News

From St George's Park to RBWGFC: Completing The FA Club Leadership Programme

5th July 2026

This week, our Chairwoman, Katy Smith, completed the FA Club Leadership Programme, delivered by England Football in partnership with UCFB (University Campus of Football Business). As a 3* accredited club, our Chair and Club Secretary, Hannah, were invited to join the inaugural cohort of this brand new programme. The final milestone was the opportunity to attend Legacy By Design, a showcase event held at St George’s Park to bring the cohort together one last time.

A tour behind the scenes at St George’s Park

Before the main event began, a small group of just 25 attendees were given a tour of St George’s Park, home of the England teams and one of the most advanced football training complexes in the world. Seeing the facilities that support the national game at every level was a fitting way to start the day, and a reminder of just how far grassroots ambition can travel when it’s backed by the right foundations.

Governance, finance, and identity

The morning sessions set the tone with a focus on the fundamentals of running a football club well. Jane Purdon, Women in Football Ambassador, opened with the ground rules of governance and leadership, followed by Dan Plumley of UCFB on building financial leadership capability and confidence.

The afternoon, in particular, is where the day really came alive. Gemma Avery of Fanfare Sports spoke on identity and community perception, exploring how clubs nurture identity to build a lasting community legacy, a theme that resonates deeply with the work being done at RBWGFC to grow a distinct, values-led female pathway. This was followed by Paul Barber OBE, Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion, sharing his 25 Steps to High Performance drawn from years at the top of the professional game.

Learning alongside other clubs

Beyond the speakers, one of the real highlights of the day was the chance to connect with representatives from other clubs across the country. Comparing notes on governance challenges, facility access, welfare structures, and pathway development with people facing similar issues elsewhere was invaluable, and a good reminder that the challenges RBWGFC works through are shared by clubs everywhere trying to do right by their players.

Bringing it back to RBWGFC

For our Chairwoman, completing this programme isn’t just a personal milestone, it’s an investment in the club. The themes covered across the day, from governance rigour to financial confidence to building genuine community identity, feed directly into the work already underway at Rugby Borough Women & Girls FC: strengthening our constitution, building out the Female Talent Pathway, and continuing to advocate for fair facility access for our players.

Thank you to England Football, UCFB, and everyone involved in delivering the FA Club Leadership Programme. It’s been a valuable experience, and one that will keep shaping how we lead at RBWGFC.