The FA Women’s National League (FA WNL) recently hosted a media roundtable as part of its debut Club Spotlight series.
The virtual discussion and Q&A panel, organised in collaboration with AFC Bournemouth and sporting agency MatchFit, aimed to showcase the team’s achievements, ambitions, and club culture.
Introduced this season (2025-26), the monthly series features a roundtable format, bringing together UK media—including national, regional, and women’s football outlets—for interviews with players, staff, and other key club figures.
“The idea is that you join the call and ask a couple of questions to each spokesperson,” said a league representative. “You’ll also be able to hear questions from other media, and we’ll send a recording of the full roundtable afterwards.”
Highlights from the discussion were also shared on Greatest Hits Radio later in the week.
The roundtable provides an opportunity for the media to gather quotes, statistics, and insights from each club every month, focusing on club success on and off the pitch, ambitions, and culture.
Bournemouth was the first spotlight club for this season.
The FA Women’s National League: Driving the Women’s Game Forward
The FA WNL sits at the heart of the women’s football pyramid in England, bridging the gap between grassroots and the elite professional tiers of the game.
Comprising of 72 clubs across six divisions, the league plays a crucial role in nurturing talent, supporting club development, and ensuring competitive football across the country.
In recent years, the FA WNL has established itself as a key driver of the women’s game’s progress—encouraging professionalism, increasing visibility, and strengthening community engagement.
The league’s commitment to sustainability and media access has helped raise the profile of women’s football, connecting more fans with the game than ever before.The FA WNL has become a key engine for the positive development of women’s football, demonstrating both ambition and innovation at the national level.
The league continues to prove itself as a cornerstone of the women’s football pyramid—nurturing ambition, championing development, and showcasing the strength and resilience of clubs and players nationwide.New initiatives such as the Club Spotlight series are designed to celebrate the achievements of clubs at all levels, amplify player voices, and give the media regular opportunities to engage directly with teams and staff.
A Club on the Rise
AFC Bournemouth Women compete in the FA Women’s National League Premier Division South, the third tier of the women’s football pyramid.
The team transitioned to semi-professional status ahead of the 2023–24 season, marking a major milestone in their continued development. Building on momentum from their promotion from the FA WNL Division One South West, the Cherries have made an impressive start to life in the Premier Division, remaining unbeaten with five wins and two draws from their opening fixtures.
Bournemouth’s rise has been defined by consistency and excellence — recording 46 wins and 6 draws across all competitions and maintaining an unbeaten streak spanning more than 900 days.
Their success highlights both the club’s ambition and the growing strength of the women’s game on the south coast.
Leadership and Vision
The Cherries have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, with manager Helen Bleazard guiding the team through a period of significant growth after a successful interim spell.
The former defender played a leading role during the Cherries’ successful 2023/24 campaign, although her season was cut short by injury.
Bleazard made her maiden month in charge in September with a string of impressive performances, including the team’s promotion to the third tier last season.
Speaking to the media, Bleazard highlighted the importance of continuity and culture in the squad:
“I only came in a week before pre-season, so all of that pre-season fitness, I have to give massive credit to my staff. From a rehab and fitness perspective, they came into the season flying, and it showed in some of our results; we looked like the fitter team.
I’m very passionate about how our squad is used. We already had a few injuries, so we relied on our development squad. I really tried to bring philosophy, values, and culture into the squad, and the girls and staff have really bought into that. I honestly couldn’t fault them.”
The former player also discussed settling into her new role as manager, reflecting on her experience as a Bournemouth player and how she hopes to guide the team to success this season:
“Being a player in general helped because, in those environments, I know what the girls are probably feeling and the pressures that come with that. But also, having been at Bournemouth, I understand the culture, the values, and the environment and what we need at any given moment. I think that was really key.”
“Three months ago, I was their teammate, so I knew what they needed. As a player, I know what I need to bring from that perspective, and that’s definitely helped. As I said, the players have taken it on board, taken what I said, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.
Transitioning from player to coach was pretty easy. I had the privilege and honour of coaching in the boys’ academy at Bournemouth last year, so I was playing while also coaching, and I still do. The first thing I focused on was being very passionate about their values and bringing those into the women’s team. I had a clear vision of what I wanted the team to be.
