Our history

At the end of that season, Director of Football Richard Allen left for a role in Japan, and Issy Martin moved into a full-time position with The Football Association.

The University appointed two key staff members: Charles Baxter from Ipswich Town Women as Head Coach, and Mat Stock from Wolves Academy as Football Programme Manager.

Despite their efforts, Lightning were relegated to Tier 4 and entered the Division 1 Midlands league.

With many new players and the arrival of Assistant Coach Sarah Richardson, the team rebuilt quickly. They narrowly missed immediate promotion on goal difference to Sporting Khalsa but later secured promotion back to Tier 3.

In the 2024–25 season, Lightning went unbeaten and finished eight points clear at the top of the table. They also won the Leicestershire and Rutland Senior Cup with a victory over Leicester City.

For the 2025–26 season, Loughborough Lightning returned to Tier 3 in the FA Women’s National League Premier Division North. With most of the squad returning and new Assistant Coach Katie Sorenson joining after Sarah Richardson’s move to Stoke City. 

A tough first season back in Tier 3 saw Lightning secure their status in the league on the final day of the season with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Sporting Khalsa. 

Lightning now go into the 2026-27 campaign looking to build on the foundations set in their first back at Tier 3. 

Loughborough Foxes 

Founded by Gail and Paul Fox in 1999, Loughborough Foxes began life as Shepshed Foxes before adopting their current name in 2002.

For its first 15 years, the club competed across local leagues, building a strong foundation before earning promotion to the FA Women’s Northern Premier Division (Tier 3) in 2015. Although the team spent just one season at that level before relegation, the Foxes returned stronger and secured promotion back to Tier 3 in 2018 following a record-breaking campaign. The side lifted the Midlands Division One title after an unbeaten season of 22 wins and one draw.

In 2020, Loughborough Foxes and Loughborough University began exploring a long-term partnership, which ultimately led to the launch of the Loughborough Lightning franchise in 2021.

Today, Loughborough Foxes remain a vital part of the local football community and an important partner to the University, operating as the Sister Club to Loughborough Lightning. Through its youth pathway and women’s teams, the club continues to create opportunities for players to develop and progress through the women’s football pyramid.

Recent seasons have marked a particularly successful period for the club. The Vixens finished runners-up in the 2022–23 EMWRFL Plate before going on to win the 2024–25 EMWRFL Division One Central title with an unbeaten 14-match league campaign. The Vixens Sapphires also achieved promotion during 2024–25 after completing an unbeaten season in the Leicestershire Women’s and Girls League Division 2.

Building on that momentum, the Foxes stepped into the EMWRFL Premier Division (Tier 5) and delivered an impressive campaign, securing a second-place league finish and reaching the League Cup Final, where they finished runners-up to Mansfield Town. Silverware did arrive through the Leicestershire & Rutland Women’s County Cup, with the Foxes defeating Anstey Nomads 2–1 at Holmes Park to lift the trophy.