Stefan Wright profiles the manager of the women’s firsts…
Jamie Smith left the men’s football committee to take up the position as the UEL women’s first team coach – and it hasn’t been a successful reign so far
“I’ve had enough of playing for the football team and now I want to start focusing on the women’s team and the work I have in the final year,” said Smith, a sports coaching student who served as treasurer while playing for the men’s thirds. However, he wasn’t happy with the amount of game time he was getting and wanted to play week in, week out. After conversations with the rest of the committee, he came to the conclusion that he had enough and that there were better opportunities around the university.
“I saw an opportunity to help the women’s team and decided to help them move forward,” Smith said.
Yet it has been a terrible season. He hasn’t won a game so far, and his team were relegated to the third tier of the Bucs league.
“Honestly, I don’t blame the players; they gave it everything they had, unfortunately this season we just didn’t get started,” he said.
He is planning to continue at the helm and intends to lead his team to promotion next year, saying: “I am very disappointed with the way the season had went, I honestly thought we had enough to be able to keep the side in the league, but it just wasn’t to be.”