CX24 COACHING CONFERENCE TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
CX25 Curious Coach Women & Girls Day took place at Merky FC on 22nd June 2025 featuring some very special guests.
The Women and Girls Day was focused on Inspiring Female coaches and looked at inspirational advocates who currently work in the female game.
As part of the Coaching Xchange’s ongoing support for grassroots coaches we were delighted to deliver our first ever conference focusing on coaches working in the Women and Girls’ Game.
The day provided opportunities for coaches to learn from experts, currently working in the female game, observe coaching demonstrations, network, and create relationships with like-minded people.
There were a choice of workshops throughout day including practical sessions working with players across all age phases and a GK session – all female player specific, alongside theory workshops and a panel session with a host of inspirational coaches from across the football industry.
The day was for coaches from Level 1 all the way up to UEFA B License.
Learners on the day will be accredited 8 hours FA CPD.
Location: Merky FC, Dagnall Park, SE25 5PH
Date: 22nd June 2025
Chatham Town Women
Player/Coach
Jess King is an experienced coach who is an ex professional footballer, having played in various countries. Jess is currently a player coach for Chatham women and the Talent ID coach for South London as part of the women’s and girls England pathway. Jess has experience coaching at all levels, including abroad, and has coached from grassroots up to PGAs and is passionate about developing and inspiring the next generation of players.
London City Lionesses
Academy Manager
Sinead Hogan-Belcher serves as the Academy Manager for London City Lionesses, where the club’s independent female academy has flourished under the visionary leadership of new owner Michelle Kang.
Passionate about coach education, Sinead leads the academy staff in delivering the club’s vision of coaching women as women.
As a former U21 Head Coach, Sinead successfully has successfully developed numerous players for both the professional and international game. Sinead pioneered a dual-signing environment, enabling youth players to compete at both senior and youth levels—a model now adopted by many clubs.
At Brighton & Hove Albion, she contributed to the club’s recognition as one of the top youth development programs in the country.
Girls United
Founder
Romina, a passionate football player from Mexico City, graduated from King's College London with a degree in Politics. While at university, she captained the football team and recognised the power of the sport for personal development.
In 2017, she founded Girls United, a non-profit organisation using football to empower girls globally through football programmes, supporting girls to develop life skills and transforming them into agents of change. Girls United has impacted over 6,000 girls with programs in Mexico and London, working with over 200 coaches and volunteers. They have joined companies like Nike and ambassadors like Caroline Weir to amplify its reach and become a powerhouse for the development of girls' grassroots football and social impact. Romina has led the organisation's growth, now leading an International team of over 30 people.
Her work has been recognised with the King's College London Distinguished Alumni Award and features in Nike's "Architects of New Football" campaign and Vogue magazine's "Forces For Change."
Lisa has held a UEFA A Licence since January 2020 and has 20 years of player and coach development across the male and female game.
Lisa has been a Coach Developer for England Football Learning; in her role she tutored UEFA C and UEFA B coaching qualifications.
Lisa’s other roles included 1st team assistant coach, Coach Developer, Foundation Phase Lead at Southampton FC (W&G), Talent Reporter for England (Women’s Pathway) and she is founder of Pitch Time and Savage Football Coaching.
Lisa’s current role is Women’s National Coach Developer in the Women’s Professional Game and UEFA A Tutor for The Football Association.
Arsenal Women’s FC
Academy Player Care Lead and Coach
Carly is a qualified Secondary School Science Teacher – a Physics specialist, and previously a Lead Therapy Radiographer in the NHS. Her current roles are Academy Player Care Lead and U21 Coach in a WSL club, an FA Coach Mentor and Coach Developer.
Previously working with WU17 England as a Coach Mentee and in the boys game. She played Senior football for over 15 years for multiple clubs including Tottenham Hotspurs LFC and Enfield Town LFC, making her 1st Team debut in 2008 for Tottenham Hotspurs LFC. Through her own playing career, she was Tottenham Hotspurs LFC Youth Team Captain 2001/2002, won the Holloway Women’s Indoor Championship in 2012/2013 (and golden boot), and was Greater London Women’s League Champion in 2013/2014.
