London City Lionesses Strengthen Football Operations Department

London City Lionesses have strengthened their operation team, ahead of the 2021/22 FA Women’s Championship season.

Edward Gallagher who joined London City Lionesses as General Manager prior to the 20/21 season will move into the newly created strategic role of Sporting Director, overseeing the long-term football strategy at first team, academy and educational level.

As a UEFA qualified professional, Gallagher has further developed work on the “Club Vision” strategy that will be implemented throughout all football departments at the club, including  academy, sister clubs, education programmes and community partnerships.

On the new role, Gallagher said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my first year at the Club and I’m looking forward to our continued growth at a first team level, but also through our  academy and grassroots partnerships.

“Diane and the Board have been very supportive and the vision that London City has to not only be a top professional women’s football team, but also grow our own talent from a grassroots and academy level is something that massively appeals to me.”

London City Lionesses have also appointed Francesco Bonomo as Operations Manager. Bonomo joins having worked with West Ham United in the FA Women’s Super League and Olympique Lyonnais in France. A Football Business Academy graduate from Switzerland, Bonomo will oversee all league and FA compliance requirements.

Completing the new look Football Operations line-up is Operations Coordinator Maisie Ward. Ward brings a wealth of football and sport co-ordination experience having previously overseen St Mary’s University’s 24 sports clubs as Sports President. She also brings her playing and coaching background to London City.

London City Lionesses Chair, Diane Culligan, commented: “I am delighted to welcome our new staff members Francesco and Maisie, as well as see Edward move into this key strategic role. The past year has been challenging with the pandemic, but this has not stopped us from continuing to implement our long terms plans for London City Lionesses.

“As we take the club forwards, it is important that we continue to invest in strengthening our resources and infrastructure off the pitch, to underpin the fantastic progress that our Head Coach, Melissa Phillips, has been spearheading on the training ground and match day front.

“We’re still in our early days as a club but we’re continuing to strengthen our foundations and build an independent Women’s club that’s here to stay and demonstrated things can be done differently to the traditional football way.”

The club has also launched a new recruitment department and partnership model to ensure strength across the football operations department. The recruitment department has been in operation over the current transfer window and aims to ensure long-term success for the club.

As an independent women’s football club, London City Lionesses is now also working alongside other independent women’s football clubs in the UK but also throughout the world to share football methodologies and to create a support network.