I’m learning as I go, and I know I’ll make mistakes along the way. I try to be as open as possible with the players, fostering a culture of transparency and an open-door policy. This way, we know we can make mistakes, but we can also learn together and from each other.”
Bournemouth’s development has also been a source of contention.
Bruce Suraci, recently appointed as the club’s Head of Women’s Football, spoke about the club’s ambitions on and off the pitch, including reaching WSL2 (Women’s Super League 2) and developing the academy. Suraci said:
“One of the first things I wanted to do when I joined was create a three-year plan,
For us, there’s a vision of being WSL-ready. While we can’t control that entirely, it’s definitely an ambition. To achieve it, we’re focusing on three key pillars: sustainability, professionalism, and a strong community base.
We don’t want to recruit players from around the world; we want to build a structure that truly embraces the local community and provides opportunities for young talent. This approach also allows us to use our resources to recruit some of the best players. In terms of where we are now, we’re in a good place, but there’s still work to be done.”
A pivotal figure across the men’s and women’s teams, Suraci highlighted the importance of growing women’s football in the area and supporting related initiatives.
“For us, as we all know, the Premier League is incredibly competitive, which makes things challenging for the men’s game. But we have the opportunity to grow the women’s side, particularly through the academy, which is at the heart of what we do. It’s really important to provide opportunities rather than spend millions recruiting players from around the world.
We want to do this in a way that allows local talent to progress. We have a strong relationship with the foundation [The AFC Bournemouth Community Sport Trust] and the opportunities they provide for players to train, play, and develop into the first team. The community is central to us, and it’s been great to see how that has manifested. This is an area we will continue to grow and improve—it remains absolutely central to everything we do.”
Player Perspectives
New Cherries signing Jessica Hennessey was part of the Nottingham Forest squad that won promotion to WSL2, securing the Northern Premier Division title. She previously played for Shamrock Rovers and featured virtually every minute last season.
She reflected on her move to the south coast from Forest, discussing the club culture, playing in Tier 3, and Bournemouth’s ambitions for the season. She is expected to play a key role in Bournemouth’s defence in the Southern Premier Division for the 2025/26 season.
“It was everything about the club that really appealed to me. Since coming in, everyone has been so welcoming, the facilities are top-notch, and overall, everything just felt right. Not many clubs have such high standards as AFC Bournemouth, and that was a real attraction for many of the new girls.
I’ve been loving it, everyone has been so welcoming, and I’ve really rediscovered my love for football. Last year was a tough one for me, but coming here has really brought back my confidence, and I’ve just been enjoying it so much.
It’s great to have some new faces in the squad. The girls from last year really welcomed us in, which made it easy for us to settle. It was probably one of the easiest clubs I’ve ever settled into, and it really shows on the pitch how tight we are as a group.”
She also spoke about her personal ambitions, embracing the club’s culture, and adapting to playing in a new league:
“If you asked anyone on the team, we all want to be promoted. Personally, I want to do everything I can to help the team. Promotion is definitely in our minds, but right now we’re just concentrating on getting the results and continuing to play good football.
Personally, I’m from Ireland, so I might get a call-up in the future, but at the moment my focus is entirely on Bournemouth—getting this promotion over the line and playing good football.”
On playing at the Vitality Stadium for the first time and the fan support:
“Yes, this is my first time playing at the Vitality. All the girls are excited—it’s a massive game, and it’s a privilege to play there. The fans have been unbelievable for us. From the last few games, you can really feel their support—they’re like a twelfth player on the pitch. The support has been unreal, and we’re all grateful for that. We’re really excited for the game.”
What this means for the women’s game
By showcasing club success both on and off the pitch and giving fans and journalists an inside look at the teams shaping the future of the game, the league is reinforcing its role as a key driver of growth, ambition, and professionalism in the women’s game.
The FA WNL’s Club Spotlight series continues to provide a platform for the media to highlight the positive strides being made across women’s football in England.
Following Bournemouth’s appearance as the first featured club, Queens Park Rangers Women are set to be spotlighted in November as the next focus of the FA WNL’s ongoing initiative to celebrate the thriving women’s football landscape across the UK.
