Despite fears of the club folding due to a lack of financial backing, Nottingham Forest are set to kick-off their season at Preston today and with some new appointments made.
Pre-season preparation has been excellent so far for Nottingham Forest Ladies FC, with the recruitment of a new senior management/coaching team, and all but two of last season’s First Team squad coming back together for preseason training. They have also added some talented new players to both the First Team and the Reserves squads.
They found it to be no surprise to that they lost Aileen Whelan to the WSL, a future talent for England without doubt, and all at NFLFC wish her the very best of luck for her future – they will watch her development with pride.
From the NFLFC website: “Early pre-season games have gone well, with the First Team taking on Mansfield, Sheffield United Community and WSL2 side Oxford United; winning 13-0, 8-0 and 2-0 respectively, and the Reserves took on Real United and Mansfield Town winning both games.
“We are also really looking forward to becoming ‘officially’ part of Nottingham Forest FC; hopefully this will help us to achieve our goals and push the club on to the next level.”
They also announce the following appointments:
First Team Manager/Club Technical Director: Graham Abercrombie
Graham joins Forest Ladies with a wealth of experience, is a UEFA A Licence and Youth Module 3 Coach, FA Safeguarding Children and Junior Football Leader Tutor.
Graham has extensive management experience in the Women’s game as Aston Villa, Worcester City Manager and Worcestershire FA Girls PDC Technical Director, also has held roles as Chelsea International Development Coach and West Bromwich Albion Development Coach.
This is what Graham had to say following his appointment: “I’m absolutely delighted to have joined Nottingham Forest Ladies FC in the role of First Team Manager/Head Coach and Club Technical Director. The club, players and staff have huge ambition and are extremely open minded with their thoughts towards fulfilling that ambition.”
“Exciting times do lie ahead but we will take each stride forward as it comes. No one will get carried away by making claims of what will be achieved or what will be won but I can assure everyone, we have identified our dream, and we have the foundation blocks in place that support that dream and will work extremely hard on improving those foundation blocks to make that dream a reality”
First Team Assistant Manager/Coach: John McDougall
John has spent the past 2 seasons at Kingshurst FC in the Girls’ and Women’s section having involvement with the U-10s U-14s U-16s and managed the Senior Ladies. In his 2 years in charge of the ladies they secured the club’s highest ever league finish in the West Midlands Premier Division along with winning the League Cup in 2012.
John also plays for the England Partially sighted Futsal team and has played with them for 9 years and been vice captain for 5 years, John has 45 caps and has been voted British Footballer of the Year 3 times. The team has won 2 bronze World Cup medals and are currently ranked third in the world.
John had the following to say about joining Forest Ladies: “Having the opportunity to join a club the size of Nottingham Forest Ladies and the chance to become part of an exciting new coaching team thrills me. Having worked with the players for only a short time their professionalism talent and enthusiasm is a clear formula for success in the forthcoming season.”
Goalkeeping Coach: Shaun Green
This is Shaun’s fourth season coaching female goalkeepers, spending the previous 3 seasons coaching at Coventry City.
Shaun holds both a UEFA B outfield licence and is working towards his UEFA B Goalkeeper coaching badge; his role will be to develop every senior goalkeeper at the club.
Shaun had the following to say about joining Forest Ladies, “I feel happy and excited to join Forest Ladies, it looks like we are going to have an enjoyable and successful season”.
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