Founded in 1982, the original Norwich Ladies team won the Women's FA Cup in 1986 under manager Maureen Martin before disbanding in 1987.

She also signed England players Linda Curl, Jackie Slack and Vicky Johnson from Lowestoft Ladies who had disbanded.

In September 1983 Norwich beat Milton Keynes Reserves 40-0 with Curl scoring 22 times in the Chiltern League Division Two fixture.

[3] On 4 May 1986 they enjoyed huge success when they won the Women's FA Cup final against Doncaster Rovers Belles at Carrow Road.

In January 1998 they hosted Arsenal Women in the fourth round but lost 12-0 to a team featuring Rachel Yankey at the Canary Racers home ground in Attleborough.

[11] In 2001–02 they competed as Norwich City in the South East Combination Women's Football League finishing fourth.

[13] Norwich City Women won the inaugural Norfolk County Cup in the 2010–11 season and successfully defended it three times to win four in a row.

Kathryn Stanley scored a hat-trick in the final of the 2020–21 County Cup as Norwich beat Mulbarton 7–0 at The FDC in Bowthorpe.

It was head coach Shaun Howes's final game in charge[23] and concluded a campaign where Norwich achieved their highest league finish for 9 years.

[25] Under interim head coach Scott Emmerson, Norwich City Women won the Norfolk County Cup in the 2023–24 season.

Executive Director Zoe Webber said "it will help form part of our strategic plan as we continue to build on the recent success and infrastructure around our women's team".

The Nest is also a community hub and in 2024 Lioness Lauren Hemp, originally from North Walsham, opened a new 3G pitch at the site which is named after her.