Named in honour of their workplace, District Line Ladies FC appeared in leagues across Greater London before tasting promotion to the Women’s FA National League Southern Division in the early 1990s.

It did not take long afterwards before the squad merged with Wembley FC – becoming Wembley Ladies FC and reaching their zenith in an FA Cup final defeat to Millwall Lionesses in 1997.

Meanwhile Barnet Ladies FC, established by Barnet director Graham Slyper in the mid-80s, had become officially affiliated with the men’s club.

It prompted another merger in 1998 after Wembley’s FA Cup finalists began to leave the club, including teenager and eventual England legend Kelly Smith.

Barnet FC Ladies have been a virtual mainstay in English football’s top tier ever since before London Bees, a brand new franchise, was welcomed into the Women’s Super League fold for 2014.

London Bees first ever fixture in WSL2 resulted in a 3-0 victory over Oxford United Ladies, with 16-year old Lucy Loomes scoring their first ever goal.

-From the Bees website