2020–21 Birmingham City W.F.C. season
# 2020–21 Birmingham City W.F.C. season

The 2020–21 Birmingham City W.F.C. season was the club's 53rd season in existence and their 10th in the FA Women's Super League, the highest level of the football pyramid, having been founding members of the league in 2011. Along with competing in the WSL, the club will contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Carla Ward was appointed manager ahead of the new season on 13 August 2020, taking over from Charlie Baxter who had been put in charge on an interim basis following the departure of Marta Tejedor during the previous campaign.

On 5 April 2021, it was revealed a formal letter signed by all Birmingham City players had been sent to the club's board with a list of complaints including concerns about working conditions, lack of gym facilities, medical support, travel provisions, squad size and part-time coaching staff which would contradict WSL licensing rules. Numerous requests by the squad to meet with the board had previously been rejected and there was a fear that the club was not committed to funding a full-time team for the following season with only three players under contract past June 2021. The letter received support from the PFA as well as mass social media coverage from former and current players around the WSL. On 8 April, the letter was addressed in a club statement with the board expressing their disappointment an internal issue was made public, refuting the factual accuracy of many of the points reported and citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as context for both the financial strain and practical difficulties with regards to providing adequate facilities but reaffirming they were still committed to supporting the team. The statement also confirmed a deal had been agreed to host the women's team's home games at the club's main St Andrew's stadium for the 2021–22 season.

On 14 May 2021, Ward announced her resignation effective as of the team's final game of the season on 16 May.

## Squad

    As of 23 April 2021.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Hannah Hampton |
| 2 | MF | ENG | Sarah Mayling |
| 3 | DF | IRL | Harriet Scott |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Ruby Mace |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Mollie Green |
| 9 | FW | GRE | Veatriki Sarri |
| 10 | MF | SCO | Christie Murray |
| 11 | FW | SCO | Abbi Grant |
| 12 | FW | IRL | Ruesha Littlejohn |
| 14 | FW | ENG | Emma Kelly |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Georgia Brougham (on loan from Everton) |
| 17 | MF | ENG | Heidi Logan |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Claudia Walker |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Lucy Whipp |
| 20 | DF | SCO | Jamie-Lee Napier (on loan from Chelsea) |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Imogen Maguire |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Connie Scofield |
| 24 | GK | ENG | Sophie Whitehouse |
| 25 | MF | NIR | Rebecca Holloway |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Lily Simkin |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Ella Powell |
| 30 | DF | ENG | Gemma Lawley |
| 32 | DF | ENG | Abi Cowie |
| 35 | FW | ENG | Emily Murphy (on loan from Chelsea) |
| — | GK | POL | Daniela Kosinska |

* ↑ Dual registration with Arsenal
* ↑ Dual registration with Stoke City

## FA Women's Super League

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |

Last updated: 9 May 2021. Source: FA WSL

* ↑ On 7 May 2021, Birmingham City were deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player in a draw against Reading on 25 April 2021.

### Results by matchday

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H |
| Result | L | L | L | W | W | L | W | L | L | D | L | D | L | L | L | D | D | L | D | D | L | L |
| Position | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 |

### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 | Tottenham Hotspur | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 18 | 41 | −23 | 20 | |
| 9 | West Ham United | 22 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 39 | −18 | 15 | |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 22 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 47 | −32 | 15 | |
| 11 | Birmingham City | 22 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 44 | −29 | 14 | |
| 12 | Bristol City (R) | 22 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 18 | 72 | −54 | 12 | Relegation to the Championship |

* ↑ On 7 May 2021, Birmingham City were deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player in a draw against Reading on 25 April 2021.

## Women's FA Cup

As a member of the top two tiers, Birmingham City will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper. Originally scheduled to take place on 31 January 2021, it was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Due to the delay, the competition only reached the fifth round before the end of the season. It resumed at the quarter-final stage the following season on 29 September 2021, at which point Scott Booth was Birmingham City manager.

