Calgary Wild FC announced Lydia Bedford as the club’s first-ever head coach Friday ahead of the Northern Super League’s first season.
Bedford joins the new professional women’s soccer team from English Premier League club Brentford’s men’s under-18 team.
The Guildford-born 37-year-old says she’s looking forward to the challenge of coaching a new team in a new league.
“It is an honour to be named the first coach of the Calgary Wild FC in its inaugural season,” said Bedford, via a club statement. “I have always loved being part of a journey, whether giving players their first taste of international football at England or launching Brentford’s new academy programme.
“There’s something special about being there from the start and it’s certainly going to be an exciting journey here in Calgary.”
Bedford brings ‘people-first leadership’ to Calgary Wild FC
And Calgary Wild FC believes they’ve found the right manager to lead them on their first journey.
“Lydia is a trailblazer for women’s professional football, and a community role model with exceptional communications skills who brings a strong, technical football mind, and a people-first leadership style that is required to forge a healthy and supportive culture for the Calgary Wild FC on and off the pitch,” said Lara Murphy, CEO, Calgary Wild FC, via the same club statement. “She is an accomplished international coach, a proven performer and leader who has delivered results in pressure-packed environments.
“We are thrilled to have her back in women’s football to help lead the charge of this powerful movement that is building around Alberta’s first professional women’s sports team that encourages inclusivity, empowers young girls, and gives women the platform they deserve to influence positive change in our communities.”
A return to Canada
Bedford has visited Canada in the past, and leapt at the opportunity to move here to help kickoff the its new league with Calgary’s new club.
“From the moment I met and spoke with the staff who are driving the Calgary Wild FC project, I felt their infectious energy and could see right away the passion and care they have for bringing a professional women’s team to Calgary and wanted to be a part of it,” said Bedford. “I have been fortunate to visit Canada as a teenager and as an adult, and I fell in love with the people and the scenery. I have really special memories of spending time with family in Canada, and it has always been a place where I wanted to live.”
The Northern Super League is Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league. The NSL is set to kick off in spring of 2025 and currently has six clubs named for its inaugural season.
