It was a milestone for Andy Williams last week, as he marked 100 days in his role as The New Saints FC’s Head of Women and Girls’ Football.
With the women’s senior team making their Genero Adran Premier debut, and the launch of a brand new under-19s league and team, Andy’s certainly been kept busy in his short time at the club, so we caught up with him earlier today to find out how the first few months have been going.
You can read our interview in full below.
TNS FC: Andy, last week was your 100th day in your position as Head of Women and Girls’ Football. How have you found your first few months back at The New Saints?
Andy: Ha! Well spotted. Yes, Thursday 9th December marked the end of my first 100 days during this second stint at The New Saints.
I want to start by thanking everyone at the club, not only for the very warm welcome that they have shown me since arriving back, but also for the friendship, emotional support and encouragement that they have generously offered me and the team.
They are all one hundred percent behind us and supportive of our efforts to provide an elite experience for female footballers, in particular the club’s Chief Operating Officer, Ian Williams, and TNS Foundation Manager, Gill Jones. I could not have asked for anything more. I’d also like to extend my appreciation to those people away from the club who have reached out offering their own support in a similar vein.
Upon my appointment, I said how proud I was to be given the opportunity to champion women’s football here at The New Saints. This is a wonderful place for all players to enjoy their football, a place where staff go the extra mile in making people feel welcome by doing everything in their power to help others develop as people and players by lighting up their day. I wish I could name everybody here, but for fear of missing someone out I will not! But I want them all to know how grateful I am for every tiny contribution of support I have received and continue receiving.
TNS FC: It’s no doubt been a busy period for yourself, so tell us a little bit more about the things you’ve been up to since returning in September.
Andy: As my job title will indicate, I have an all-encompassing role in the growth and development of women and girls’ football. So, as the wearer of several different hats, it follows that I have been extremely busy. My responsibility is to assist the club in growing the visibility of female football, increasing participation numbers by proving new and better opportunities with a range of programmes that caters for the needs of girls of all ages, and to enhance the current pathway from our junior girls’ teams through to senior women’s team with an elite performance centre that supports and challenges the most talented players locally and regionally who aspire to play at the very highest level.
As the area of greatest need, I have made the senior first-team my absolute priority and therefore the first team manager’s role takes up most of my week. It is far more than the analysis, training sessions, match-days and media articles that form the public face many will see.
Away from this hands-on role, I am responsible for growing the club’s footprint with regards to female football involvement, whether as a fan or as a potential future career opportunity. I have been extensively networking, meeting like-minded others who share the same objective as well as better understanding the local football landscape and what the current offer is for all women and girls of different ages and abilities. Interestingly, and importantly, this has included contact with a number of influential organisations that has supported our social responsibility.
My best hope is to create some key partnerships with other cross-sector organisations that provide new and innovative opportunities for young aspiring females. This has been most beneficial, as I have established some contacts much further afield who have willingly shared best practice ideas that will generate exciting projects for the years ahead that will stand us in good stead.
TNS FC: What would you say has been the most enjoyable aspect of your time here so far?
Andy: I am a teacher by profession; more specifically I was a senior leader in education. The opportunity to step into a new position such as this, in a role that allows me to utilise my experience and play to my strengths, whilst operating largely on a blank canvass has been unbelievable. Having previously been the women’s first team manager in 2017-18, TNS has gotten under my skin. I can’t describe how proud I am to have the opportunity that is in front of me. Serving others, either empowering them individually with coaching or by creating pathways and opportunities for larger numbers, is work I will never tire of.
TNS FC: And on the flip side, what have you found most challenging?
Andy: I have held a dual teaching and coaching career for thirty years now, so I am accustomed to almost everything that occurs daily in football. However, now that I am solely involved in football, if I’m being honest, I would say I have found switching off and distracting myself with other interests and hobbies very difficult, particularly during these times of travel restrictions. I am a stickler for detail so can spend large amounts of time obsessing on things; so spending enough time switching off and relaxing I would say is a weakness, especially whilst we are grappling at the foot of the league table.
TNS FC: You alluded to it earlier, but one of your roles at the club is manager of the senior women’s team. It’s been a difficult first season in the Genero Adran Premier, but with the first phase now complete, are you happy with what you’ve seen so far?
Andy: We are very much looking forward rather than looking back. However, in answer to your question, there is much for us to be proud of with incredible progress having been made in all quarters. The problem with football, and sport in general, is that most people tend to focus on the match-day result and the winners and losers, rather the detail of what may be going well, or the growth and development being made elsewhere via the small wins and marginal gains. As a coaching group, we are happy that we have assembled a very competitive playing squad that, 14 games in, is now starting to show its best against the other established teams in the league.
The competition through phase one has been very healthy, and we are privileged to be representing The New Saints in the inaugural season of the Genero Adran Premier. Each of the sides that we have played against have set out to play the game in the right way and to showcase women’s football – I believe we have added well to that shared approach. The FAW, along with their commercial and marketing partners, has created a wonderful platform for female players to experience elite football in the Welsh national league structure.
The players are steadily warming to the challenge and are relishing the opportunity during phase two of the season to show how talented they are as a collective. I am convinced that with their attitude and commitment, and the way they have embraced the competition, that this group will surprise many come the end of the season.
TNS FC: Thank you for your time today Andy, and we look forward to celebrating many more milestones!
Andy: Diolch!
