Hope Powell

Millwall

Powell made newspaper headlines when FA rules banned her from representing her school team beyond the age of 11. The teacher running the team had appealed against the ban, not, according to Powell, because he was interested in gender equality, but because of a pragmatic desire to field his strongest team. Powell moved on to play club football for Millwall Lionesses when she reached 11. At Millwall Lionesses, Powell came under the influence of coach Alan May. A senior manager with British Telecom, May taught Powell people management skills and remained a major inspiration throughout her career, including when she moved into coaching herself. May was employed as Powell's head scout when she became England manager.

Fulham

As the club grew to be one of the most successful in England, Powell left for London rivals Friends of Fulham. A two-year spell with Friends of Fulham culminated in an appearance at the 1989 Women's FA Cup final. Powell scored twice and is reported to have played exceptionally well, but her team were beaten 3–2 by Leasowe Pacific. The match was played at Old Trafford but attracted only 914 spectators, although it was also broadcast on Channel 4.

Return to Millwall

In the aftermath of that defeat, Powell returned to Millwall Lionesses, where she became the team's all-time record goalscorer. In 1991, they reached the Women's FA Cup final and beat Doncaster Belles 1–0 at Prenton Park to win the Cup for the first time. Millwall…

Martin Reagan gave Powell her England debut against Republic of Ireland, in a 6–0 Euro qualifying win staged at Elm Park in Reading, Berkshire on 11 September 1983. Aged 17, Powell played in the final of the 1984 European Competition for Women's Football as England were beaten by Sweden on penalties. The two-legged final had seen England recover a one goal deficit at Kenilworth Road in Luton, in muddy conditions described by Powell as "absolutely shocking". She was allotted 61 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.

First steps into coaching

Powell had passed the FA's preliminary coaching award at the age of 19. During her later playing career she had worked as a development officer for Lewisham London Borough Council and in Crystal Palace FC's community outreach scheme. She had also been a volunteer coach at soccer camps in the United States. Ted Copeland encouraged Powell to complete the FA's new female coach mentoring scheme and obtain her 'B' licence while she was still playing.

England Women

England were unfortunate to be drawn in a 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification group with Norway and Germany, the reigning World and European champions, respectively. Copeland quit as manager after a 1–0 defeat to Germany at The Den in March 1998, which Powell had started. At 31, Powell became the youngest ever coach of any England national football team, as well as the first woman and the first non-white person to hold the office. On 26 July 1998, Powell managed England for the first time in a friendly against Sweden at Victoria Road, Dagenham. After entering the game as a substitute, Swedish debutant Malin Moström scored the only goal on 84 minutes. Powell's first competitive fixture in charge was the 2–0 defeat to Norway in Lillestrøm the following month, which consigned England to last place in the group and meant they faced a relegation play-off against Romania. Had England lost they faced being demoted to B level and therefore unable to qualify for major…

Powell was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2002 Birthday Honours for services to association football, and promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to sport. In 2003, she was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in recognition of her talents. In 2009, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Loughborough University. Powell was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of East London in 2011. She was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Sport by the University of Chichester in 2018.

Player

Millwall Lionesses FA Women's Cup: 1991 Croydon FA Women's Cup: 1996 FA Women's Premier League: 1995–96 England Mundialito (2): 1985, 1988

Manager

England Cyprus Cup (2): 2009, 2013 Individual

Women's Super League Manager of the Month: February 2019, September 2020, February 2021