2012 Arsenal L.F.C. season

Arsenal Ladies
2012 season
ChairmanPeter Hill-Wood
ManagerLaura Harvey
StadiumMeadow Park
Emirates Stadium
(Select home games)
Super LeagueChampions
FA CupSemi-finals
WSL CupWinners
Champions LeagueSemi-finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Kim Little (11)
All: Kim Little (19)
Highest home attendance5,052 (vs Chelsea, 26 April 2012)
Biggest win6–0 (vs Bobruichanka, UWCL, 8 October 2011)
Biggest defeat2–0 (vs 1. FFC Frankfurt, UWCL, 21 April 2012)
2–0 (vs Chelsea, FA Cup, 3 May 2012)
2012 Arsenal L.F.C. season

The 2012 season was Arsenal Ladies Football Club's 25th season since forming in 1987. The club participated in the second edition of the FA WSL, England's top flight for women's football since 2011, winning it for a second season in a row with an unbeaten campaign.[1] Arsenal also played in the FA Women's Cup, and the FA WSL Cup, winning the latter against Birmingham City in October.[2] They also competed in the UEFA Women's Champions League, losing at the Semi Final stage to Frankfurt.[3]

As this season bridged the gap between the Men's Team's 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, the team wore two different sets of kits during each half of the season.

Squad statistics

First team squad

Squad statistics correct as of May 2018[4]

Squad No. Name Date of Birth (Age) Since Last Contract Signed From
Goalkeepers
1 Emma Byrne (1979-06-14) 14 June 1979 2000 Fortuna Hjørring
13 Rebecca Spencer (1991-02-22) 22 February 1991 2013 Birmingham City
31 Sophie Harris (1994-08-25) 25 August 1994 2010 Lincoln City
35 Nicole Adams (1995-02-13) 13 February 1995 2012 Homegrown
Defenders
2 Steph Houghton (1988-04-23) 23 April 1988 2010 August 2010[5] Leeds Carnegie
3 Yvonne Tracy (1981-02-27) 27 February 1981 2000 St Patrick's Athletic
5 Gilly Flaherty (1991-08-24) 24 August 1991 2003 Millwall Lionesses
6 Faye White (captain) (1978-02-02) 2 February 1978 1996 Horsham Ladies
19 Niamh Fahey (1987-10-13) 13 October 1987 2008 Salthill Devon
22 Alex Scott (1984-10-14) 14 October 1984 2012 March 2012[6] Boston Breakers
25 Hayley Ladd (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 2009 St Albans City
Midfielders
4 Jayne Ludlow (1979-01-07) 7 January 1979 2000 Southampton Saints
7 Ciara Grant (1978-05-17) 17 May 1978 1998 St Patrick's Athletic
8 Jordan Nobbs (1992-12-08) 8 December 1992 2010 August 2010[7] Sunderland
16 Kim Little (1990-09-26) 26 September 1990 2008 Hibernian
17 Katie Chapman (1982-06-15) 15 June 1982 2010 November 2010 Chicago Red Stars
28 Angharad James (1994-06-01) 1 June 1994 Manorbier Girls
30 Bianca Bragg (1994-01-14) 14 January 1994 Homegrown
32 Melissa Lawley (1994-04-28) 28 April 1994 Aston Villa
Forwards
9 Ellen White (1989-05-09) 9 May 1989 2010 July 2010[8] Leeds Carnegie
11 Rachel Yankey (1979-11-01) 1 November 1979 2005 New Jersey Wildcats
12 Gemma Davison (1987-04-17) 17 April 1987 2012 Sky Blue FC
14 Jen Beattie (1991-05-13) 13 May 1991 2009 Celtic
15 Danielle Carter (1993-05-18) 18 May 1993 2009 Homegrown
20 Lauren Bruton (1992-11-22) 22 November 1992 2008 Luton Town
23 Kelly Smith (1978-10-29) 29 October 1978 2012 March 2012[9] Boston Breakers

Italic indicates an academy player.

