It’s been just over a week since London City Lionesses achieved their historic promotion from the Women’s Championship into the Women’s Super League for the first ever time.
As such, they will become the first first fully independent Women’s Football Club to compete in the WSL, with a remarkable rise in the six years since their formation.
In 2019, the club was established as a breakaway from Millwall Football Club, with South East London’s Championship status being transferred to the new entity. This move secured a place in the Championship for LCL, marking their inaugural season in 2019/2020.
It’s been a long journey since, but over the last few years, they have made people sit up and take notice, particularly since December 2023, when Washington Spirit owner Michelle Kang bought the club, and there’s been no looking back since.
Tottenham Hotspur experienced a significant setback this season, finishing 11th in the WSL. Many fans have pointed to a lack of investment in crucial playing areas as a major factor behind the team’s struggles this term.
Now, the N17 side, along with Leicester, West Ham, and much of the Women’s Super League, will need to pay attention. It’s clear that London City is here to shake things up and are determined to make their mark in the top flight.
Let’s be honest—bringing in over 100-cap Sweden internationals to the Women’s Championship (now WSL2) speaks volumes. It shows that the team has something special, a unique pull that we don’t often see from other clubs outside the ‘big four’ in the women’s game.
I mentioned Spurs’ regression earlier – yes, they’re my club, for all my sins – but the lack of investment from a Premier League-backed club in their women’s playing staff is truly shocking. And it’s not just Spurs; others face the same struggles, all suffering from a similar fate.
The promotion of LCL took some fans by surprise, with concerns from WSL supporters often pointing to the “throwing money at it” narrative. But how can that not be seen as a positive, especially for a fully independent club? Granted, it’s another London-based team, but they’re making bold moves, including the development of a brand-new training facility. The purchase of Cobdown Park in Kent – a 28-acre site – only adds to their ambitious vision for the future.
Their owner, Michelle Kang is one of Women’s sports’ most recognisable figures, for not only her escapades at LCL, but her ownership of Washington Spirit, Lyon, and since Summer 2024, launching Kynisca Sports International Limited, which would combine LCL under the same banner, with sister clubs Lyon and Washington Spirit.
Under Kynisca, it’s clear that each club will retain its own unique identity, which is something that will only help London City grow, especially considering they’re still just six years old as an entity.
For sure, this is something that will keep LCL on high alert. The new kids on the block are definitely a journey to watch, and everyone should keep a close eye on their progress.
