Tag: Women’s Sport

Categories
FAWNL

Burnley Women: 25/26 Summer Signings and ones to watch

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Burnley have been active in the transfer window so far despite already starting their season in the middle of August. They brought in ex Liverpool boss Matt Beard and added 11 players to bolster their squad. The side got rid of 12 players this summer and one went back to their parent club at the end of the season. 

Last week, It was announced that after four games, Matt Beard left the side to pursue other opportunities with Louise Roberts stepping in as interim manager. It was also announced that prior to the season, the side will turn fully professional ahead of this season. 

Burnley finished 4th last season and won the Lancashire FA Women’s Senior Cup for the third time in three years. The side won 9-0 at home last season on two occasions against Hull City and Stourbridge respectively. 

This Summer, the FAWNL side brought in Jasmine Matthews (Liverpool), Yana Daniёls (Liverpool), Eva Spencer (Liverpool), Millie Ravening (Stoke City), Mel Lawley (On Loan from Everton), Deirdre Bradley (Durham), Millie Chandarana (Nottingham Forest), Brooke Cairns (Wrexham), Alethea Paul (Unattached), Abby-Leigh Stringer (DC Power), and Maddie Robinson (Liverpool U21).

The side unhauled 12 players and Louanne Worsey went back to Birmingham City (Parent Club) after the season finished. Lucy Farrell (Stoke City), Amelia Hazard (Rugby Borough), Rhema Lord-Mears, Anna Grey (Wolves), Reanna Blades (Sunderland), Isabella Reidford (Stoke City), Georgia Marshall (Wolves), Mikayla Wildgoose (Derby), Laura Elford (Huddersfield), Grace Palmer (Oxford United), Amaya Coleman-Evans (Aviles FC) and Lucy Walsh (Bolton Wanderers) all left the Clarets this summer. 

Players to watch this season that not many people might know about would be Defender Alethea Paul and Midfielder Millie Chandarana. 

Alethea Paul: 

Alethea Paul was Rebecca Sawiuk’s first signing back in 2023 after spending 5 years at Sheffield United and became their longest serving player. 

During her time in the 23/24 season, she was the Captain and said “It’s a very proud moment to be named Club Captain for the upcoming season.” 

She rejoined the Clarets ahead of the season after a year away and the defender is ready to bring her skills and expertise back to the FAWNL. 

Millie Chandarana: 

Before moving to Forest in 2024, she had three seasons at Blackburn Rovers and had time in Italy, San Marino, Manchester United and at Loughborough Lightning’s Foxes. 

She won the league last season with Nottingham Forest before moving back to the north west ahead of this campaign. She is consistent in midfield, combining both her technical and leadership skills and will be one to watch this season. 

When joining the Clarets, she said: “We have a goal and a vision that we are working towards, and hopefully we can accomplish that this year.” 

Photo taken from @burnleywomen on instagram

Categories
WSL

Brighton & Hove Albion Signings: Everything you need to know

Mayles Mpome 

Brighton & Hove Albion have secured the services of French defender Mayles Mpome. The 22-year-old joins the club after a season with Chelsea, where she was part of the domestic treble-winning squad, making eight appearances in all competitions. Before her time in England, Mpome was a key player for Montpellier, where she became a regular starter and made over 70 appearances.

On the international front, Mpome has consistently represented France’s youth teams, from the U-17s to the U-23s, highlighting her talent and potential. Her consistent selection for the French youth teams and a call-up to a senior squad camp earlier in 2025 suggest she is a promising prospect for the future.

Rosa Kafaji – (On loan from Arsenal)

She signed a long-term contract for the Gunners in 2024 but spent the majority of last season on the bench due to Arsenal’s stacked midfield. She’s made 10 appearances for Arsenal, scoring twice. 

Kafaji is the future of Sweden. She made her debut in 2023, subbing on against Italy in a 1-1 draw. Since then, she has made 12 appearances for Sweden and scored twice. She was set to appear at the women’s Euros, but unfortunately, she was ruled out of the competition due to an ankle injury. But is sure to perform for Brighton this season. 

Carla Camacho

Carla Camacho’s arrival is a great addition for Brighton & Hove Albion, as the club secures a promising young forward for the Women’s Super League. Camacho, who previously played for Orcasitas and Atlético de Madrid, spent four seasons at Real Madrid, where she was promoted to the first team. Her experience at one of the world’s biggest clubs provides her with a strong foundation to build upon as she begins a new chapter in English football.

On the international stage, Camacho has been a key player for Spain’s youth national teams, with an impressive list of achievements. She was a member of the Spain U-17 team that won the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and also finished as a runner-up in the 2022 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship, where she earned the Golden Boot. The following year, she continued her success by helping the Spain U-19 team win the 2023 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship.

