Pioneering female coach made redundant by Swansea
Davies had been with Swansea since August 2013
Written by Simon Austin — June 3, 2019
SWANSEA CITY have made three Academy coaches redundant, including the first full-time female coach in men’s football.
When Nia Davies was appointed foundation phase coach by the club in September 2014, she was hailed as the first full-time female coach at an Academy in the English league system.
She had initially joined in August 2013, first as a development centre coach and then Girls Regional Football Development Co-ordinator.
Yesterday Davies tweeted: “My time at Swansea City has come to an end. I have shared great experiences with some great people, amazing players and wonderful parents.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me over the five years. I’m now looking forward to new opportunities and the future. Thank you all.”
As we reported in March, Davies was one of just six female coaches working in male Academy football. She said: “If you have variety in your coaching staff you cater for all the kids in a different way."
The other coaches who have been made redundant are former Swansea player Paul Reid, who was taking the U15/16 age group, and Gareth Phillips, who had led the U13s since August 2014.
Other than a six-month spell away, Reid has coached at Swansea for the last 12 years, during which the Academy has grown from Category 4 to 1. Ben Davies, who has gone on to play more than 100 games for Tottenham, was in Davies' first squad at U14s.
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