Sue Day appointed as FA’s new director of women’s football

Former England rugby captain Sue Day has been appointed as the new director of women’s football for the Football Association, taking over from outgoing director Sue Campbell. The 51-year-old, who currently serves as a board member and chief operations officer at the Rugby Football Union, will make the move at the end of the year.

Day, who earned 59 caps for England in rugby, is also a passionate soccer fan and a founding trustee of the Women’s Sports Trust. In 2020, she was awarded an MBE for her work on gender equality in sport. She expressed her excitement about the new role, stating, “Women’s football has the opportunity to change the sporting and societal landscape forever, and I am very excited to be part of that.”

In addition to overseeing women’s football, Day will also be responsible for developing and raising awareness about Para football for players with disabilities. The England women’s senior and development teams will continue to be led by technical director Kay Cossington.

FA CEO Mark Bullingham praised Day’s credentials, stating that her expertise and passion for women’s sport, combined with her business acumen, made her the standout candidate for the role. Campbell, who has been in the role for eight years, will be stepping down after the successful tenure that saw the Lionesses win the European Championship in 2022.

England’s women’s team is currently in qualifying for Euro 2025, with an upcoming match against France on May 31. The team started the campaign with a 1-1 draw against Sweden followed by a 2-0 victory over Ireland. The appointment of Sue Day signals a new chapter for women’s football in England, with high hopes for continued success under her leadership.