Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.17 2020-21

Sheffield United Women are delighted to confirm head coach Neil Redfearn has signed a new
two-year deal to remain in charge until the end of the 2022-23 season.
After joining the club ahead of the current FA Women’s Championship season, Redfearn led
the side to another top four finish, culminating in a last minute win at Blackburn Rovers last
Sunday to ensure the Blades continued their strong form in 2021, seeing the team lose just once
since January.
United won 11 of their 20 league games in an increasingly more competitive division, ending
the season just a point behind former FA Women’s Super League side Liverpool.
Under Redfearn, the team has flourished at both ends of the pitch with striker Katie
Wilkinson sealing a second successive golden boot with her 19th goal of the league season against
Rovers at Bamber Bridge on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Fran Kitching meanwhile had the joint best record for clean sheets in the
league, keeping ten clean sheets in her 20 league appearances since rejoining the club she spent
her childhood at last summer, including two penalty saves in her last two games.
Redfearn’s backroom staff will also remain in place next season. Current first team staff
member Luke Turner will become Redfearn’s assistant coach next season, while Josh Dowsett
remains in place as goalkeeper coach.
Shaun Hird also remains in place as a coach with the first team while remaining in his role
with the Regional Talent Centre. Shaun will continue to work closely with the club’s RTC technical
director Richard Meek who also heads up player development at the club, overseeing the
development team and RTC.
Adam Kennerley will join the first team coaching staff as the new strength and conditioning
coach for the 2021-22 season.
Stephen Bettis, Chief Executive Officer said: “After a competitive finish in his first season in
charge, we are delighted that Neil has committed for two more years, the aim being to continue to
progress.”

The continued strength, growth and development of the female game in Cornwall has been
highlighted over the past two weeks with both the Cornwall Girls League and the Cornwall
Women’s League achieving Charter Standard League Status. A massive accolade to both leagues
representing the hard work and commitment of committees, clubs, volunteers and everyone
working so hard to develop the female game in Cornwall ensuring there are opportunities for all to
play.
Lee Morford, secretary of the Cornwall Girls League reflects on the journey so far: “In the
League’s short history, we’ve seen the girls’ game flourish in Cornwall. From just a handful of
teams back in our first season, we now have 43 teams playing regular structured football. This
accreditation by The FA is recognition of the hard work of committee and all our member clubs, in
ensuring we uphold the correct values to players, coaches, officials and supporters of the female
game.”
Mandy Kimmins, chair of the Cornwall Women’s League says: "The CWFL is really proud
to have been awarded FA Charter Standard League status which absolutely reflects the hard work
being put in by our member clubs, coaches, teams and players within the ladies game in Cornwall.
Well done and thank you to all those volunteers who are working so positively to help grow and
develop the female football provision which has gone from strength to strength over recent seasons
within our county. This award reflects the importance of ladies football within clubs and the great
effort put in to help meet the required Charter Standard criteria and deliver the game to a good
standard."
Special thanks and recognition must also go to charter standard coordinators Linda of the
Cornwall Girls League and Lisa of the Cornwall Women’s League for all of the work behind the
scenes they have put in to achieve these awards for the leagues.
(Source: www.cornwallfa.com)
Issue no. 17 - 13 May 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk