Durham Women FC change ownership

By Joseph Saunders

Durham Women Football Club have announced they will be under new ownership from immediate effect. The new board of directors will consist of UK publishing and education software CEO Fred Grainger, former Director of Sport and Dean of Experience at Durham University Dr Peter Warburton OBE, club founder and director Dawn Hepple, £115m 2019 National Lottery winners Frances and Patrick Connolly, and Lee Sanders, the club founder and former first team manager.

The club was formed in 2014 following the merger of Durham University and South Durham & Cestria girls with Hepple and Sanders part of the initial group. Sanders had been successful during his time with South Durham & Cestria girls and became manager during the club’s first season in 2014.

The Wildcats sit fourth in the Women’s Championship, three points off Birmingham City in first. Durham are one of only two club’s owned independently to a men’s team in the division, alongside London City. The club will hope the new ownership will allow them to financially compete with the traditionally bigger names in the women’s game.

Image: Mark Donnelly