LCFC Women: Meet The 2020/21 Squad
Leicester City Football Club’s commitment to the development of the women’s game will this summer see LCFC Women turn professional for the first time in their history in a bid to progress to the FA Women’s Super League and inspire a generation of young girls in Leicestershire.
They are due to commence their 2020/21 FA Women’s Championship journey over the weekend of 5 September, and will navigate their campaign with the help of new signings and local stars that are penning their first professional contracts.
While LCFC Women have already recruited talent from across the country – many of whom played for the Football Club in 2019/20 – they also have a strong contingent of players from Leicestershire and the surrounding area who are at the very start of their professional careers.
Let’s meet the 2020/21 LCFC Women first team squad…
Demi Lambourne
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous Clubs: Oxford United, Reading
Squad Number: 1
Demi has been at LCFC Women for two years following time spent at Reading’s academy, as well as Oxford United’s academy and first team. She was born in Oxford on 30 April, 1996, and has played for England at Under-19s and Under-20s level. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram (demilambourne).
Kirstie Levell
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous Club: Everton
Squad Number: 28
LCFC Women newcomer Kirstie, who is a blackbelt in karate, was born in Birkenhead on 7 January, 1997. Capped at Under-17s, Under-19s and Under-23s level by England, the former Everton goalkeeper won the FA WSL 2 Spring Series in 2017 with the Toffees. You can follow Kirstie on Twitter (kirstielevell97) and Instragram (kirstielevell).
Holly Morgan (captain)
Position: Defender
Previous Clubs: N/A
Squad Number: 5
Born on 10 February, 1993 in Leicester Holly has spent 16 years at LCFC Women, making the Foxes the only football club she has played for. She is also a qualified solicitor, and has completed the London marathon. You can follow Holly on Twitter (@holly_morgan10) and Instagram (holly.morgan10).
Ashleigh Plumptre
Position: Defender
Previous Clubs: University of Southern Carolina, Notts County Ladies
Squad Number: 22
Ashleigh joined LCFC Women in December 2019 having studied in the United States at the University of Southern California since 2016. Born in Leicester on 8 May, 1998, she has scored six times in 30 appearances at international youth level, and has participated in two UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championships. She was an NCAA national champion with the USC Trojans in 2016, and was also invited to the White House in Washington DC in January 2017 with the University of Southern California Women’s team. You can follow Ashleigh on Twitter (ashplumptre) and Instagram (ashleighhplumptre).
Grace Riglar
Position: Defender
Previous Clubs: Bristol City
Squad Number: 2
Grace was born in nearby Warwick on 23 April, 2001 and having previously played for Bristol City Women’s Football Club, she has now been at LCFC Women for a year. You can follow Grace on Twitter (GraceRig1) and Instagram (graceriglar).
Sophie Howard
Position: Defender
Previous Club: Reading, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Squad Number: 15
Sophie, who has a twin, was born in Hanau, Germany on 17 August, 1993, and made the switch to LCFC Women this summer. At club level, she previously played for Reading and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, while she is capped 18 times at international level for Scotland and also represented her nation at the 2017 UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championships and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. You can follow Sophie on Twitter (soph_howard93) and Instagram (soph_lou_ho).
Sam Tierney
Position: Defender
Previous Clubs: Sheffield United, Doncaster Belles
Squad Number: 3
Sam moved to LCFC Women in the summer following spells at Doncaster Belles and Sheffield United. The Sheffield native, born on 8 October 1998, is an England youth international from Under-15s to Under-21s level. You can follow Sam on Twitter (stierney_3) and Instagram (s.tierney).
Esmee De Graaf
Position: Defender
Previous Club: West Ham United, PEC Zwolle
Squad Number: 14
Esmee De Graaf, born on 2 August, 1997 in Baarn, the Netherlands, linked up with her new LCFC Women team-mates this pre-season after making the switch from West Ham United. She is a senior Netherlands international, and has also played for her nation’s Under-17s and Under-19s sides. You can follow Esmee on Twitter and Instagram (esmeedegraaf97).
Lia Cataldo
Position: Defender
Previous Clubs: Millwall, Arsenal
Squad Number: 6
Born in nearby Peterborough on 11 February, 2001, the ex-Millwall and Arsenal defender enjoyed her first season at LCFC Women in 2019/20, and has represented England from Under-16s to Under-19s level. You can follow Lia on Instragram (liamartinacataldo).
Freya Thomas
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: Birmingham City
Squad Number: 16
Originally from Coventry, Freya was born on 28 October, 2001 and has spent two seasons at LCFC Women following a spell at Birmingham City. You can follow Freya on Twitter (freyathomas8) and Instagram (freyathomas__).
Annabel Blanchard
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: Liverpool
Squad Number: 10
Born in Liverpool on 7 May, 2001, former Liverpool youngster and Everton fan Annabel has been at LCFC Women for one season, and has represented England from Under-15s to Under-19s level. You can follow Annabel on Twitter (annabelblanch10) and Instagram (annabelblanchard).