Carly has a strong coaching background in player development, with a host of achievements with successful players in both the boys’ and girls’ game.
West Ham United Women
First Team Coach
Stephen Healy is the First Team Coach for West Ham United Women, focusing on supporting players’ individual development within the technical team. A UEFA A License holder and graduate of the Premier League ECAS (Elite Coach Apprenticeship Scheme), he has over 20 years of coaching experience in both men’s and women’s academies. Stephen has held key roles at Leicester City and The FA, where he contributed to elite coaching programs and mentored future coaches as an FA tutor. With a proven track record in high-performance coaching, Stephen is passionate about fostering talent and maintaining exceptional standards in player development.
Arsenal Women
Foundation Goalkeeping Lead
I’m the Foundation Phase Goalkeeping Lead at Arsenal Women, now in my sixth season with the club. I’ve worked across a range of goalkeeping roles and age groups from U9s to assisting with the 1st team sessions in my journey at the club so far. I like to focus on helping young players understand the ‘why’ behind their decisions. I’m passionate about developing goalkeepers throughout their journey, to enable them to go on to play at various levels of the game.
London City Lionesses U16s
Head Coach & IDP for Academy
Rebecca is the Head Coach and Individual Coach for the Under-16s team of London City Lionesses.
Having obtained her UEFA B licence in 2022 and a First Class Honours Degree in Football Coaching and Management from UCFB, Moore subsequently secured a position as the Women and Girls Development Officer at Kent FA.
Under her guidance, Moore oversees the operations of the Kent FA Girls Emerging Talent Centre and has coached players from grassroots to PGA level, including international competitions.
WSL & FIFA Assistant Referee
Sophie Dennington is a WSL & FIFA Assistant Referee and Women’s Championship referee.
Sophie also works for the FA as a national referee development manager. At just 23 years old, Sophie served as an assistant referee at the sold out Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley.
Sophie is passionate about inspiring the next generation of women and girls to get into refereeing despite barriers and personal challenges they may be faced with.
MDP Graduate and Academy Coach 24/25
Vicky Farleigh is currently the U10’s Lead Coach at Luton Town FC Academy, and has a focus on Player Development and Talent Identification within her current role.
Vicky holds The UEFA Advanced Youth Award and UEFA B licence and her specialism is working with players in the Foundation Phase (FP). But she also has experience of coaching within both the male and female game from FP, YDP, PDP to senior first-team environments, as well as being a graduate of The FA’s Mentee Development Programme.
Alongside her coaching roles she has also created a Female Coach Development Group within the Bedfordshire FA, This group is a bespoke program designed to support and mentor coaches within their roles and hopefully ensure they stay within the game long term.
| Classroom | Pitch 1 | Pitch 1 | Pitch 2 | |
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9-10am |
Registration Welcome and opening speaker |
Pitch set-up |
Pitch set-up |
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10-11.15am |
Workshop Carly Williams (Player Care Academy, Arsenal Women’s) |
Workshop Sophie Dennington (WSL Referee) and Rebecca Moore (London City Lionesses U16 Coach & Phase Lead) How can we help players understand the function of the referee, learn the game. |
Workshop
Vicky Fairleigh (Luton Town FC Academy Coach) |
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11.15am-12.30pm |
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Workshop Sinead Hogan-Belcher and Jess King (YDP-PDP Girls Academy) |
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12.30-1.30pm |
Lunch and Networking |
Lunch and Networking
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Lunch and Networking
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1.30-2.45pm
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Using Small Sided games Workshop TBC |
Workshop Tony O’Neil (Lead Goalkeeping Coach Birmingham City Women) |
Workshop Steve Healy (West Ham Ladies 1st Team Coach) |
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3-4pm |
Panel Event Thank you’s and depart |
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