It was back in March that Hannah Dingley predicted it would not be long until a woman managed a professional men’s team in English football.
Fast forward four months and Dingley has fulfilled her own prediction after being appointed caretaker boss of League Two side Forest Green Rovers.
She had previously been working as the club’s academy manager after becoming the first female to hold such a position at an EFL club following her appointment in 2019.
Dingley was viewed as a trailblazer back then and, when she takes charge of Forest Green Rovers for Wednesday’s friendly at Melksham Town, that tag will only be strengthened.
“It’s an exciting time in football,” she said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to step up and lead such a progressive and forward-thinking club.”
Back in March, Dingley thought a female would soon break into the men’s game due to the Lionesses winning the Euros last summer.
She also highlighted the success of Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, who has enjoyed a decorated career with the Blues.
“It will come in sooner than you think,” Dingley told the BBC. “You’ve got a responsibility as the first to open the doors for others and to encourage others.”
Dingley has worked her way up to this point and her journey has been far from easy.
The 39-year-old was born and raised in Carmarthenshire, Wales, but was not able to even play football at school.
“Those were the rules,” she told The Sun. “At primary school you could play with the boys, but in secondary school boys were expected to play football and rugby, and girls were made to play netball and hockey.”
That did not stop Dingley though. She graduated from Loughborough University in 2004 with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science, before completing a masters in Coaching in 2008.
Dingley has since gone on to gain her UEFA Pro Licence and, before working at Forest Green Rovers, she was part of Burton Albion’s academy setup.
“There were times when I was thinking: ‘I have a UEFA A licence and I’m getting knocked back and knocked back – how is that happening?’,” she told the i.
“You bang on lots of doors. And I’ve been very lucky to find two clubs who understood my value, firstly at Burton and now at Forest Green Rovers.”
Dingley has come an incredibly long way from the days when she was doing work experience with Swansea City and completing a BTEC in Football Studies at Llanelli.
She has defeated the odds to reach this stage, jumping over every hurdle, and Forest Green Rovers chairman Dale Vince had no hesitation in appointing her.
“Hannah was the natural choice for us to be first team interim head coach - she’s done a fantastic job leading our academy and is well aligned with the values of the club,” he said.
“It’s perhaps telling for the men’s game that in making this appointment on merit, we’ll break new ground - and Hannah will be the first female head coach in English [men’s] football.”
