Football is a game for all. That is why it is called the beautiful game. A sense of opportunity stems from football not only on the pitch, but in the dugout or on the training field. Often not spoken about enough is the emerging female coaching talent in football – a chance to elevate their game, inspired by female football pioneers before them and to influence generations to come, this is the story of aspiring female football coaches in South Yorkshire.

Football coaches are inspired but in some cases can also be inspirational. From grassroots coaches aiming to make a name for themselves in the game starting at the very bottom, to coaches who leave a legacy and impression on the game for generations of young footballers to come, their mark can be everlasting. 

Coaching dreams can stem from a love of the game. From kicking the ball around in the back garden at home, through to an eleven-a-side kick off on a Saturday or Sunday, it’s the love and passion for the game which many people crave. It, for many, is a desire to inspire a new generation of female footballing talent – the next Women’s Super League star, or a future Lioness. Ellie Roebuck, Esme Morgan and Vicky Exley are some of South Yorkshire’s most recent talents to make a name for themselves on the grandest stage. But why are female coaches so important to encouraging the next generation of Lionesses to shine through?

There are some great pioneers of women’s football too, none more so than Julie Chipchase – a pivotal figure in the story of women’s football in South Yorkshire.

A stalwart of the game, Chipchase played for, and later managed, Doncaster Rovers Belles, one of the most storied clubs in women’s football. She also led Leeds United Women and worked for the FA as a coach educator. Julie’s influence continues through the Julie Chipchase Coaching Legacy, which helps aspiring female coaches access the training they need. An esteemed women’s football icon who has created a legacy which will last for decades and generations to come.

On a national scale, as an inspirational figure the Lionesses’ head coach, Serena Wiegman, has been particularly instrumental in the Lionesses’ success. These are women, both regionally and nationally, who have been part of a changing football landscape.

Meet Imogen Yeardley. A current first team player at Sheffield Wednesday Ladies. Yeardley coaches the under 9s at the club during the week and on a Saturday and Sunday morning for games. “The girls know that I play in the first team which is important to them because they know that they have someone to aspire to be like at the club. I’ve had parents come up to me to say how much the girls are enjoying their sessions and the role model they think I am.”

Yeardley first got involved in coaching through her university course. A blended coaching programme at the University of South Wales, which she then looked to implement at her local club.

“The club offered me an opportunity to help coach the girls under 9s team. I was already part-way through my degree and thought it was a nice opportunity to put my skills into practice. It’s a unique skill, a lot of the girls have never kicked a ball before, but it is one I relish in every training session and on a matchday. It is nice for the girls too, as they can come and watch me play, so they too can get a feel for a matchday like I hope they will in 10 years time.” 

One of the most powerful motivators in the sport is having that role model, that voice of calm amongst adversity. The voice which many female footballers may not have had is becoming increasingly important and by stepping up, they are not only changing the game for themselves, but for generations to come as well by showing the girls that leadership in football is not impossible.

“I’m inspired by the young girls I coach. Their results and progression both on and off the pitch matter the most to me. For the team, having someone who coached alongside them, someone that they know and can aspire to be like and a constant face who they can look at and say ‘she helped me become the player I am today’. The thing I enjoy the most is seeing the smiles on their faces. Their attitude and desire to want to get better is inspirational to me and the energy the team has is infectious.”

“Knowing I can be an inspiration to the girls teams throughout the club, makes me proud.”

The pathway into coaching is not straightforward. The environment around football continues to be male-dominated. Women face a lack of access to qualifications and coaching badges, and to outdated notions that women cannot have a leadership role on the sidelines. Now these women and girls are inspiring a new generation, setting the standards, marshalling the drills and rolling out the tactics boards.

“I also am looking ahead to the future. Of course I’d like to be a part of this team’s success going forward, but a goal for me is to break the stigma around women in the sport. This is a sport for all. I know a lot of girls who want to get involved in coaching, but don’t have the confidence to make the first step, all because there aren’t many of us on the sidelines on a matchday. I jumped at the opportunity at Sheffield Wednesday Ladies and I am relishing this chance to move towards a career in coaching.”

Laurie Millington, otherwise known as ‘Loz’ is another key face around Sheffield Wednesday Ladies. After a long and illustrious playing career, Millington moved into coaching at the club thanks to a vacancy which appeared in the strength and conditioning side of the club. This, alongside being on the sidelines on a matchday, is a role Loz has taken up after a footballing career which spanned over three decades.

“For me, it is about the relationship and the bond I have with the players. A lot of them I know, of course some of them I don’t so it is about creating a connection with each individual player.” 

Coaching is about building trust and connections, not only on the field, but after the full-time whistle, or in the countless hours the players and staff put in behind the scenes. Many of these women see coaching as an opportunity to generate resilience, build confidence, but also create a safe and empowering space around the club, whilst helping players navigate life off the field.

“I think the head coaches Andy and Kieran saw the bond I created with the players. They realised where they may struggle to articulate a certain message or tactic, or speak about sensitive topics, I would be able to step in and help them. So my role extends beyond the training pitch. I feel it is important that the girls have that female figure around the club in any capacity where they feel comfortable talking about a specific S&C programme, tactics, results or anything else.” 

A former player for over 30 years, playing in some of the highest leagues across the grassroots football scene in South Yorkshire, Millington has looked to apply her experience on the pitch to her coaching style off it.

“I try to envisage as though I am playing. I try to imagine what the players are going through, what they might be thinking, and try to help them learn from there. I don’t think I have lost my football brain, so passing on your mental skills as well as using your experience as a former player, really helps me.

“I watch Serena Weigman and what she has done for the women’s side in England and it is inspiring. I have been to games and just watching some of their performances is fascinating for an aspiring coach to watch. The way Serena conducts herself and how she leads the team is something that I look to emulate in my coaching style.” 

Opportunities to get more women and girls involved in football coaching are increasing. Molly Wilson, Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA’s Women and Girls Football Development Officer said: “We have lots of initiatives and programmes at the County FA for women and girls looking to get involved. This ranges from the Female Player to Coach Programme to Stepping Over The Sidelines which are all designed to encourage mothers, female guardians, players, young leaders and former players to get involved and to provide a stepping stone for their futures.” 

Wilson said: “We also have plans in place to partner with the Julie Chipchase Foundation. We are devoted to encouraging more women and girls to get involved, and we are seeing a lot of female players who are being encouraged to play the game, and therefore as a result of that, there is an increase in the number of women starting their coaching badges or starting out at their clubs and therefore these bursaries are important.” 

“The growing demand is important for our game, and is something which we as the County FA are delighted to see. We would encourage as many women and young girls to get involved and I hope we can see the landscape around women’s football continue to evolve.” 

This is not just women filling roles, they are redefining them and shaping their careers, proving that coaching and that football as a whole is not just about gender, but about leadership, a vision, and ultimately, a love for the game. 

South Yorkshire’s aspiring female coaches are voices for the women’s game in the future, a stepping stone to inclusivity, and they are building a future for thousands of women and girls to create their own football career paths, one session at a time. There can be little doubt that, as the region rallies, the next generation will not only be one led by women, but one inspired by them too.