Page 29 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.30 2022-23

The FA Board has this week recommended changes to promotion and relegation between Tiers
2 and 3 of the Women’s Football Pyramid. These changes are subject to ratification by FA Council.
In a significant shake-up of the existing structure which sees one team promoted and
relegated, The FA will remove the requirement for the current end of season play-off to
determine the side promoted to the Barclays Women's Championship, which takes place
between the respective winners of the FA Women’s National League Northern and Southern
Premier Divisions.
Instead, both FA Women’s National League Premier Division title winners will be
rewarded for their success with promotion, with two clubs in turn being relegated from the
Barclays Women's Championship. The changes will come into effect from the 2023-24 season.
The structural change will not impact the Barclays Women’s Super League and the existing
system for promotion and relegation to and from the Barclays Women's Championship.

Former Northern Ireland international and experienced coach Danielle McDowell Tuffey has
been appointed as the Irish FA’s first Girls’ Elite Youth Academy Manager.
In the role McDowell Tuffey will lead the association’s girls’ elite player talent ID and
development programmes (up to age 16).
She will be responsible for sourcing, recruiting, training and the retention of youth players
for national Under-15 and U16 development squads at elite international level, and preparing
these girls for life as future senior internationals/professional footballers.
McDowell Tuffey, who is currently Women’s Football Development Officer at the Irish FA,
brings a wealth of both coaching and playing experience to the new role.
She said: “I can’t wait to get started. I am immensely passionate about youth development
and guiding young players to fulfil their footballing potential.
“I have myself progressed through the Irish FA youth international pathway to senior
international as a player, so I know what it takes.”
For the past 17 years she has coached and managed in boys’ and girls’ youth football, within
youth excellence programmes and within senior women’s football. She is currently studying for
the UEFA Pro Licence.
Since 2012 McDowell Tuffey has been head of development at Crusaders’ Girls’ Academy.
And she has been first team coach with NIFL Women’s Premiership side Crusaders Strikers
since 2021. However, she will be leaving her roles with the Crues to take up her new post with
the Irish FA.
Other previous coaching roles include head coach/co-ordinator at the Irish FA’s girls’
excellence programme within Co Antrim and assistant head coach of the Northern Ireland U15
girls’ development team.
Since 2018 she has been head coach/development officer at the Irish FA Women’s
Performance Academy based at Ulster University Jordanstown. And that’s another role which
she will vacate on taking up her new position.
Angela Platt, Director of Women’s Football at the Irish FA, said: “I am delighted to have
Danielle appointed to this important new role for the Irish FA's girls’ elite pathway.
“Danielle comes into the role with great experience in developing players within girls’ and
women’s football, particularly through her time leading our Ulster University Performance
Academy programme.
“Her experience as a former international player and her coaching knowledge gained from
several roles in girls’ and women’s football will enable her to establish our new talent ID and
academy programmes for our girls’ pathway.
“It is an exciting new role and I look forward to working closely with Danielle to ensure we
provide the opportunities to identify and develop the future generation of Northern Ireland
players within our girls’ pathway.”
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