Page 29 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.1(1) 2021-22

Stalwart Helen leaves Sheffield post

Last month it was announced that Helen Mitchell was to
step down from her position at Sheffield FC after having
been behind one of the biggest success stories in women’s
football in recent years.
After being a prime mover behind the formation of
the women’s section at the club, Helen guided Sheffield up
the women’s football pyramid from the lowest tier to
reaching WSL2, which they achieved with a 1-0 win over
Portsmouth in the FAWPL Play-Off Final at Stratford in
2015, Lisa Giampalma scoring the only goal of the game in
injury time.
The club marked the news by issuing the following
statement:
“Sheffield FC is sad to announce that Helen Mitchell is to
step down from her role as General Manager of the women’s section after 18 years of service to
the World’s First.
Increased responsibility in her day-to-day job away from football has meant much
greater demands on her time and energy, and she is no longer able to devote the hours required
in support of the women section.
Mitchell has been with Sheffield FC since 2003, leading the creation of a first ever
women’s section, and has contributed so much in that time. Player/manager in the initial years,
a gradual improvement paved the way for the first silverware in 2007/08 with the North East
Regional Division 1 South league title.
With Mitchell now concentrating purely on management, a further five league titles
followed in the next seven years including three successive FA WNL Northern Premier division
crowns, and culminating in the Club’s greatest triumph in the inaugural FA WNL Play Off Final,
becoming the first team to earn its way on merit into the FA Women’s Super League (now
Championship).
Such was the women’s first team’s success under Mitchell’s management that the team
finished no lower than runners up for ten successive league seasons from 2005/06 to 2014/15.
The challenge of FA WSL football saw Mitchell step into a new role as General Manager,
continuing to serve the Club behind the scenes as the team enjoyed success at Tier 2 for three
seasons.
Following the Club’s decision to withdrawn from the FA WSL, Mitchell has worked
tirelessly to try to preserve women’s football at Sheffield FC in the FA WNL.
“It’s been a very hard decision in some ways, but ultimately one I feel is best for the Club
and for myself. “
“I’ve been so fortunate to have experienced some incredible times here, managing some
superb teams, and working with some excellent staff and players. I’m so grateful to them for
their commitment and effort over the years, to the Club, and to the many fantastic supporters
who have been so loyal and followed the team all over the country for such a long time.”
“I have given so much of myself to this Club over the past 18 years, but it’s time for a new
injection of enthusiasm from someone else now, and I wish the Club, the staff and the team’s the
very best going forward.”
In addition to the official statement above, Helen Mitchell’s administration during the
successful seasons in the FA Women’s Premier League (as it was then known) was much
appreciated at FA HQ. She also produced an excellent match day programme from the club’s early
days in the mid-2000s.
For several years, Mitchell was in charge of the youth set up that was Sheffield United Girls
Centre of Excellence and a good number of players successfully progressed to the game’s top tiers.
Among them, Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City and England), Fran Kitching (now back at Sheffield
United) and Sam Tierney (Leicester City). Photo - Julian Barker
Issue no. 1 - 2 September 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk