FUTURE LIONESS SOUTH EAST - COMING SOON!
About Us
Empowering the Next Generation of Female Footballers
Future Lioness Southeast Football Development is a girls-only football initiative committed to nurturing young female talent across the Southeast region. Designed to complement and enhance school and club football, the program focuses on developing each individual—not just as a player, but as a person.
At its core, Future Lioness Southeast believes that personal growth and player development go hand in hand. Through a supportive, professional, and inclusive environment, players are encouraged to unlock their full potential both on and off the field.
What Makes Us Different?
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⚽ Individual Player Focus
Every girl in the program receives tailored guidance to develop technical skills, game understanding, confidence, and resilience. We don’t replace club or school football—we strengthen it by giving players the tools to stand out and grow.
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🌟 Character Building & Life Skills
Sessions incorporate leadership, communication, teamwork, and mindset training to help players succeed beyond the game—at school, at home, and in life.
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🤝 Supportive Environment
Girls train with like-minded individuals, creating a safe space to express themselves, build friendships, and develop a true love for the game.
Future Lioness Southeast isn’t just about creating better footballers—it’s about empowering young women to become confident, capable individuals with the skills to succeed wherever life takes them.
For girls who love the game—and are ready to grow.
If you would like to receive information about our exciting new PDC location in Sandwich, drop us an e-mail to: infosoutheast@futurelioness.co.uk
Meet Your Future Lioness Southeast Coaches
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out more!
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Get to know the team
Lead Coach
Matt Sharman
Age : 28
Experience :13 years of coaching experience across Europe, America, Australia, and Asia at the grassroots, academy, and senior levels in both the women’s and men’s game. Matt has worked with Premier League and Major League Soccer Clubs. Along with coaching at the NCAA Division 1 & Division 2 levels in the United States of America.
Qualifications :
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Master’s degree (M.A.) in Professional Leadership & Communications.
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Bachelor’s Degree (B.S.) in Kinesiology Health and Fitness.
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UEFA B Coaching License.
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United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Coaching Badges.
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FA Talent Identification License.
Favourite football team : England FC Women’s and Men’s
Current player : Georgia Stanway
All time player : Lionel Messi
How did you get into football? "In my parents’ house my dad used to sit in his armchair and throw a small ball at the door frame when I was 6 years old, and I would try and stop it. I did this for hours and that is what made me want to become a goalkeeper and play football."
What is your career highlight?
Life Highlight: "Making great friends all over the world through football."
Playing Highlight: "Being awarded First Team All American (Selected as the best goalkeeper in the United States of America) in 2016"
Coaching Highlight: "Helping take Georgia Southern Women’s Soccer Team (NCAA D1) from 317th to 47th in the USA between 2021-2023 and winning the Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2022 at our rival’s stadium."
What does Future Lioness mean to you? "It allows girls in East Kent to have an opportunity to enjoy their football and give them a chance to maximize their potential on and off the pitch. Future Lioness will complement girls’ football in the area that aims to support local clubs in the area to give players an extra opportunity to train and focus on developing their individual skills that can be incorporated with there club / school football."
Coach
Richard Parker
Age : 52
Experience : 5 years’ Coaching Experience:
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Dover District U11/U12 Girls Coach.
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Sir Roger Manwoods Girls’ Coach.
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East Kent FC Girls Development Lead.
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Kent Football Academy Goalkeeping Coach.
Qualifications :
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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in French.
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UEFA C License.
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Enhanced DBS.
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Safeguarding Children.
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First Aid in Football.
Favourite football team : Fulham FC
Current player : Alessia Russo
All time player : Tony Coton
How did you get into football?
What does Future Lioness mean to you? "Future Lioness means a coaching commitment to helping girls be the best versions of themselves on and off the pitch, where anything and everything is possible."
What is your career highlight? "Keeping a clean sheet against Chelsea in 1999"
Coach
Lily Fairclough
Age : 19
Experience :
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East Kent U11/U12 girls
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Middlesex FA (Refugee program, Project Legacy, & Supporting their “lost gen” project to help older women return to the game).
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Vice-Chair of the Middlesex FA youth council
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Bloomsbury FC U15 Girls Head Coach & Support the U16s
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Dover District U11 & U12 girls
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FA Leadership Academy
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Squad Girls in Southeast Kent
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Volunteering as a PE teacher at Sandwich Tech.
Qualifications :
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BA (Hons) Football Coaching and Management (Working Towards)
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UEFA C Coaching License.
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FA Futsal Coaching Badge.
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Understanding Autism Level 2.
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First Aid in Football.
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Safeguarding Children in Football.
Favourite football team : Liverpool FC
Current player : Lionel Messi and Mo Salah
All time player : Steven Gerrard
How did you get into football? "I’ve loved football for as long as I can remember. From the moment I could hold and kick a ball, I fell in love with the game. My uncle played a huge part in that passion, watching every Liverpool game together when I was younger, taking me to my first match at Anfield. From the age of 4, I dreamed of becoming a PE teacher but it wasn’t until I turned 14 and started helping out with my brothers football team as an assistant coach that I truly fell in love with the idea of coaching. That was the turning point and it set me on a path I’m still passionate about today."
