The Watford Women manager on being included on the Football Black List, Hope Powell’s importance and the reasons she quit playing at 26 When Renée Hector was getting the football bug as a youngster playing at Stevenage Borough Vixens, she idolised England internationals such as Alex Scott, Rachel Yankey and Anita Asante, But the only black female coach she felt she could relate to was the England manager Hope Powell. From the moment Hector moved to Watford’s centre of excellence, aged 10, managing the club’s women’s team was her ultimate dream, inspired by Powell, and she fulfilled ambition this season in her first year in charge of the Women’s National League Premier Division side, at the age of 29. Hector’s playing career was cut short at 26 by an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but she was determined to turn that into something positive and progress her coaching career faster than expected. Last month, she was recognised on 2024’s Football Black List, which honours the most influential black people in the game. Hector is in elite company in a select list of five alongside the England coach Ashley Cole, Nottingham Forest’s Nuno Espírito Santo, Port Vale’s Darren Moore and Arsenal and England youth coach Carly Williams. Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo praises his players for their "character" after an "improved performance" despite dropping points in the race for a Champions League spot, with a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Nottingham Forest aren’t finished just yet. A typically wholehearted performance from Nuno Espírito Santo’s side rescued a point that could eventually prove priceless for their hopes of reaching the promised land of the Champions League next season. It is to their immense credit that with three matches still to play, a team who ended last season in 17th place are still in contention to dine at Europe’s top table. Having fallen behind to Eberechi Eze’s penalty in front of a joyous Crystal Palace crowd still basking in the glory of their upcoming appearance in the FA Cup final, that they were back on terms within four minutes thanks to Murillo’s clever finish spoke volumes about the spirit Nuno has created at the two-time European champions since replacing Steve Cooper. Continue reading...