‡ = Player played in the earlier rounds of the UEFA Women's Champions League, but departed Arsenal before the start of the WSL Season

Appearances and goals

No. Name Super League FA Cup WSL Cup UWCL Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 Emma Byrne 13 0 3 0 4 0 6 0 26 0
13 Rebecca Spencer 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
31 Sophie Harris 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
35 Nicole Adams 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
2 Steph Houghton 12+2 1 3 0 5 2 8 0 28+2 3
3 Yvonne Tracy 1+1 0 0 0 2 0 1+1 0 4+2 0
5 Gilly Flaherty 11+2 0 3 0 4 0 8 0 26+2 0
6 Faye White 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0+1 0
19 Niamh Fahey 11+1 0 3 0 3 0 8 0 25+1 0
22 Alex Scott (captain) 12+1 0 2+1 0 5 0 4 0 23+2 0
25 Hayley Ladd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Midfielders
4 Jayne Ludlow 4+1 0 2 0 1 0 7 1 14+1 1
7 Ciara Grant 12 0 3 0 4+1 0 7 1 26+1 1
8 Jordan Nobbs 12+1 5 2 0 3+1 1 4+3 4 21+5 10
16 Kim Little 13+1 11 3 1 4 4 8 3 28+1 19
17 Katie Chapman 13+1 5 3 0 4 0 8 2 28+1 7
28 Angharad James 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0+1 0
30 Bianca Bragg 0+1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0+1 0 0+3 0
32 Melissa Lawley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0+1 0
Forwards
9 Ellen White 4+6 3 2 2 1+3 1 7+1 2 14+10 8
11 Rachel Yankey 11+1 2 2 0 5 1 5+2 1 23+3 4
12 Gemma Davison 11+3 2 0+1 0 3+2 1 0+3 0 14+9 3
14 Jen Beattie 4+7 3 1+1 0 2+3 3 1+5 3 8+16 9
15 Danielle Carter 5+3 1 1+1 0 2+1 0 4+3 3 12+8 4
20 Lauren Bruton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 Kelly Smith 4+3 4 0 0 2 1 0 0 6+3 5

Italic indicates an academy player.

Goalscorers

Rank No. Position Name Super League FA Cup WSL Cup UWCL Total
1 16 MF Kim Little 11 1 4 3 19
2 8 MF Jordan Nobbs 5 0 1 4 10
3 14 FW Jen Beattie 3 0 3 3 9
4 9 FW Ellen White 3 2 1 2 8
5 17 MF Katie Chapman 5 0 0 2 7
6 23 FW Kelly Smith 4 0 1 0 5
7 11 FW Rachel Yankey 2 0 1 1 4
15 FW Danielle Carter 1 0 0 3 4
8 12 FW Gemma Davison 2 0 1 0 3
2 DF Steph Houghton 1 0 2 0 3
9 Own Goals 2 0 0 0 2
10 4 MF Jayne Ludlow 0 0 0 1 1
7 MF Ciara Grant 0 0 0 1 1
Total 39 3 14 20 76

Disciplinary record

Rank No. Position Name Super League FA Cup WSL Cup UWCL Total
1 17 MF Katie Chapman 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 5 0
2 2 DF Steph Houghton 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
1 GK Emma Byrne 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
11 FW Rachel Yankey 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
3 5 DF Gilly Flaherty 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
16 MF Kim Little 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
12 FW Gemma Davison 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
9 FW Ellen White 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
7 MF Ciara Grant 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
22 DF Alex Scott 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
19 DF Niamh Fahey 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
8 MF Jordan Nobbs 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
4 MF Jayne Ludlow 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Total 12 0 0 0 3 0 5 0 20 0

Clean sheets

Rank No. Name Super League FA Cup WSL Cup UWCL Total
1 1 Emma Byrne 2 1 4 0 7
2 13 Rebecca Spencer 0 0 0 2 2
3 31 Sophie Harris 1 0 0 0 1
Total 3 1 4 2 10

Transfers, loans and other signings

Transfers in

Announcement date No. Position Player From club
9 March 2012[9] 22 DF Alex Scott Boston Breakers
9 March 2012[9] 23 FW Kelly Smith Boston Breakers
March 2012 12 FW Gemma Davison Sky Blue FC
March 2012 13 GK Rebecca Spencer ASJ Soyaux

