Coaches' Coffee Club: IWD Special with Mel Reay and Steph Libbey

Coaches’ Coffee Club returns for the first episode of 2024, an International Women’s Day special with Sunderland AFC Women manager Mel Reay and Assistant Coach Steph Libbey.

The Lasses are enjoying a superb season in the Barclays Women’s Championship, sitting top of the table in their first season after moving from a part-time to a hybrid model.

Jack Gray, Football in the Community coordinator at the Foundation of Light, hosted the SAFC Women management team as they talked about their coaching journeys, the current state of play with women’s football, and the season so far.

“We knew going into a hybrid model that we had to find some new players to bring in,” Mel commented on the challenges going into the season.

“We spent a lot of time over the summer finding the right people and having good conversations with them to make sure they were the right fit to bring into the football club.

“I think we got it right, what we did and at the right times has obviously put us in a really good position. We’ve got six games to go and destiny is in our own hands.”

Mel and Steph also took on the FoL Five quickfire questions, which aim to get quick insight from guests on the best bit of advice they have received as a coach, best advice they have given, the importance of a mentor, the best player they have coached, and their best coaching purchase.

Watch the podcast below to find out how they answered: