This week sadly sees the departure of our Senior Football Participation Officer, Bethan Woolley, who is leaving her role at Staffordshire FA after nearly six years to take on an exciting new challenge at the Football Association of Wales. Coming from proud Welsh roots, her new role with the FAW provides Bethan with a great opportunity to further her career closer to her family home.   
Bethan joined Staffordshire FA from university back in 2015 and during her time at the Association progressed to a senior member of staff, making a huge impact on grassroots football in Staffordshire in several key areas – most notably across the female game and various inclusion projects. 

Highlights of Bethan’s positive impact on football across Staffordshire include the innovative Mum’s Play Football initiative, Ladies Over 30’s Leagues, Female Football Coaches Network, the development of multiple Wildcats Centres across the county, and linking many of those initiatives into the Ladies Challenge Cup Final, resulting in a record attendance at the most recent final. Bethan played a key role in the successful merging of the Girls and Ladies’ Leagues in Staffordshire and oversaw a real growth in the female game across the county. 

Bethan also progressed the Association’s work in key areas of inclusion, including the creation of the Inclusion Advisory Group, and taking the lead on the Association achieving the Foundation Equality for Sport. In recent months Bethan has coordinated several of the Association’s flexible football projects too, including our Friday Night Football Leagues, providing additional participation opportunities across both the male and female game. 

Everyone at Staffordshire FA would like to thank Bethan for the fantastic service she has given to the Association and to grassroots football in Staffordshire, and we wish her every success in her new role in Wales.