London City Lionesses announced four major changes under the influence
of Michele Kang, owner of the club. There are fresh faces joining the Pride: Swedish
international, Kosovare Asllani, and head coach, Jocelyn Prêcheur. However, these
are not the only changes revealed.
All first-team fixtures will be relocated to Hayes Lane, and training will now take place at a new training ground, designed specifically for the women’s team and academy.
Following these significant announcements, London City Lionesses will experience
positive changes and growth. So, it is important to understand how each
development will benefit both the Pride itself, and the women’s game more generally.
Jocelyn Prêcheur
London City Lionesses announced the signing of a new head coach, Jocelyn
Prêcheur. On a three-year contract with the club, there are high hopes for the
Frenchman to put the Pride on the global map for women’s football and lead them to
success.
Previously, Prêcheur managed the renowned French side, Paris Saint-Germain. Last
season, he led the team to the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi-Final and
took the reins on one of their most successful seasons yet. They also won the Coupe
de France and placed second in the league; all this happened during one season at
the club.
During his early career, he managed Jiangsu Suning, a team in the Chinese
Women’s Super League. Despite having few experienced players in his initial squad,
Prêcheur created a trophy-winning side. Being able to develop local talents into
match winners and role models is a key part of his coaching style, which caught
Kang’s eye in the search for London City Lionesses’ next manager. With great depth
to the Pride’s squad, the Frenchman might be the missing piece to leading them
through a great season in the Barclays Women’s Championship.
Kosovare Asllani
Following the expiration of her contract with AC Milan, Swedish international
Kosovare Asllani will join London City Lionesses. With a successful career to her
name, there is no doubt that she will be pivotal in the Pride’s attack.
On the international stage, Asllani has a wealth of experience: she has featured in
eight major tournaments, made one hundred and eighty-seven appearances, and
secured several pieces of silverware with Sweden. In fact, she is ranked as the sixth
all-time record appearance holder and goal scorer in her nation. Recently, the
Swedish forward has taken on the role of captaining her team. Through this, she has
proven herself a leader and role model to those alongside her.
Her club history also shows her experience as a professional footballer. Having
played at many prestigious clubs: Chicago Red Stars, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-
Germain, to name a few. Asllani also played for Manchester City during their first
season as Barclays Women’s Super League Champions. Kang praised her new
striker in her press conference, stating that “her impressive achievements spanning
international and club football speak volumes about her leadership and abilities”.
Therefore, Asllani’s future at London City Lionesses is full of promise and
excitement for fans of the Pride.
K Sports Cobdown training ground
With immediate effect, London City Lionesses first-team and professional academy
squads will be moved to their new and exclusive training ground. The twenty-three-
acre site will be redeveloped and professionalised, helping the Pride move one step
closer to their aspirations of becoming the world’s preeminent sports organisation
under their new owner, Kang.
The first period of renovations has already taken place at the K Sports Cobdown
training ground. However, there are plans to include many high-performance
facilities: a world-class performance gym, new changing rooms, upgraded office
suites, a full-sized artificial pitch and two grass training pitches. With the principal
aim being to accommodate the wishes of both staff and players, having a working
environment that remains at a high-quality and professional level is important in
Kang’s vision of the future of the club.
It is important, however, to recognise that the most important aspect is the exclusive
female training facilities within the new location. Kang knows that it is vital to provide
facilities to female athletes that are “designed specifically for female athletes”. By
investing in the club and it’s vision, Kang is making her mark on the global map of
women’s football and setting an example to other clubs, perhaps lacking enough
facilities tailored to the needs of their players.
Hayes Lane
London City Lionesses are facing another positive change by relocating to Hayes
Lane permanently. Whilst the Pride played at Princes Park for many seasons, Kang
has selected a more professional and adequate stadium for the squad to host their
home fixtures.
Princes Park had a capacity of around four thousand people, but only seated about
six hundred fans. In comparison, the new stadium, Hayes Lane, will host 5,000
spectators and more seats. There is a world-class hybrid-stitched pitch, which is a
safer ground and improved place to help the club perform at another level. Now
playing in Bromley, situated in the London Borough of Bromley, Kang knows the “this
will give London City a rightful home in London” that is true to their name.
The relocation to Hayes Lane will not only provide better quality facilities for the
squad and staff themselves but should attract more fans to watch the women’s
game. Matchday hospitality and entertainment will be much more varied and draw in
more fans, alongside the retail outlets close by to invite them to the matches. In the
2023/24 Barclays Women’s Championship Season new standards were set of
growth in attendance and popularity for the sport. Although there is still a long way to
go, it is inevitable that London City Lionesses will desire to break more records and
grow the game more than ever before.
By Charlotte Davey
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