We are delighted to announce the Head Coach appointments for both the Army Women Senior and Army Women's Development Teams. Craig Parker moves up to the Women's Senior Head Coach position and Andy Ferguson has been selected to lead the Women's Development Team.

Sgt Craig Parker

Craig joined the Army in 2010 as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery. His passion for football and natural leadership skills led him to assume various coaching roles within both the RA male and female teams. Last season, he reached a significant milestone in his coaching career when he was appointed Head Coach of the Army Women's Development Team. Although his tenure in this role has been relatively short, it has been marked by remarkable success and under his leadership, the team has experienced a period of substantial growth and achievement.

One of Craig's notable accomplishments during this period was the completion of his UEFA B Coaching Licence, a testament to his commitment to professional development. Additionally, he is currently enrolled in the UEFA B Goalkeeping (GK) course, further broadening his expertise and enhancing his coaching credentials. A defining moment of Craig's tenure came when he led the team in their first-ever Development match against the Royal Navy, beating them 3-1 with 22 players featuring on the pitch.

Reflecting on his role, Craig expressed his deep sense of pride and responsibility: "Taking on this role is a massive privilege for me. We have a group of exciting and talented players who have the ability and drive to win the Inter-Services. I am excited to get the ball rolling this season and to see what we can all achieve together."

The Army Women’s Football Trustee, Lt Col Chloe Plimmer RE said “Sgt Parker’s impact on the Army Women's Development Team has been transformative. With his team they have doubled the number of players in the development squad, reflecting their ability to attract and nurture talent. Alongside the previous Head Coach of the Army Women’s Senior Team, Sgt Parker has helped to successfully bridged the gap between the Corps and Army teams, fostering a more cohesive and competitive environment”.

CSgt Andy Ferguson

Andy joined the Army in 2005 as an Infanteer within the 2nd Bn Royal Anglian Regiment. He has enjoyed a lot of success with Unit football, winning 5 trophies in the last 6 years as well as winning every league match with the 1st Bn whilst posted to Cyprus. Despite this being his first involvement with the Army FA, Andy has been coaching in the non-league since 2012 and also spent time as the Millwall Lionesses S&C coach. He has experiences coaching U11s, U14s and U18s. Andy is a UEFA B Licence holder and qualified Personal Trainer. Highlights of his coaching career include victories in the preliminary rounds of both the FA Cup and FA Vase.

Once informed of his selection, Andy stated “I consider it an honour to be selected to become Head Coach of the Women's Development Team and I look forward to nurturing the flourishing talent within the women’s game. I consider myself a developer of people and will use this to support and guide the players in their footballing journey within the Army”.

The Army Women’s Football Trustee, Lt Col Chloe Plimmer RE said “Whilst CSgt Ferguson doesn’t have any experience coaching at Corps level, he has bags of experience at Unit level and a good knowledge of the civilian women’s game. He is a hugely positive person who is dedicated to developing his players and I believe he will compliment Sgt Parker perfectly. I am looking forward to seeing what this season will bring”.