league qualified Birmingham for the 2013–14 UEFA Women's Champions League round of 32 for the 2nd season running. During the 2013 campaign saw a transitional year where many star names left the football club due to Birmingham's inability to compete financially with the big clubs. However, by successfully transitioning the team with the introduction of the youngsters, the average age of the team dropped from 27 to 21 and a foundation was built that still maintained them as one of the most competitive teams in the league. Still competing the UEFA Champions League in 2013/14 season Birmingham qualified for the Quarter Finals for the first time in their history. In the spring of 2014 Birmingham beat Arsenal 3–0 on aggregate to progress to the Semi Finals of the Champions League and faced Swedish side Tyreso which contained many of the women's games star players, such as Marta. It was a unique achievement for a semi professional side completing with full-time clubs, with far superior budgets in the biggest club competition. Birmingham came within 20 minutes of continuing the remarkable run by almost reaching the final, before falling short in the final stages of the game. Birmingham continued this extraordinary run in the FAWSL by again almost winning the league for the third time in four seasons. In a remarkable end to the season Birmingham missed out on the title by 1 goal in an agonising game v Notts County. Birmingham continued to demonstrate that despite the small financial resources available to them they are still able to compete with the top clubs in England. The 2015 FAWSL season saw a drop of from the previous 4 seasons success, but the team galvanised together to eventually finish 6th and survive their relegation dog fight. This was all turned around in the 2016 season for David Parker and his young Birmingham Team. Having changed many aspects of the club including many backroom team staff and players a fresh young team was able to take centre stage and once again under his leadership drove the club the silence the critics again and push for a top 3 finish including another Continental Cup final vs. Man City. Honours and achievements Managerial Birmingham City Ladies (2011–2017) FA Women's Super League - Manager of the Year: 2014 UEFA Women's Champions League – Semi Finalists: 2014 Women's FA Cup – Winner (1): 2012 FA Women's Super League