Forest Green Rovers head of women’s football, Joe Manns, is relishing the opportunity of coaching in the Women’s FA Cup for the first time.
Manns has completed a long journey from marketing officer to the touchline, and when asked about the prospect of coaching in the competition, took a moment and smiled.
In 2016 Manns joined then Women’s Super League team Reading, initially overseeing their marketing and social media output, but will be in a very different role as Rovers face Bridgwater United in the third qualifying round of the competition.
Bridgwater are a tough opponent for FGR, sitting one tier above Manns’ side, in the FA Women’s National League Division One South West, and having a very rich history for a fourth tier outfit.
Under their former name, Yeovil Town Ladies, Bridgwater were a WSL side for two years between 2017-19, and have just been relegated from the third tier of women’s football, the FAWNL Southern Premier Division.
“The bigger name the better really, and it is great timing for us as well.”: Manns said.
Manns, who joined FGR in April 2023 as the club’s first-ever full-time head of women’s and girls’ football, is confident of causing an upset, stating: “We believe we are capable, you have to be.”
Forest Green, who are aiming for promotion from the South West Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division this season, have lost their last two fixtures and sit fifth after six games.
Manns believes that this is a nice distraction from the league: “I think we’ll enjoy the feeling of not expecting to win, because that’s been something that’s been difficult to deal with in the last couple of weeks.
“It’s a clean slate, we’ll go and have a go, they’ll be good, and it’ll be a tough game.
“We may have large periods without the ball, but I think we’ve got the resilience and determination to grind out a result.”
When asked about the prospect of playing a team with a history like Bridgwater do, Manns said: “It’s exciting for sure, we know all about their history, so it’s a game we have been looking forward to, and we’ve prepared well for.”
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