Women’s first team | coaching staff update | OneFootball

We can confirm the following change to Robert Vilahamn’s coaching staff ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Chris Williams has been appointed as the Women’s Goalkeeping Coach following Perry Suckling’s decision to step away from his role.

Following a spell at Rochdale, working within the men’s senior team and academy sides, Chris joined Manchester City in 2014, originally in the academy set-up before splitting his role to also work with the Women’s first team.

He went full-time with the Women’s first team in 2020 and was part of the coaching staff that has won the Barclays Women’s Super League, three FA Cups and four Women’s League Cups.

Chris will join Vicky Jepson (Senior Assistant Coach) and Anton Blackwood (First Team Coach) on the Club’s coaching staff.

Speaking on his arrival, Chris said: “It was great coming down here –  the feel of the Club and the training facilities are obviously amazing. The staff have been very welcoming and they have big targets they want to achieve, so to have the opportunity to come to such a big club like this is massive and it has really good plan that is on an upwards trajectory.

“To be able to work with Robert, Vicky and the whole coaching staff is going to be good. I want to bring a little bit of the experience I have from the last 10 years working in the Women’s game to support them.”

Andy Rogers said: “Chris is a phenomenal addition to the Club, he has a fantastic track record after being at Manchester City for 10 years, he has experience of elite sporting environments and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to here. The work he has done at developing the goalkeepers is what we hope he will bring to us and, he is going to be a superb addition to the team.”

A tremendous servant to the Club for more than 20 years, Perry leaves his role as Goalkeeping Coach. He first joined us in October, 2000, and has had spells in both the Academy and the Men’s, before his role with the Women’s first team last season. We would like to thank Perry for his contributions and wish him the best for the future.

Andy added: “Perry came across last season and he was exactly what we needed, he is a legend at this Club, both on the Men’s and Women’s, and he was instrumental in our run to the FA Cup Final and our progression into the top six. He has left memories with every single member of staff and every player, he’s an outstanding individual and we wish him all the best.”