Hannah Dingley, the first female head coach in English men’s football, is being praised for her tenure at Forest Green Rovers as the club announces the hiring of David Horseman as the permanent coach. Earlier this month, Forest Green made history by appointing Dingley on an interim basis, making them the first men’s professional football team in England to have a female head coach.
Dale Vince, the chairman of Forest Green, expressed gratitude to Dingley for holding the fort while the club went through the recruitment process. Although Dingley did not secure the top job this time, her appointment was seen as a crucial experience and a significant step forward in her career. Dingley remained in charge for the team’s final game against Everton under-21s.
David Horseman, who previously led Southampton’s under-23 side, is enthusiastic about leading a team that upholds strong values on and off the pitch. Horseman had previously worked alongside Ruben Selles when he took charge of Southampton’s first team in the Premier League last season.
Dingley, who had already been in charge of Forest Green’s academy, assumed the role of caretaker head coach following the departure of Duncan Ferguson after the team’s relegation to League Two. She was already the only woman leading a men’s English Football League academy.
I’m really excited for this next step of my career, Dingley expressed when appointed as the interim head coach. It’s an exciting time in football. I am grateful for the opportunity to step up and to lead such a progressive and forward-thinking club.
Horseman will officially begin his new role on Thursday and is expected to travel to Plymouth for a behind-closed-doors friendly game on Saturday.
Forest Green Rovers has gained recognition for its commitment to breaking barriers, being officially acknowledged by the United Nations as the greenest football club in the world due to its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.
Overall, Dingley’s appointment as the first female head coach in English men’s football has been a groundbreaking moment, with Forest Green Rovers continuing to set new standards in the sport. With Horseman now taking charge of the team, the club aims to build on its values and aspirations for a successful future in the fourth-tier English football league.
