Forward Press | Formation #2
Welcome to the second edition of Forward Press, FORMATION’s publication dedicated to off-pitch careers in women’s football, highlighting stories and insights shaping the game behind the scenes.
In this issue, we feature Nicole Allison of Worcester City Women FC, who shares her journey from a young player navigating limited opportunities to owning and leading her own football club. She reflects on building pathways in an evolving industry, the importance of independence and sustainability in women’s football, and the values she looks for in people beyond their CVs.
We also draw insights from the Femme Football Collective Podcast by Nicole Surdyka, where she speaks with Lorena Sumser of Rangers Women FC about crossing borders and building a career in elite women’s football, focusing on key lessons on performance coaching for the wider and global women’s game.
Plus, Formation’s Founder Colin Quinn shares his views on the expanding and increasingly influential role of the Head of Women’s Football in shaping clubs and the industry’s growth today.
We hope you find it insightful and inspirational!
Seen Unseen
An editorial viewpoint on the women’s football landscape, focused on recruitment, career pathways, and the dynamics shaping opportunities for clubs and candidates alike.
From Operator to Architect: The Evolving Role of the Head of Women’s Football
By Colin Quinn
In the first issue of Seen Unseen, I looked at how hiring and progression in the women’s game operate in environments where time, resources, and responsibility are constrained. Few roles sit closer at the centre of those pressures than the Head of Women’s Football.
Depending on the structure and geography, whether the women’s programme operates independently or within a traditional men’s club setup, the title may vary: CEO, Director of Women’s Football, General Manager (Women’s), or another equivalent. The label differs, but the weight of expectation is the same.
Across the clubs and environments I have worked in and observed, one pattern appears consistently: up until this point, the role has been multi-faceted and operational in nature. Operations, recruitment, culture, stakeholder management, and at times, crisis response, frequently sit with one individual.
But as the women’s game has accelerated, the demands of the role have shifted just as quickly. Today’s job holders are now faced with different challenges.
No Wrong Path
Q&A with a featured face of the women’s game, celebrating the decision-makers, creators, coaches, and changemakers shaping football in their own way, and proving that there is no single blueprint for success.
In this edition, we have a fantastic conversation with Nicole Allison, CEO and Founder of Worcester City Women FC.
As women’s football continues to expand both globally and locally, Nicole is a driving force helping to shape the game’s future.
She didn’t simply enter the game; she created her own pathway within it. From growing up with limited opportunities to play, to leading Tottenham Hotspur Women, and now owning Worcester City Women, her journey reflects the realities of working in a developing industry where leadership often means building from the ground up.
Today, Nicole is building an independent club with a clear vision: to create opportunity, strengthen communities, and establish Worcester’s first fully professional women’s football club. Alongside her work as a football business professional, entrepreneur, and educator, she champions sustainability, leadership, and long-term growth across the game.
In this Q&A, she reflects on her journey into women’s football, the importance of “horizon scanning,” and how bravery, purpose, and long-term thinking are driving the sport forward.
The Replay
Videos, headlines, interviews, or news articles worth pausing on — shared or retold with added context, insight, and intention.
We highlight an informative episode from the Femme Football Collective Podcast. Femme FC is an education and community platform dedicated to advancing health, performance, and professional development in women’s football. It connects research to real-world practice for medical and performance staff in elite settings through resources such as this podcast.
Founded and hosted by Nicole Surdyka, DPT, CSCS, CPSS, an experienced physical therapist and sport scientist, this Arizona-based podcast has been produced weekly since its launch in October 2025, bringing together leading practitioners to share expertise, practical strategies, and perspectives shaping high-performance environments across the women’s game.
In this episode, Nicole’s conversation with Lorena Sumser, Lead Physical Performance Coach of Rangers Women FC, explores the challenges of working across different performance systems, the opportunities for collaboration between club and national teams, and how culture shapes the physical preparation of female footballers. Lorena also reflects on Women’s World Cup experiences, OL’s Champions League standards, and her approach to player readiness in the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL).
This discussion offers practical insights for anyone navigating cultural change and working within elite environments with differing demands and expectations, building on our previous conversation with Dr David McHugh of Washington Spirit, in the first edition of Forward Press.
Focus Points
Insights for professionals and organisations working in and around women’s football — from career navigation and leadership lessons to strategies that strengthen the structures behind sustainable growth.
What does it take to build a career in women’s football today? We asked our featured face of the women’s game, Nicole Allison, CEO and Founder of Worcester City Women FC, about what she looks for in people who want to work in women’s football and why the qualities that matter most often go far beyond what appears on a CV.
From proactivity and bravery to team collaboration and shared purpose, Nicole shares the key values she believes are essential for building careers and contributing meaningfully to the growth of the women’s game.
Stay Connected
Help grow the conversation around the women’s game. Share Forward Press with someone or an organisation building in the sport. Stay tuned for more insights designed to support your career, strengthen your club, and move the game forward.
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Really enjoyed that - insightful, empowering, and inspiring. And Nicole Allison is a fantastic role model to everyone within women's sport.