2023–24 Aston Villa W.F.C. season explained

Club:Aston Villa
Season:2023–24
Manager:Carla Ward
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Stadium:Bescot Stadium, Walsall
League:WSL
League Result:7th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Fourth round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Semi-finals
League Topscorer:Rachel Daly (8)
Season Topscorer:Rachel Daly (16)
Highest Attendance:12,533
(vs. Manchester United, 1 October)
Lowest Attendance:1,784
(vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, 17 December)
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Prevseason:2022–23
Nextseason:2024–25

The 2023–24 Aston Villa W.F.C. season was the club's 28th season under their Aston Villa affiliation. It was the organisation's 50th overall season in existence, and their fourth season in the Women's Super League (the highest level of the football pyramid). Along with competing in the WSL, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

In November 2022, a new club crest was unveiled to be used from the start of the 2023–24 season,[1] and it was later clarified that the new badge would be used exclusively on kits and training wear. The existing badge would continue to be used as the primary on all other channels, with consultations around a new permanent crest ongoing.[2]

On 3 May 2024, it was announced that Carla Ward had taken the decision to step down as manager at the end of the season, despite having a year left on her contract.[3]

Transfers

Transfers in

DatePositionNationalityNameFromRef.
16 June 2023GKDaphne van Domselaar FC Twente[4]
6 July 2023DFLucy Parker West Ham United[5]
11 July 2023DFAnna Patten Arsenal[6]
11 August 2023FWKirsty Hanson Manchester United[7]
24 August 2023GKSophia Poor Leicester City[8]
8 September 2023FWEbony Salmon Houston Dash[9]
11 September 2023FWAdriana Leon Manchester United[10]
6 January 2024DFNoelle Maritz Arsenal[11]

Transfers out

DatePositionNationalityNameToRef.
28 May 2023MFRemi Allen Birmingham City[13] [14]
FWChantelle Boye-Hlorkah London City Lionesses[15] [16]
FWEmily Gielnik Melbourne Victory[17]
FWNatasha HardingRetired[18]
FWRuesha Littlejohn London City Lionesses[19]
DFEvie Rabjohn Manchester United[20]
1 June 2023DFElisha N'Dow Charlton Athletic[21] [22]
GKSian Rogers Charlton Athletic[23]
15 June 2023GKHannah Hampton Chelsea[24] [25]
20 June 2023DFMeaghan SargeantRetired[26]
4 July 2023MFMary McAteer Sunderland[27]
5 July 2023MFOlivia Rabjohn West Bromwich Albion[28]
31 January 2024MFLaura Blindkilde Manchester City[29]

Loans out

DatePositionNationalityNameToUntilRef.
14 September 2023FWFreya Gregory Reading4 January 2024[30] [31]
17 January 2024MFOlivia McLoughlin RangersEnd of season[32]

Women's Super League

See main article: 2023–24 Women's Super League.

League table

Women's FA Cup

See main article: 2023–24 Women's FA Cup.

As a member of the first tier, Aston Villa entered the FA Cup in the fourth round proper.

FA Women's League Cup

See main article: 2023–24 FA Women's League Cup.

Group stage

Group A

Ranking of second-placed teams

Knockout stage

Squad statistics

Appearances

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.|-|colspan="12"|Players away from the club on loan:|-|colspan="12"|Players who appeared for the club but left during the season:|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aston Villa unveil new club crest . BBC Sport . 10 November 2022.
  2. Web site: Townley . John . Aston Villa confirm plans for new crest as round badge decision explained . Birmingham Mail . 26 September 2023.
  3. Web site: Carla Ward: Aston Villa boss to leave at end of season . BBC Sport . 3 May 2024.
  4. Web site: van Domselaar to join Villa Women! . Aston Villa Football Club . 16 June 2023.
  5. Web site: Lucy Parker joins Villa Women! . Aston Villa Football Club . 6 July 2023.
  6. Web site: Anna Patten signs permanent deal with Villa Women! . Aston Villa Football Club . 11 July 2023.
  7. Web site: Kirsty Hanson joins Villa Women on permanent deal! . Aston Villa Football Club . 11 August 2023.
  8. Web site: Aston Villa Women squad numbers for 2023/24 . Aston Villa Football Club . 24 August 2023.
  9. Web site: Ebony Salmon re-joins Villa Women! . Aston Villa Football Club . 8 September 2023.
  10. Web site: Adriana Leon joins Villa Women! . Aston Villa Football Club . 11 September 2023.
  11. Web site: Noelle Maritz joins Villa Women! . Aston Villa Football Club . 6 January 2024.
  12. Web site: Villa Women announce Taylor signing . Aston Villa Football Club . 1 February 2024.
  13. Web site: Remi Allen to depart Aston Villa Women . Aston Villa Football Club . 19 May 2023.
  14. Web site: Pinnock . Hannah . Former Birmingham City star Remi Allen returns following Aston Villa exit . BirminghamLive . 23 July 2023.
  15. Web site: Villa Women confirm quartet of departures . Aston Villa Football Club . 26 May 2023.
  16. Web site: Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah joins London City Lionesses on one-year contract . London City Lionesses . 26 August 2023.
  17. Web site: Melbourne Victory signs Emily Gielnik. Melbourne Victory FC. 22 September 2023.
  18. Web site: Wales centurion Harding announces retirement . BBC Sport.
  19. Web site: Republic of Ireland international Ruesha Littlejohn joins London City Lionesses . London City Lionesses . 23 August 2023 . 23 August 2023.
  20. Web site: Evie Rabjohn agrees to join United Women . www.manutd.com . 3 May 2023.
  21. Web site: N'Dow and Rogers to depart Villa Women . Aston Villa Football Club . 1 June 2023.
  22. Web site: Elisha N'Dow completes permanent move . www.charltonafc.com . 20 July 2023.
  23. Web site: Sian Rogers makes permanent move . Charlton Athletic Football Club . 12 July 2023.
  24. Web site: Hannah Hampton to depart Villa Women . Aston Villa Football Club . 15 June 2023.
  25. Web site: Chelsea sign England international Hampton . Chelsea Football Club . 4 July 2023 . 4 July 2023.
  26. Web site: Villa defender Sargeant retires aged 29 . BBC Sport.
  27. Web site: Mary McAteer signs for SAFC Women . Sunderland Association Football Club . 4 July 2023.
  28. Web site: Olivia Rabjohn returns to Albion Women . www.wba.co.uk.
  29. Web site: Blindkilde Brown completes transfer to Manchester City . Aston Villa Football Club . 31 January 2024.
  30. Web site: Freya Gregory joins Reading FC Women on season-long loan . Reading FC . 14 September 2023.
  31. Web site: Three depart Women's First Team . Reading FC . 4 January 2024.
  32. Web site: Villa confirm Olivia McLoughlin loan . Aston Villa Football Club . 17 January 2024.