Nigel Greenwood and David Rawcliffe have joined Preston North End Women’s Football Club as first team coaches, working alongside the existing management team of Andy Lyons and Dave Dewhurst.
Nigel, a product of the club’s Academy, scored 18 league goals for Preston North End over two spells between 1984 to 1986 and 1990 to 1992, and is renewing his association with Preston North End together with coaching partner David.
Preston North End Women's FC Website
Nigel and David have formed a coaching partnership for a number of years, having spent five years coaching in the Preston North End Women’s Junior Football Club set-up and most recently coaching Sir Tom Finney Ladies’ first team.
The duo are now looking forward to working with the PNE women’s open-age side, which is supported by Preston North End Community and Education Trust – the club’s official charity – allowing girls in Preston to represent their hometown team at open-age level while providing younger players with a full pathway into the senior game with Preston North End.
Nigel said: “It’s great for me, I played here – quite a long time ago now – but it’s good to be back wearing the badge and involved with the women’s team.
“There are so many girls that want to get involved in playing again and watching. It gives the girls of the town and the surrounding areas the [opportunity] to play for Preston North End Women’s FC and to play with the PNE shirt on.”
Nigel and David began their first coaching journey with PNEWJFC at U13 level, with four league title wins and two unbeaten seasons among their achievements during their time in the women's junior set-up.
David added: “We have been coaching together now for seven years. We started at Preston North End Women’s Junior Football Club at U13 level. We took that team for a five-year period and had some exceptionally successful seasons there.
“We’re looking forward to it and I’m just hoping that pathway will continue, that girls at the junior level will see that there is a pathway through to adult football.
“It’s just trying to make sure that the girls have got something to aim for, and making sure that with our contacts and the people we already know in the junior section, we can create that pathway so that it’s really clear and defined for everybody at the club.”
Find out more about the women’s team at pne.com/pnewfc.
👋 A big welcome to Nigel Greenwood, a former #PNEFC forward, and David Rawcliffe, who have joined the @PNE_WFC first team coaching set-up!
— Preston North End Community and Education Trust (@pnecommunity) August 4, 2021
They will be working with the existing management team of Andy Lyons and Dave Dewhurst. 🤝
➡️ https://t.co/Fhz2THGmbt#PNEWFC #PNECET pic.twitter.com/jc8z1YEZ1x