Jon Pepper has been appointed Lincoln City’s Academy & Women’s technical director as part of an exciting restructure designed to enhance women’s football and provide local girls with the same opportunities as boys within the club.
Lincoln City Women will now sit within the club’s Academy structure, with a full pathway for girls mirroring the successful pathway already in place for boys.
Jon said: “There will be a real pathway for talented girls, mirroring what we already have in place for boys, which has seen players come through into the first team.
“This is an area I, and everyone else at the club, is passionate about - and now anyone growing up in the area has an opportunity to join us as a child and progress all the way through to senior football without leaving the club.”
Director of football Jez George said: “After a thorough review of the Lincoln City Women’s football operation, it is clear that for us to progress at the rate we desire we need to create a structure alongside the Elite Player Performance Pathway (EPPP) for the boys, with a seamless transition between each programme.”
“Jon, with his vast experience and knowledge, is absolutely the right person to design, lead and oversee this exciting development."
City’s chief executive Liam Scully added: “I am looking forward to working alongside Jon and Jez in order to grow all aspects of our sporting operation.
“This is about ensuring additional capacity into the Academy and women’s programme, and is a really exciting development for the club. We have been proud to have Lincoln City Women as part of the club for the past two years and recognise this and other changes to come are needed to fulfil their potential.”
As part of this restructure and Jon’s elevated role, Calum Oakenfold has been promoted to head of Academy & coaching, to manage and continue driving forward the programme for our boys, from 8-18 years old at the Academy base at Riseholme College's Showground Campus.
Director of football Jez George added: “Calum has already made a huge contribution, alongside Jon’s leadership, to the Academy since his appointment as head of coaching and this role will now provide him with the scope and bandwidth to develop our provision at every age group even further.
“He is a high calibre individual and our next generation of players, girls and boys, are in good hands with Jon and Calum in these new roles.”
Open trials for the women’s first-team and U23s will take place at Riseholme College's Showground Campus on Tuesday 18 and Thursday 20 June.
For more details about joining the Women’s Academy (a full-time training and education programme for players aged 16-19), email womensacademy@theredimps.com.