Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No12 2022-23

Sheffield United have announced that their Head Coach, Neil Redfearn, has left the club
after just over two years in charge.
The club has issued the following statement ahead of last week’s Continental Cup group
match against Everton:
“Sheffield United Women's head coach, Neil Redfearn, has tended his resignation with
immediate effect.
He had been in charge for over two years and his final game was the Barclays
Women's Championship fixture against London City Lionesses in front of record league
crowd at Bramall Lane last Sunday.
“United's chairman, Yusuf Giansiracusa, commented: "On behalf of the board, I'd like
to thank Neil for his hard work in his time as a Blade. The efforts and progress of the
women's team in the last two years hasn't gone unnoticed. Neil has played a major role in
developing the women's team and is a respected coach and figure within football. We wish
Neil best wishes for his future endeavours."
“Zoe Johnson, head of women's football at United, added: "We were hoping for an
upturn in form and confidence as we kick off our Continental Cup this weekend and are
disappointed that Neil has decided to step down. He has been a fantastic leader at both
Bramall Lane and Shirecliffe, the club has made progress in his time as head coach and it
has been a pleasure to work alongside him."
“Redfearn commented: "I would like to thank everyone connected with Sheffield
United for their support during my time as manager of the women's team. I am proud of
the players and staff, who have performed exceptionally well in an increasingly full-time
league with a win percentage of 44% across all competitions, and I wish them all the very
best in their future careers. It has been a real pleasure to witness and support the
development of everyone we have worked with over the past couple of years and I am
proud of those who continue to make progress as players and as individuals.
"I would like to thank Carl Shieber and Zoe Johnson for their continued support of the
team, as well as the fans who have bought into what we have been aiming to achieve.
Whilst I have really enjoyed managing Sheffield United, I feel it is the right time to step
aside. I hope the club continues to challenge the best teams in the league and I look forward
to seeing their progress in the coming seasons."
“United face five games before the winter break, but only one of them is a league
game. Everton kicks off a run of Continental Cup matches which will also see the Blades
face two more Women's Super League opponents in Aston Villa and Manchester United,
with an FA Cup tie yet to be confirmed ahead of the third round draw.
“For Saturday's game against Everton at Scunthorpe United's Glanford Park (5pm
kick-off), Johnson and technical director, Luke Turner, will take temporary charge.”
The club has also announced that youngster Molly Graham is stepping up to the first
team after an impressive spell in the club's academy and development sides.
Graham, 19, is a centre-back and a Blade through and through, having been at the club
since she was 11 years old, progressing through the RTC and impressing in the development
team over the past couple of seasons.
Graham has regularly trained with the Women's first team throughout the season and
follows Tamara Wilcock, Charley Docherty, Chene Muir currently in the Women's first team
squad. The defender becomes the tenth teenager in the United first team squad from the
RTC and follows in the footsteps of a growing number of talented young players given
opportunities in the Blades first team.
She was on the bench for the Blades’ Continental Cup match against Everton on
Saturday night, which the Toffees won 3-0.
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