Transfers out

Announcement date No. Position Player To club
December 2011 13 GK Rebecca Spencer ASJ Soyaux
2011 10 FW Julie Fleeting Maternity
13 March 2012[10] 28 MF Angharad James Bristol Academy
13 March 2012[10] 32 MF Melissa Lawley Bristol Academy
March 2012 13 GK Rebecca Spencer Birmingham City

Loans out

Announcement date No. Position Player To club
June 2012[11] 25 DF Hayley Ladd Kokkola Futis 10

Club

Kit (2011-12)

Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: Fly Emirates

Home alt.
Away
Goalkeeper 1
Goalkeeper 2
Goalkeeper 3

Kit information

Arsenal's home, away, third and goalkeeper outfits featured an anniversary crest to mark the club's 125th anniversary. The crest featured 15 laurel leaves on the left side of the crest to reflect the detail on the reverse of the sixpence pieces paid by 15 men to establish the Club in Woolwich in 1886. The 15 oak leaves to the right of the crest paid tribute to the founders who would meet in the local Royal Oak pub. Underneath the crest was one of the club's first recorded mottos – "Forward" – with the anniversary dates of 1886 and 2011 either side.

  • Home: The home kit was based on Nike Classic 2011 template in the club's traditional red and white colours, with red trim on the arms.
  • Away: The away kit was based on Nike Harlequin 2011 template. The front of the away kit was divided into two-halves in navy blue and one turquoise, inspired by some of the away kits in the 1990s which featured the same colour scheme. The diagonal design represented the gnomon (the pointer) which casts the shadow on a sundial – to commemorate the original Dial Square sundial on the site of the Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich, where the club was founded in 1886. The back of the shirt was entirely navy blue, with one sleeve navy and the other turquoise. A stripe runs down each sleeves, broken into three parts to further represent the Dial Square sundial. The away shorts were navy blue, as were the socks
  • Third: The yellow/maroon away kit from last season was retained as a third kit with 125th anniversary celebratory maroon badge.
  • Keeper: The goalkeeper kits featured a stunning graphic running down from the bottom of the arms to the side of the shirt, which was part of Nike's 2011 goalkeeper template also worn by other clubs as well. The first-choice kit was mainly navy with orange detailing. The alternative kits were dark green with yellow detailing and grey with turquoise detailing, respectively.

Kit usage (2011-12)

Kit Combination Usage
Home alt.
  • Red body
  • White sleeves
  • White shorts
  • Red socks.
WSL
FA Cup
WSL Cup
UWCL
Away
  • Blue and navy body
  • Blue and navy sleeves
  • Navy shorts
  • Navy socks.
WSL
WSL Cup
UWCL

Kit (2012-13)

Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: Fly Emirates

Home
Away
Goalkeeper 1
Goalkeeper 2
Goalkeeper 2 alt.
Goalkeeper 3
Goalkeeper 3 alt.

Kit information

Nike released a new set of home, away and goalkeeper kits for the 2012–13 season. The club reverted to their traditional crest, after using an anniversary crest last season.

  • Home: During the final two years with Nike, Nike ditched the white sleeves the club's well known for. The shirt has a white wide stripe on each sleeve, flanked by two dark red, narrower stripes. It has a red V-neck collar which is the same colour as the primary shirt colour. The shirt is complemented by white shorts with a dark-red trim, and white socks with a red horizontal stripe. Red socks with white horizontal stripe were used in some away games. Arsenal revealed that the kit would be used for the next two seasons.
  • Away: Arsenal's new away kit, was revealed on 12 July 2012, with the much speculated purple and black hooped kit being officially confirmed.[12] The reason behind the kit was to commemorate Arsenal's past, enhancing the "royal" theme from the Diamond Jubilee to remind Arsenal fans of the Royal Arsenal that once existed through the colour purple. The shirt featured red cuffs and detailing, and additionally featured hoops of different width on the arms. The purple and black hooped socks, bearing one red stripe each, paid tribute to Chapman's legacy and his introduction of hooped socks, which according to him, was said to make it easier for his players to pick each other out on the pitch. The hoops and red trim on the sleeves was designed the kit a modern and unique flavour to distinguish the club from others in the Premier League.
  • Third: Arsenal's yellow and maroon 2010–11 away kit was retained as a third kit yet again with club badge reverted to traditional badge after last season with anniversary badge.
  • Keeper: Nike launched a new set of goalkeeper strips for the 2012–13 season. The primary strip was predominantly green featuring several tones of the same colour on the arms. The alternatives were pink and gold, based on the same template.

