Sophie Foster

Sophie is an incredible role model. She has been playing football since she was a child, when it was unfashionable for women to be involved in the game. In her adult life she has been coaching a grassroots team for years giving young people access and opportunity to play. She has recently become chair of Meole Brace Juniors Football Club, where she also coaches, now looking after the administration of the club as well as coaching responsibilities. Since being appointed chair in 2024, she has set up a girls only football team in the club, the Meole ‘Lionesses Wildcats’, giving young girls in the community more opportunities to access football. Sophie contacted a local school recently and set up a ‘Biggest Ever Football Session’ with them. Not only did she do this on her own, she also engaged the school and used student sports leaders to run the coaching on the day. To improve her own skills, Sophie has recently used her own time out of work, parenting, coaching and chairing and somehow found the time to achieve her UEFA C license, even taking part in a female coaches development centre to achieve it. When she’s not doing all of this, you’ll find her at the family fun days running a penalty shoot out competition or calling the raffle, and somehow seems to find the time to still offer other managers in the club advice when they are struggling. This is all a summary and only the things I know. Simply inspiring.