If you won the Euromillions, would you decide to invest in your favourite football team? That’s exactly what Hartlepool couple Frances and Patrick Connolly did after they won close to £115 million in the Euromillions jackpot in 2019 and have recently completed a purchase of 25% stake hold in Durham Women FC.
The Championship side, which is one of only two UK independent clubs in the women’s game, has now undergone a change of ownership with newly appointed club directors Lee Sanders and Dawn Hepple being granted large share holds in what is an incredibly exciting move not only for Durham as a club but women’s football in the North East and beyond.
Club founder and former first team manager Sanders has described the investment from the Connolly’s as “transformative”, with plans including a new stadium and a strong aim to head towards promotion to the WSL. He stated “this move will also allow us to attract further significant investment into the squad, the staff, the infrastructure and a longer-term playing facility for the football club.” As one of the only independent clubs not tied to a men’s team, Durham now have a wide range of opportunities available to them to advance in building a sustainable, strong club. Frances and Patrick Connelly are long term supporters of the North East club and have expressed their desire to “inspire the next generation of female athletes”.
The Wildcats currently play their home games at Maiden Castle in Durham, which is home to the central sports complex for Durham University. However, the club are now hoping to create a purpose built stadium away from university soil and expand the expectations of advancing the team to compete at a higher and more sustainable level.
This 24/25 season has seen an expansion of team singings to include a wider range of players with international experience, such as Canada’s Rylee Foster and Kaila Novak, and New Zealand’s Hannah Blake and Michaela Foster. This crucial investment indicates that further opportunities for club growth will be heading Durham’s way, and highlights that financially supporting the women’s game is instrumental in order for competitive progression; commercialisation expansion within lower ranked clubs across the women’s professional division.
Durham WFC was founded by Lee Sanders just over a decade ago as a collaboration between South Durham and Cestria Girls and Durham University. They have competed in the Championship since 2014 and transitioned to a full time professional model for the 2023/2024 season, and were the only Championship side to reach this season’s quarterfinals of the Subway Women’s League Cup. Currently, they sit in third and just 3 points behind table leaders Birmingham City Women. With only one promotion place up for grabs, this 24/25 season in the second tier of English women’s football is shaping up to be a strong title race that is yet too tight to call and may come down to the final game of the season to reveal which team is making their way up to the WSL.
Durham’s next fixture takes place on the 16 th March at home against local rivals Newcastle United, with a 12 midday kick-off, with limited tickets remaining for this eagerly anticipated North East derby.
Comments