In this episode, host Carolyn Kent speaks with pelvic health expert Sarah Thorne about one of the most overlooked areas in women’s and girls’ sport: female health at grassroots level. With tens of thousands of young girls entering the game, understanding how puberty, menstrual cycles, pelvic health, growth, nutrition and confidence affect performance is more essential than ever.

Sarah shares insights from her extensive work in London grassroots clubs, where she supports coaches, parents, and players to build healthier, safer training environments. From the importance of sports bras and cycle awareness to managing growth-related pain and reducing injury risk, this conversation offers practical, immediately useful advice for every club.

Whether you're coaching under-10s, parenting a teenage footballer, or working within a club structure, this episode will help you understand how to better support young female players in the most crucial years of their development.

Key areas we explore: • What young players experience during puberty • Why menstrual cycles matter in sport • How clubs can promote confidence and reduce stigma • Pelvic floor and breathing awareness for youth athletes • Practical tips on nutrition and load management • The top three essentials every club must implement

Hashtags: #femaleathlete #femalehealth #grassrootsfootball #sportshealth #pelvichealth #girlsfootball #youthdevelopment #womensfootballhub

In this in‑depth conversation, Carolyn speaks with Jim Gooley, a central figure in the evolution of several major women’s football franchises in the United States. From the early days of the New Jersey Wildcats to the rise of Gotham FC, Jim has witnessed and helped shape the landscape of the women’s game over more than five decades.

They discuss how healthcare sponsorships can make or break a franchise, why player protection must come before performance, and how genuine community relationships are far more powerful than traditional advertising. Jim also shares lesser‑known stories about working with elite players and coaches, and reflects on the increasing commercialisation of the women’s game including the challenges posed by rising transfer fees, ticket pricing, and global tournaments.

This episode offers a unique blend of personal story, business insight, and reflections on culture, identity, and what makes women’s football distinct.

Topics include: • Building a franchise from amateur to professional • Sponsorship models that genuinely protect players • Injury, recovery, and the realities of early women’s football systems • Merchandising, marketing, and why women’s football fans are different • Independent clubs and the struggle for resources • The evolving global landscape of women’s football • Gotham FC’s championship moment and the league’s rapid growth

Hashtags: #womensfootball #footballbusiness #woso #GothamFC #WomensSport #sportsleadership #NWSL #femaleathletes #footballculture #playercare

In this episode of the Women’s Football Hub podcast, host Carolyn Kent is joined by internationally recognised physiotherapist, researcher, and CTO of TopSpin Technologies, Dr. Theo Versteegh, to explore why the neck may be one of the most underestimated areas in athlete preparation particularly in women’s football.

Together they discuss:

• The difference between neck strengthening and true neck training
• Why proprioception in the upper cervical spine is essential for balance, scanning, and heading
• How deficits in neck function may relate to higher concussion and ACL injury risk
• Why common rehab approaches (e.g., deep neck flexor endurance holds) fall short for athletes
• The evidence behind the TopSpin 360, dynamic neck strength, and injury mitigation
• Practical, low‑cost solutions such as the Versteegh Roll and Tuck (VRT) for youth and grassroots players
• Insights from concussion studies, clinical cases, and women’s football performance data

This is an essential conversation for coaches, clinicians, S&C professionals, and anyone supporting female athletes. If you’ve ever wondered why neck training matters—or how it can transform injury risk and on‑pitch performance—this episode provides clarity and practical takeaways.

Contact Theo: • TopSpin360 inquiries: theo@topspin360.com • Clinical consultancy: theo@neckrevolution.com

#WomensFootball #ConcussionPrevention #NeckTraining #SportsMedicine #TopSpin360 #FemaleAthleteHealth #FootballPerformance #InjuryPrevention