Gibraltar Wave FC
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| Full name | Gibraltar Wave Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Wave | |||
| Founded | March 15th 2021 | |||
| Ground | Victoria Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 5000 | |||
| Owner | John Gontier | |||
| Managing Director | Heiko Mock | |||
| Head Coach | Dani Amaya | |||
| League | Gibraltar Women's Football League | |||
| 2024–25 | 3rd | |||
| Website | https://www.gibraltarwavefc.com | |||
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Gibraltar Wave Football Club is an amateur community association football club in Gibraltar, currently playing in the Gibraltar Women's Football League. The club was formed in 2021 as an independent team, unaffiliated to any men's club, although in 2023 they entered a partnership with Mons Calpe to function as their women's team. As with all women's football teams in Gibraltar, they play their games at Victoria Stadium.
History
[edit | edit source]Gibraltar Wave formed in 2021 by former Europa Point owner John Gontier, with an executive board made up of players Lauren Tomsett, Amanda Jackson. The team officially launched on 15 March 2021, outlining its mission statement as a community club and announcing a search for new players ahead of its debut in that April's Gibraltar Women's Futsal League.[1] Managed by Spanish coach Dani Amaya, the team finished third in its group in its inaugural Women's Futsal League appearance. However, on 7 August 2021, the club appointed veteran coach Andy Parody to manage the side in their maiden football season.[2] That summer, the club also partnered with the app Fanbase to engage with fans online.[3] The club also recruited German Heiko Mock to assist with developing the team off the pitch, and improving the club's audience.[4]
The club made their debut in 11-a-side football on 20 September 2021, in the Gibraltar Women's Football League. They defeated fellow newcomers Manchester 62 9–0, with hat-tricks from Gianelle Hanglin and Narges Mararat.[5] The side finished 4th of 5 teams in its debut season, with 11 points. For the following season, the club announced that they would broadcast matches on the platform Recast, a first for women's football in Gibraltar.[6]
Aside from football and futsal, the club also operates a beach soccer team, being the first organised team in Gibraltar. The side won the inaugural Beach Soccer Charity Tournament in 2021,[7] and thus competed in the 2022 Women's Euro Winners Cup, becoming the country's first representatives at the tournament and its first international appearance.[8] The team finished 15th in their tournament debut.[9]
The 2024–25 season, after a slow start, saw significant improvement competing under the name Mons Calpe Gibraltar Wave. Under the management of Col Griffiths, the club made several high-profile mid-season signings including international players Caitlin Robba, Charlyann Pizzarello, Nicole Nash and Anna Howard. The club finished 3rd in the GWFL along with their first ever piece of silverware, beating Lynx in the Women's Rock Cup Final on 19 May 2025.[10]
ECA Network
[edit | edit source]In summer 2023 Gibraltar Wave FC was officially invted to the ECA Network, which is a number of 200 so-called "Aspiring Clubs of Europe".[11]
In September 2023 Gibraltar Wave FC was one of the clubs attending the general assembly of the ECA in Berlin.[12] Only a bit more than two years after the club was founded, it arrived in the center of European football. Even more, Gibraltar Wave FC was selected as a member of the Women's Football Working Group[13] of the ECA for the 2023/27 cycle.
Kits
[edit | edit source]The club colours are white and blue, based on their logo and the relationship to the ocean.
The club's away kit is orange with black and was introduced in the club's second season. Gibraltar Wave also features a distinct third kit, which was inspired by the colours of the country's national flag.
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
[edit | edit source]| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (chest) | Shirt sponsor (sleeve) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Givova | None | None |
| 2022-2023 | JOMA | ||
| 2023-present |
Kit deals
[edit | edit source]| Kit supplier | Period | Latest contract announcement | Current contract duration | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOMA | 2023-present | 2023- |
Current squad
[edit | edit source]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Club staff
[edit | edit source]| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Club Management | |
| Head Coach | Spain Dani Amaya |
| Assistant Coach | Spain Maria Hidalgo |
| Physio | Republic of Ireland Matt Lawlor |
| Board | |
| Chairman | England John Gontier |
| Managing Director | Germany Heiko Mock |
| Board Member | Netherlands Ixora Balootje |
| Commercial Manager | Netherlands Maurits de Jong |
| Sporting Director | England Shane Buchanan |
| Assistant to the Board | Gibraltar Sally Barton |
Honours
[edit | edit source]- Champions: 2024–25
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ New Women's team hoping to start in futsal league Gibraltar Chronicle. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ “My vision since getting involved with female football from day one is equality, plain and simple” says Andy Parody, Gibraltar Waves new coach Gibraltar Chronicle. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ Fanbase partner with Gibraltar Wave Fanbase. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ Gibraltar Wave - ein neuer Stern am Frauenfußball-Himmel! SPONSORs. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ Women's league starts with twenty-two goal feast Gibraltar Chronicle. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ Gibraltar Wave announces new partner Recast Gibraltar Wave FC. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ Wave FC Gibraltar Insight. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ El Gibraltar Wave FC femenino finaliza en la 15a plaza del Euro Winners Cup 2022 Al Sol de la Costa. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ Mons Calpe Gibraltar Waves Win Women's Rock Cup Gibraltar Chronicle. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ ECA calls Wave an Aspiring Club of Europe Gibraltar Wave FC. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ Gibraltar wave FC's remarkable journey: From founding to ECA General Assembly in Berlin Gibraltar Insight. 6 November 2023
- ^ ECA Working Groups Meet In Geneva Headlining Start Of New 2023-27 Cycle European Club Association. 13 November 2023