughladiesfc for details of how to join the club.

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