Female coach in charge of men's team earns A licence

Rosi Webb played for Tottenham Hotspur and Charlton Athletic at youth level

Non-league Stanway Pegasus have hailed head coach Rosi Webb as "remarkable" after she obtained a Uefa A licence.

Webb is one of very few female coaches in charge of a men's team in England, having been appointed by Stanway in 2021.

Her team are second in Eastern Counties League Division One North after winning 22 of their 29 games this season.

"Since joining the club Rosi Webb has secured promotion, taken the team to the play-offs twice and is on track for a third in consecutive seasons, reached last 32 of the FA Vase and helped develop players to push on higher," Stanway posted on X.

"More than worthy of an A Licence, remarkable coach!"

Webb is also development officer at the FA Women's High Performance Football Centre based at the University Of Essex, which was opened in September 2022.

Holders of an A licence are eligible to coach men's teams up to and including the second tier - but need a Pro licence to do so in the top flight.

Last year the Football Association had its first all-female cohort for an A licence course, including several international players like Steph Houghton, Beth Mead, Karen Bardsley and Izzy Christiansen.

Hannah Dingley was appointed Forest Green Rovers caretaker manager in 2023 but a woman has never been permanently appointed manager of a men's team in the top five tiers of English football.

In 2012, then England manager Hope Powell said more and more female coaches were coming through with the "credentials" to work in the Premier League.

But last year former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, now in charge of the US national team, said the men's game was still not ready to appoint female managers.

"I've said this a million times over – you can find a female pilot, a female doctor, a female lawyer, a female banker, but you can't find a female coach working in the men's game, leading men. It just shows you how much work there is to be done," she added.

Being accepted in men's football has not been straightforward for Webb and only last month, Stanway complained to Haverhill Rovers after she was the target of "derogatory comments" from supporters, the club saying it was "sad" to see in the modern era.

But after earning her latest qualification, she posted on X on Monday: "Completing my A Licence has always been a personal goal and while it may just be a certificate it represents so much more to me.

"It's confirmation that hard work and countless hours out on the grass has paid off and gives me the confidence to keep pushing on without hesitation."