Trailblazer Dingley leaving Forest Green after five years
Hannah Dingley: First woman to lead an English Academy and first team
Written by Training Ground Guru — April 18, 2024
Hannah Dingley is leaving Forest Green Rovers after five years to become Head of Women's and Girls Football at the Football Association of Ireland.
Dingley is a true trailblazer. She became the first female Academy Manager in English football when she joined Forest Green from Burton Albion (where she was Head of Coaching) in July 2019. She set up FGR's first Girls Academy in 2021.
In July 2023, the UEFA Pro Licence and LMA Diploma holder became the first woman to take charge of an English league side when she was appointed Caretaker Head Coach of Rovers in succession to Duncan Ferguson.
Chairman Dale Vince said: “At FGR we like to break new ground, not for the sake of it but because it needs doing. Appointing Hannah to lead our Academy and then to lead our first team as Interim Head Coach are good examples of that.
"Together we broke through the invisible barrier for women who want to coach in the men’s game. And together we’ve built a fantastic Academy which now coaches girls as well as boys. I reckon the FAI have made a good recruitment and we wish them and Hannah all the best in their time together.”
Dingley added: “I have had a wonderful five years at FGR but it’s now time for me to move onto a new project.
"I’d like to thank Dale and the club for giving me so many opportunities that have helped me grow and develop and for being so supportive of the Academy programme in general.
"There are some great people at the club who I will miss greatly, and with their hard work and dedication I know the Academy will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Dingley presented at TGG’s Youth Development Webinar in June 2023.
She said: "The club are trying to do things another way, which is the title of this presentation. The road to the stadium is being re-named ‘Another Way’ and we have an owner, an organisation, that wants to innovate and look at things differently.
"That makes this a fantastic and exciting place to work."
You can watch Hannah Dingley at TGG's Youth Development Webinar. There are 9 presentations and 5 hours+ of content:
- Des Ryan: Physically Developing The Player & Person.
- Hannah Dingley: Another Way At Forest Green Rovers.
- Mathieu Lacome: Using Data To Aid Player Development At Parma.
- Dr Perry Walters: Why Understanding The Teenage Brain Is Key To Coaching.
- Benjamin Balkin: Importance Of A Detailed Digital Record In Youth Scouting.
- Jack Brazil: Foundation To 1st Team At PSV Eindhoven.
- Andy Goldie: Evolving A Club-Wide Game Model At Swansea City.
- Tom Hocking: Video Analysis At Wolves Academy.
- Carlos Casal Lopez: La Liga's 10-Year Plan For Academies.
To find out more and to buy the webinar, click the button below.
