Women’s football round-up: Charlton appoint new head of women’s football and Palace & Chelsea head to USA for pre-season
BY GINA BAGNULO
Jemma White has been appointed as the head of women’s football at Charlton Athletic.
White has a wealth of experience in women’s football. She was assistant general manager at St George’s Park, the English Football Association’s national football centre, in addition to being the head coach at Dronfield Town.
“I want to continue the success of the last few years while still improving and hopefully successfully navigating the demand we’ve seen for our women’s game. We have the players and the staff to be competitive in every situation we’ll be faced with this year so that’s the aim”, she told the Charlton Athletic website.
White added, “We want to push the boundaries of what this team can achieve, as individuals and collectively. Everyone in the building wants to be the best player, coach, role model and if we get that right, I’m confident we will be where we want to be at the end of the season.”
With just a month to go before the start of the Women’s Super League season, Chelsea and Crystal Palace have gone headed on pre-season tour to the USA.
Chelsea will be facing Gotham FC on Tuesday in what is a gripping fixture considering that both sides won their respective leagues last season. The Blue’s trip marks the first time that a WSL and National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side will go head to head.
Crystal Palace’s upcoming game against the Utah Royals on Friday. September will see Crystal Palace make their WSL debut after winning the Women’s Championship in April. In light of their ascension to the top tier of English Women’s Football, it is only fitting that the Eagles face the best US sides in a bid to prepare for the start of the WSL season.
With the ongoing summer transfer window, Palace have also signed Dutch international Ashleigh Weerden. A product of the Ajax Academy, Weerden has experience playing with some of the most prominent European sides. Weerden previously played for French team Montpelier before returning to her childhood club Ajax with whom she won the Eredivisie Women’s League in 2023.
On her move to South London, she told Palace’s website, “I’m really excited. This will be my first time playing in England and I think it’s one of the best, or maybe the best, leagues in the world, so I am excited I can be part of the club.”
PICTURE: CAFC