Rotherham United Women Football Club has been rescued from the brink of extinction after Phil Smith, non-executive chair of Fintel, and Scott Thorpe, founder and CEO of TMG Mortgage Network, completed the purchase of the club.
The historic women’s football club had faced an uncertain future and required fresh investment to secure its long-term survival.
Both Smith (main picture, right) and Thorpe (main picture, left), who were born in Rotherham and have built successful careers in financial services, said they were determined to protect the club and establish a platform for future growth.
The new owners have set an immediate target of achieving back-to-back promotions, with a longer-term ambition of building a pathway towards the Women’s Super League within five years.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Smith said: “Rotherham United Women was close to being lost, and that simply could not be allowed to happen. The club has history, heart and people who have fought to keep it alive. Scott and I both felt that if we were in a position to step forward, we had a responsibility to do so.
“This is about more than football. It is about leadership, responsibility and community impact. Financial services talks a lot about social value, inclusion and supporting local communities. This is an opportunity to show those values in a way people can actually see.
“We want back-to-back promotions, we want to build towards the Women’s Super League, and we want Rotherham United Women to become a club the town and the wider financial services sector can be proud to see rising.”
WHITE-KNIGHT MOMENT
Thorpe added: “Phil and I are both Rotherham lads. We have both built our careers in financial services, and we both believe business success should mean more than balance sheets and boardrooms.
“This is a proper white-knight moment for a club that was close to extinction. Now it has local ownership, structure, ambition and a plan to rise.
“As a dad to girls, this matters. Girls in Rotherham should be able to see a club in their town that is being built seriously, backed properly and promoted with pride.”
Smith currently serves as non-executive chair of Fintel and has held a number of senior leadership positions across the financial services sector, including founder and group CEO of Embark Group.
Thorpe is founder and CEO of Rotherham-headquartered TMG Mortgage Network.
The club traces its roots back to Kilnhurst Shooting Stars, which was established in 1969 before later becoming Rotherham United Women Football Club.
The new ownership team said they would build a stronger operating model covering football performance; governance; commercial development; sponsorship; player welfare; media and community engagement.
COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME
A structured commercial partnership programme will be released shortly for businesses that want to be aligned with women’s sport, regional pride, grassroots pathways and measurable community impact.
Smith said: “This is not about asking businesses to sponsor a badge. It is about inviting the industry to be associated with a genuine growth story – a club being rescued, rebuilt and repositioned as a platform for women’s sport, young people, families and community pride.”
Thorpe added: “This should be the sort of story financial services wants to be part of. Not because it needs saving now – because it has been saved, and because what comes next could be massive.”
Further details on the club’s football structure, sponsorship opportunities and community programme are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Main picture: Scott Thorpe, TMG, Francesca Ross, chairwoman Rotherham United Women F.C and Phil Smith, Fintel.