What does Future Lioness mean to you? "Future Lioness means everything to me, both as a former female player and a coach. Growing up, I had to walk away from football because there were no girls’ teams my age and the boys’ teams either had too many players or simply wouldn’t accept a girl. That lack of opportunity crushed my love for the game at the time. That’s why seeing young girls now have a space to play and thrive is so powerful, it gives them the chance to develop their skills and love for football in an environment that truly supports them. As a female coach, it’s incredibly meaningful to be part of something that gives the next generation the opportunities I never had. Every girl deserves to feel valued, empowered, and capable of chasing their football dreams, and now they have the chance to do just that."
What is your career highlight? "One of the biggest highlights of my career would have to be when I had the incredible opportunity to play and train at Wembley Stadium. Being coached by ex-professional footballer Rachel Yankey and Vicky Jepson was an unforgettable experience. Their guidance and expertise definitely helped elevate my skills and knowledge of the game."
Coach
Dan Barrett
Age : 28
Experience :
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Everton FC Performance Psychologist.
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Mossley Hill Women’s First Team Coach.
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10 + years coaching in youth Football.
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Primary School PE Leader.
Qualifications :
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Master of Science (MSc) in Sports Psychology.
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Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Sports Science.
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FA Level 2 Coaching Badge.
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FA Level 1 Futsal Coaching Badge.
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Qualified Teacher.
Favourite football team : Arsenal FC
Current player : Leah Williamson
All time player : Kelly Smith
How did you get into football? "I got into football when my grandad took me down to Hugin Viking Training for U6’s. I was 4 at the time but they let me train with them, and I started playing with my age group permanently the following year."
What does Future Lioness mean to you? "It means giving girls opportunities to make football a part of their life. It means experiences that will last a lifetime."
What is your career highlight? "My career highlight was captaining my youth team to the league title. Mainly because I got to play football with my best mates – a rarity in any sport."
Coach
Kane Rowland
Age : 29
Experience :
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11 years coaching and 6 years as a teacher. 12 years playing non-league football (currently Captain for Herne Bay FC)
Qualifications :
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FA Level 2 Coaching Badge
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Careers Lead L6
Favourite football team : Arsenal FC
Current player : Harry Kane
All time player : Thierry Henry
How did you get into football? "I was watching my brother play football and then one of the coaches asked me to play."
What does Future Lioness mean to you? "I feel that it will increase the female representation in the sport and give girls more opportunities to enjoy the sport. I also have two Daughters."
What is your career highlight? "Scoring a Scorpion Kick."
Coach
Sophie Kingsland
Age : 19
Experience :
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Coach at football fun factory for year and half, played football for past 5 years at minster then moved to Baypoint then later deal town
Qualifications :
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FA playmaker
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First aid
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Safeguarding
Favourite football team : Man City
Current player : Rico Lewis
All time player : Steph Houghton
How did you get into football? "My grandad first introduced me to football when I was young and I became obsessed with it, started playing at school but struggled to find a team outside until 2020 where I started playing for Minster FC."
What does Future Lioness mean to you? "For me it gives girls the opportunities to enjoy the game in a fun and engaging way while also hopefully progressing to higher skill levels and more."
What is your career highlight? "My career highlight has to come from one of my first encounters with the game when I was 11 and I scored the winning goal that won my school their first girls football trophy."
Coaching Assistant
Juliana Cram
Age : 16
Experience :
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"I’ve played football since I was 6. The first team I joined was Woodnesborough FC. I then joined multiple other grass-root teams including Betteshanger and Rising Stars. Alongside my team I attended Football Futures. Last season I started to play in the Junior Premier League for VCD Athletic U16s and this season I’m playing for PLYR U16s and U18s."
Favourite football team : Tottenham Hotspur
Current player : Grace Clinton
All time player : Cristiano Ronaldo
What does Future Lioness mean to you? "I think that the Future Lioness
will offer great opportunities for football-loving girls in this area, helping girls develop and learn, whilst allowing them to enjoy and experience the game of football."
What is your career highlight? "Having the opportunity to go to Brighton and Hove Albion training ground and play against their girls academy - it was a great experience which I really enjoyed."
Social Media Lead
Ailsa Newgreen
Age : 24
Qualifications :
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BSc in Consumer Behaviour and Marketing.
Favourite football team : England Lionesses
Current player : Mary Earps
All time player : Lucy Bronze
How did you get into football? "Through the Future Lioness PDC to help provide more opportunities to women and girls within the game."
What is your career highlight? "It’s all about creating a supportive environment for women and girls to thrive in a community that doesn’t only care about technical skills but also provides them with the tools they need to break barriers and elevate the game for future generations."