## FA Women's League Cup

Group E

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | WPEN | LPEN | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Leicester City | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 5 | Advanced to knock-out stage |
| 2 | Birmingham City | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 | Possible knock-out stage based on ranking |
| 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 0 | |

Ranking of second-placed teams

| Pos | Grp | Teamvte | Pld | W | WPEN | LPEN | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | A | Durham | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 7 | 2.33 | Advanced to knock-out stage |
| 2 | F | Crystal Palace | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 6 | 2.00 | |
| 3 | D | Reading | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 6 | 2.00 | |
| 4 | E | Birmingham City | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 | 2.00 | |
| 5 | C | Everton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2.00 | |
| 6 | B | Arsenal | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 5 | 1.67 | |

## Squad statistics

### Appearances

    As of 29 September 2021

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | FA WSL | FA WSL | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Hannah Hampton | 23 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | MF | ENG | Sarah Mayling | 21 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | IRL | Harriet Scott | 23 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Ruby Mace | 13 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Mollie Green | 21 | 2 | 11+6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | GRE | Veatriki Sarri | 3 | 1 | 0+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | SCO | Christie Murray | 20 | 2 | 15+1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | SCO | Abbi Grant | 4 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | IRL | Ruesha Littlejohn | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | ENG | Emma Kelly | 19 | 0 | 8+8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Georgia Brougham | 23 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ENG | Heidi Logan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Claudia Walker | 25 | 8 | 20+1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1+1 | 1 |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Lucy Whipp | 24 | 0 | 12+8 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | SCO | Jamie-Lee Napier | 23 | 1 | 17+2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Imogen Maguire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Connie Scofield | 10 | 0 | 6+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 24 | GK | ENG | Sophie Whitehouse | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | NIR | Rebecca Holloway | 26 | 0 | 20+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Lily Simkin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Ella Powell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | ENG | Gemma Lawley | 9 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | ENG | Abi Cowie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | FW | ENG | Emily Murphy | 13 | 3 | 8+3 | 1 | 0+2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | POL | Daniela Kosinska | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Joined during 2021–22 season but competed in the postponed 2020–21 FA Cup: ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | IRL | Marie Hourihan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | IRL | Louise Quinn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | SCO | Lisa Robertson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Jade Pennock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | IRL | Jamie Finn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | IRL | Eleanor Ryan-Doyle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | IRL | Emily Whelan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for the club but left during the season: ||||||||||||
| 4 | DF | SCO | Rachel Corsie | 9 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | NIR | Chloe McCarron | 12 | 0 | 4+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Destiney Toussaint | 8 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |

## Transfers

### Transfers in

| Date | Position | Name | From |
| - | - | - | - |
| 21 August 2020 | MF | Christie Murray | Liverpool |
| 28 August 2020 | MF | Chloe McCarron | Linfield |
| 6 September 2020 | MF | Destiney Toussaint | London Bees |
| 7 September 2020 | MF | Mollie Green | Manchester United |
| 7 January 2021 | FW | Veatriki Sarri | Sheffield United |
| 16 January 2021 | FW | Ruesha Littlejohn | Leicester City |
| 30 January 2021 | GK | Sophie Whitehouse | Tottenham Hotspur |

### Loans in

| Date | Position | Name | To | Until |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 28 August 2020 | DF | Rachel Corsie | Utah Royals | 15 January 2021 |
| 4 September 2020 | DF | Georgia Brougham | Everton | End of season |
| 4 September 2020 | DF | Jamie-Lee Napier | Chelsea | End of season |
| 7 October 2020 | GK | Daniela Kosinska | Stoke City | End of season |
| 16 January 2021 | FW | Emily Murphy | Chelsea | End of season |
| 2 February 2021 | MF | Ruby Mace | Arsenal | End of season |

* 1 2 Dual registration

### Transfers out

| Date | Position | Name | To |
| - | - | - | - |
| 28 May 2020 | MF | Brianna Visalli | Houston Dash |
| 1 June 2020 | DF | Adrienne Jordan | OL Reign |
| 4 June 2020 | DF | Freya Gregory | Aston Villa |
| 4 June 2020 | MF | Abbey Jones | Aston Villa |
| 7 June 2020 | MF | Olivia Rabjohn | Aston Villa |
| 10 June 2020 | GK | Alexandra Brooks | Blackburn Rovers |
| 19 June 2020 | MF | Chloe Arthur | Aston Villa |
| 19 June 2020 | MF | Lucy Staniforth | Manchester United |
| 30 June 2020 | DF | Kerys Harrop | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 30 June 2020 | MF | Laura Brown | Aston Villa |
| 30 June 2020 | FW | Missy Goodwin | Aston Villa |
| 1 July 2020 | FW | Rachel Williams | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 15 January 2021 | MF | Destiney Toussaint | Coventry United |
| 23 April 2021 | MF | Chloe McCarron | Glentoran |