Chiamaka Nnadozie

Joining from Paris FC, Nnadozie brings a wealth of experience in the top flight, including valuable Champions League game time. Beyond her club success, she has also racked up numerous individual honours, including the COF Goalkeeper of the Year award and a place in the WAFCON Team of the Tournament.

She has been a key player for the Super Falcons since joining the team at just 19 years old, making 45 appearances since 2018. During that time, she has competed in the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics, while also helping her team win gold at the 2018 and 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON), as well as the 2019 African Games.

Grace McNewan – First Contract

Grace McEwen’s addition to Brighton’s squad is a significant one, as the club has secured a promising young defender. Having progressed through Charlton Athletic’s academy, she signed for Brighton in 2023 and made her first-team debut in an FA Cup match in early 2024.

Last season, McEwen was on loan at Portsmouth to gain senior experience, where her time was cut short after she ruptured her ACL. Women’s and girls’ academy manager Perry Northeast said, “She’s had a challenging few months since her injury, but she has shown great professionalism and is making positive strides in her rehab, and we’re looking forward to seeing her back on the pitch with her teammates very soon.”

Michelle Agyemang – Loan 

England’s stargirl is back at Brighton, signing on loan for another season. This summer, she made sure everyone knew her name, really becoming the saviour of the nation. She was England’s super sub, saving them by scoring last-minute goals and providing game-winning assists. At just 19, she’s become a European Champion, when a couple of months previously, she hadn’t even made her England debut. 

Brighton will be happy to keep her for the 25/26 season, previously played for them last season. Before that, she was on a dual registration at Watford, where she made 9 appearances and scored 4 goals. 

Brighton & Hove Albion Women at the end of the 24/25 season. Photo: BHAFCW

Categories
F1 Spotlight

Abbi Pulling: From Karting prodigy to F1 Academy champion

F1 driver Abbi Pulling holding a trophy
Abbi pulling. Photo: British F4

Abbi Pulling is emerging as a trailblazer in motorsport, with aspirations to follow in Susie Wolff’s footsteps and become the first female Formula One driver in over a decade

Pulling inherited her love of racing from her father, Andy, who competed in motorcycle circuit endurance events. From the age of three, she was a familiar face in the paddock, learning the rhythms of race weekends at his side.

At just eight years old, Pulling chose to pursue four wheels over two, beginning her karting career. Her first competitive race came in 2013, and by 2017 she had already made her mark, winning the Super 1 National Junior TKM Championship.

She repeated the achievement in 2018, becoming the first female driver to win a British Championship in a TKM category. The Super 1 Championship has long been a proving ground for future F1 talent, with past drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and David Coulthard – underlining the scale of Pulling’s achievement.

Her success in karting led to three rounds in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2018 with Total Control Racing. A year later she progressed to the Ginetta GT5 Challenge, achieving back-to-back sixth place finishes at Donington Park.

These performances paved the way for her transition to single seaters in the 2020 British F4 Championship, where she immediately impressed with four podium finishes and sixth overall in her debut season.

Pulling hoped to graduate into the W Series, but Covid disrupted the selection process and left her on the reserve list. Despite limited opportunities, she still managed to race in four of the eight rounds in 2021 – qualifying on pole and securing a podium at the season finale in Austin which lifted her to seventh in the standings and secured her a full-time seat for 2022.

The following year she also earned a place in the Alpine Academy as recognition of her raw talent and growing profile. She finished the 2022 W Series season fourth overall, but the championship folded at the end of the year, leaving her career once again at a crossroads.

Opportunity came in the form of Susie Wolff’s newly launched F1 Academy, a series designed to fast-track female drivers into the higher tiers of motorsport. Pulling joined Rodin Carlin for the inaugural 2023 season, finishing fifth overall with seven podiums.

Returning in 2024 under intense pressure to deliver results, she produced a dominant campaign: nine wins, 10 pole positions, six fastest laps and 14 podiums from 14 races. Unsurprisingly, she clinched the championship title and, with it, a fully funded seat in GB3 for 2025.

Alongside her F1 Academy commitments, Pulling also raced in F4, making history as the first woman to win an F4 race with victory at Brands Hatch. She went on to finish seventh in the championship – proof that her talent translated beyond all-female series.

Pulling’s debut season in GB3 has been equally groundbreaking. She qualified fourth and finished fifth in her very first race, before claiming a landmark third place at Brands Hatch – the first ever podium for a female driver in the series. With just two races left in the 2025 season, she currently sits 12th in the standings, having scored points in all but three races.

From karting prodigy to F1 Academy champion, Abbi Pulling continues to make history at every step of her journey. With her talent, determination, and trailblazing results, she is proving that a woman’s place on the Formula One grid is not just possible – but inevitable.

F1 driver Abbi Pulling holding a trophy

Abbi Pulling. Photo: British F4