One of the FA Women’s National League’s longest serving and most distinguished players has taken on a new role.
Shelly Provan has been appointed in a new role at her club, Oxford United, working across player care and operations for the women and academy.
The defender has played for the club since 2022 and will balance her new role alongside her first-team on-pitch duties for Sam Rose’s side as they challenge for promotion to WSL2.
Provan has recently returned to action following suffering a ruptured ACL in April 2024 in a match against London Bees – not the first time she has experienced a serious knee injury in her long career – and SheKicks.net understands that she is nearing top form as she regains match sharpness and full confidence with minutes in her legs.
“I’ve probably experienced all the ups and downs of football, and if I can support players through the things I’ve also experienced, then it will be a positive,” she told the club’s website.
“This is my fourth season here and it’s been incredible to see the strides the club has made on the women’s side.”
In an interview with the club’s social media, she said: “I’m hoping there’s a few areas I can help with in each of the departments I’m working in – injuries being one of them. I’ve just come away from teaching for 20 years. Hopefully that will stand me in good stead.”
Shelly Provan and her career so far
Provan, now 41 years of age, was a PE teacher by profession when she balanced football with full-time work. She studied sport and exercise science at Loughborough University – later taking her PGCE there too – alongside training with the FA’s national player development centre.
She has played for top teams including Doncaster Belles, Reading, Southampton and Chelsea, and represented England at all the junior age groups, including the Under-23s.
She has two children, a son and a daughter.
She was inducted into the Saints Archive Hall of Fame earlier this year in recognition of her contributions to Southampton, her hometown club, when she was described as: “[a player with] unwavering determination, exceptional reading of the game, and ability to rally her teammates in the toughest of matches.
“Off the field, her advocacy for the growth of women’s football has paved the way for future generations of players. Provan’s legacy is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of representation in sport.”