Kit usage (2012-13)

Kit Combination Usage
Home
  • Red body
  • White sleeves
  • White shorts
  • White socks.
WSL
WSL Cup
Away
  • Purple and black hooped body
  • Purple and black hooped sleeves
  • Black short
  • Red socks.
WSL

Competitions

FA WSL

8 April 2012 1 Arsenal 3–2 Everton Borehamwood
13:30 BST
Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis
26 April 2012 2 Arsenal 3–1 Chelsea Holloway, London
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Attendance: 5,052
Referee: Tim Robinson
6 May 2012 3 Liverpool 0–2 Arsenal Skelmersdale
14:00 BST Report
Stadium: Skelmersdale Ormskirk Stadium
Referee: Barry Cropp
20 May 2012 4 Lincoln 3–3 Arsenal Lincoln
14:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Ashby Avenue
30 May 2012 5 Bristol Academy 0–3 Arsenal Stoke Gifford
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Stoke Gifford Stadium
Attendance: 1,107
Referee: Mark Pottage
24 June 2012 6 Arsenal 4–2 Birmingham City Borehamwood
14:00 BST Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 809
Referee: Dean Treleaven
5 July 2012 7 Chelsea 2–4 Arsenal Staines
19:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Wheatsheaf Park
Attendance: 326
Referee: Steven Rea
19 August 2012 8 Everton 2–2 Arsenal Crosby
14:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Rossett Park
Attendance: 618
Referee: Michael Salisbury
25 August 2012 9 Doncaster Rovers Belles 0–4 Arsenal Doncaster
18:00 BST Report
Stadium: Keepmoat Stadium
Attendance: 376
Referee: Marc Edwards
30 August 2012 10 Arsenal 1–1 Bristol Academy Borehamwood
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 987
Referee: Anthony Da Costa
9 September 2012 11 Arsenal 2–1 Lincoln Borehamwood
14:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 571
Referee: Gavin Muge
23 September 2012 12 Arsenal 4–1 Liverpool Borehamwood
14:00 BST
Report
  • Brusell 66'
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 464
Referee: Alan Dale
30 September 2012 13 Arsenal 3–2 Doncaster Rovers Belles Borehamwood
14:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 712
Referee: Sasa Ihringova
7 October 2012 14 Birmingham City 1–1 Arsenal Tiddington
14:00 BST Simpkins 33' Report
Stadium: Knights Lane
Attendance: 715
Referee: Massey

Partial league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Arsenal (C) 14 10 4 0 39 18 +21 34 Qualification for the Champions League knockout phase
2 Birmingham City 14 7 5 2 31 18 +13 26
3 Everton 14 7 4 3 20 16 +4 25
4 Bristol Academy 14 4 6 4 17 16 +1 18
5 Lincoln Ladies 14 5 3 6 24 26 −2 18
Source: FA WSL results
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions

Results Summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
14 10 4 0 39 18  +21 34 6 1 0 20 10  +10 4 3 0 19 8  +11

Results by matchday

Matchday1234567891011121314
GroundHHAAAHAAAHHHHA
ResultWWWDWWWDWDWWWD
Position11111111111111
Updated to match(es) played on 20 May 2018. Source: FA WSL
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Women's Cup

