Lydia Bedford, 2021-22
A student of the game who began her coaching journey in 2008 and earned her UEFA Pro Licence in 2019, Bedford rose through the ranks of women’s football to become one of the most progressive young coaches in the game.
As lead coach for England Women Under-17s, with oversight of coaching throughout the FA’s international development pathway, Bedford’s role at the FA exposed her to a range of experiences, working with some of the country’s most highly regarded talent and building an in-depth knowledge of the WSL player landscape.
At club level, meanwhile, she coached in the Barclays Women’s Championship with London Bees and Tottenham Hotspur.
Bedford, was supported by the vastly experienced Brent Hills, who took up the role of assistant manager at LCFC Women during the remainder of 2021/22.
After joining the Club as a highly regarded coach, Bedford significantly contributed to the continued evolution of the LCFC Women setup, just two years on from the team’s initial professionalisation.
She oversaw an upturn in fortunes, picking up a crucial four wins and receiving the Barclays Manager of the Month award for February 2021 as a result of the Foxes' victories over Birmingham City and West Ham United.
In what was her maiden spell as a first team manager in women’s club football, Bedford presided over a crucial 2-1 Foxes victory against the Blues at St. Andrew’s Stadium, a result that saw her team climb above the West Midlands outfit in the league table.
Building on that success, she oversaw a comprehensive 3-0 victory over the Hammers at Pirelli Stadium, doubling the season’s points tally within the space of two games.
However, the initial improvement in on-pitch results proved unsustainable, and following a run of six defeats from their opening six matches in 2022/23, the Club announced a reorganisation of its women’s first team operation, which included the departures of Bedford and assistant manager Nicola Williams.