Charlie Devlin
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: Millwall, Manchester United, Charlton Athletic, Arsenal
Squad Number: 7
Born in London on 23 February, 1998, twin Charlie was a WSL Championship winner with Manchester United in 2018/19. She joined LCFC Women in January 2020 and has scored five goals at youth level for England, while also playing in the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championships. You can follow Charlie on Instagram (charliedevlin_).
Aimee Everett
Position: Midfielder
Previous Clubs: Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers
Squad Number: 4
Barrow-in-Furness native Aimee spent the 2019/20 campaign at LCFC Women following spells at Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers. Born on 2 August, 2001, she has played for England youth from Under-15s to Under-19s. You can follow Aimee on Instagram (aimeeeverett).
Remi Allen
Position: Midfielder
Previous Club: Reading, Birmingham City, Lincoln Ladies, Leeds Carnegie
Squad Number: 8
Leicester native Remi was born on 15 October, 1990, and is one of the squad’s most successful players. She has won the League Cup with Leeds Carnegie and the UEFA Women's Under-19s Championships with England, and was also a Champions League semi-finalist with Birmingham City. She has been capped at Under-19s and Under-23s level for the Lionesses. You can follow Remi on Twitter (remi_allen) and Instagram (remi_allen10).
Sophie Barker
Position: Midfielder
Previous Club: Sheffield United, Doncaster Belles
Squad Number: 18
Former Sheffield United captain Sophie is originally from Lincoln and was born on Christmas Day, 1990. She made the move to LCFC Women this summer, and has also previously played for Doncaster Rovers Belles. You can follow Sophie on Twitter (sophbarker).
Ruesha Littlejohn
Position: Midfielder
Previous Club: West Ham United, Celtic, London Bees, Liverpool, Glasgow City, IL Sandviken
Squad Number: 24
Ruesha is entering her first season at LCFC Women, having played at numerous clubs during a career that started in 2006. Born in Glasgow on 3 July, 1996, she has represented both Scotland Under-19s and the senior Republic of Ireland side at international level, scoring a total of six goals in 54 combined appearances. Her club career has seen her play in England, Scotland and Norway. You can follow Ruesha on Twitter and Instagram (rueshalj).
Paige Bailey-Gayle
Position: Forward
Previous Clubs: Arsenal
Squad Number: 17
Born in London on 12 November, 2001, Paige has previously played for Arsenal Women, and has been at LCFC Women since 2019. She scored at the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championships in 2018, and is capped several times at that level. You can follow Paige on Twitter and Instagram (paigebgayle).
Lachante Paul
Position: Forward
Previous Clubs: Arsenal
Squad Number: 11
Londoner Lachante Paul was born on 6 August, 2002 and moved to LCFC Women last year following her time at Arsenal Women. You can follow Lachante on Twitter (lachantepaul) and Instragram (lachante.p).
Libby Smith
Position: Forward
Previous Clubs: Chelsea
Squad Number: 9
Born in Leicester on 11 March, 2001, Libby enjoyed a spell at Chelsea’s academy before spending two seasons at LCFC Women. She played for LCFC Women’s Academy for nine seasons, from aged seven to 15, and has also represented England’s youth sides from Under-15s to Under-19s level. You can follow Libby on Twitter (libbysmith0) and Instragram (libbysmith_01).
Millie Farrow
Position: Forward
Previous Club: Reading, Chelsea, Bristol City
Squad Number: 19
Born in Portsmouth on 3 June, 1996, Millie is a former Chelsea, Bristol City and Reading forward, while she has also played for England Under-19s and Under-23s. You can follow Millie on Twitter (milliefarrow) and Instagram (millfarrow).
Natasha Flint
Position: Forward
Previous Club: Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City
Squad Number: 20
Originally from Salford, Natasha is a summer recruit having previously played for Blackburn Rovers Ladies and Manchester City. She has played for England from Under-19s to Under-23s level, representing her nation at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup. You can follow Natasha on Twitter (flint_tasha) and Instagram (tashflint).
Hannah Cain
Position: Forward
Previous Club: Everton, Sheffield United
Squad Number: 21
Born on 11 February, 1999, Hannah joined LCFC Women in 2020 following spells at Sheffield United and most recently Everton. She has been capped for the Lionesses at Under-17s, Under-19s and Under-21s level, and has also represented Wales at youth level. You can follow Hannah on Twitter and Instagram (hannahjadecain).
Liv Fergusson
Position: Forward
Previous Club: Sheffield United, Aston Villa, Bristol City, Yeovil Town
Squad Number: 23
One of the newest members of the LCFC Women squad is Liv, who was born in Stafford on 27 March, 1995. She is capped at numerous youth levels for England, and represented Great Britain at the Summer Universiade in Taipei in 2017. Formerly of Sheffield United, Bristol City, Yeovil Town and Aston Villa, Liv also has a master’s degree in Occupational Psychology. You can follow Liv on Twitter (livfergusson) and Instagram (oliviafergusson).