11 March 2012 Fifth Round Lincoln 0–1 Arsenal Lincoln
14:00 GMT (UTC+0) Alleway Report
Stadium: Ashby Avenue
Attendance: 364
Referee: Robert Ellis
25 March 2012 Quarter-Final Arsenal 2–1 Everton Borehamwood
14:00 BST
Report Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 414
3 May 2012 Semi-Final Chelsea 2–0 Arsenal Brentford
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 358
Referee: Paul Forrester
Note: Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes

FA WSL Cup

Group 2

13 May 2012 2 Lincoln 4–3 Arsenal Lincoln
14:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Ashby Avenue
10 June 2012 3 Arsenal 3–0 Chelsea Borehamwood
14:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 634
Referee: Ashvin Degnarain

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LIN ARS CHE LIV
1 Lincoln 3 3 0 0 9 6 +3 9 Advance to Knockout stage 4–3 3–2
2 Arsenal 3 2 0 1 9 4 +5 6 3–0
3 Chelsea 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3 3 1–2 2–1
4 Liverpool 3 0 0 3 3 8 −5 0 0–3
Source:

Knockout stage

3 September 2012 Semi-Final Bristol Academy 0–4 Arsenal Stoke Gifford
19:30 BST Report
Stadium: Stoke Gifford Stadium
Attendance: 570
Referee: Adam Bromley
10 October 2012 Final Birmingham City 0–1 Arsenal Barnet
19:00 BST Report
Stadium: Underhill Stadium
Attendance: 2535
Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis

UEFA Women's Champions League

Round of 32

29 September 2011 First Leg Bobruichanka 0–4 Arsenal Bobruisk
14:00 BST Report
Stadium: Spartak Stadium
Attendance: 2,050
Referee: Pernilla Larsson (Sweden)
5 October 2011 Second Leg Arsenal 6–0 Bobruichanka Borehamwood
17:00 BST
Report Astasheva  86' Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 209
Referee: Séverine Zinck (France)

Round of 16

9 November 2011 Second Leg Arsenal 5–1 Rayo Vallecano Borehamwood
15:00 GMT (UTC+0)
Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 323
Referee: Efthalia Mitsi (Greece)

Quarter-Final

14 March 2012 First Leg Arsenal 3–1 Göteborg Borehamwood
15:30 GMT (UTC+0)
Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 447
Referee: Teodora Albon (Romania)
21 March 2012 Second Leg Göteborg 1–0 Arsenal Gothenburg
19:00 GMT (UTC+0) Report Stadium: Valhalla IP
Attendance: 2,150
Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (Germany)

Semi-Final

15 April 2012 First Leg Arsenal 1–2 Frankfurt Borehamwood
16:00 BST
Report Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 894
Referee: Silvia Tea Spinelli (Italy)
21 April 2012 Second Leg Frankfurt 2–0 Arsenal Frankfurt
14:15 BST Report Chapman  14' Stadium: Stadion am Brentanobad
Attendance: 3,710
Referee: Kirsi Heikkinen (Finland)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Women's Super League: Arsenal celebrate title with Doncaster win". BBC Sport. 2012-09-30. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  2. ^ "Arsenal beat Birmingham to retain Continental Cup title". BBC Sport. 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  3. ^ "Arsenal lose to Frankfurt again in Women's Champions League semi". BBC Sport. 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  4. ^ "ARSENAL WFC". Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  5. ^ UEFA.com (2010-08-10). "Houghton and Nobbs join Arsenal". UEFA. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  6. ^ "England's Kelly Smith and Alex Scott rejoin Arsenal Ladies". BBC Sport. 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  7. ^ UEFA.com (2010-08-10). "Houghton and Nobbs join Arsenal". UEFA. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  8. ^ UEFA.com. "The official website for European football". UEFA. Archived from the original on 2020-07-29. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  9. ^ a b c "England's Kelly Smith and Alex Scott rejoin Arsenal Ladies". BBC Sport. 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  10. ^ a b "More new signings". 2013-12-12. Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  11. ^ "Arsenal starlet enjoying Finland experience – Football – Herts Advertiser". 2016-01-02. Archived from the original on 2016-01-02. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  12. ^ "Arsenal reveal away kit for 2012/13 season". Arsenal F.C. 12 July 2012. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.