Forest Green Rovers has appointed the first woman to lead a professional men's football side.
Hannah Dingley will join the Gloucestershire club, which is recognised by FIFA and the United Nations as the world's greenest football.
Ms Dingley will take the position as caretaker head coach, after joining the club as a coach four years ago. She remains the only woman in charge of men's English Football League Academy. During her tenure at the club, Ms Dingley has also initiated the launch of the FGR Girls Academy in 2021, which develops female players. She takes the reins with immediate effect.
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Dale Vince, chairman, Forest Green Rovers, commented: “Hannah was the natural choice 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.
"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."
Ms Dingley said: "I’m really excited for this next step of my career. Pre-season has just begun and the full season kicks off very soon. It’s an exciting time in football. I am grateful for the opportunity to step up and to lead such a progressive and forward-thinking club.”
Early this year Forest Green Rovers was named among the most environmentally sustainable in the football league Sport Positive Leagues. The club finished top of a table which ranks the 72 EFL clubs based on how eco-friendly their operations and policies are.
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