Hardy reflects on campaign for Women’s Academy: “A really positive period”
Fri 16 May 2025, 16:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Women’s Academy Technical Coaching Manager Nick Hardy reflected on a positive 2024/25 campaign for our Academy after a year full of development, player pathway and Cup success.
Our Under-21s finished fifth in the Professional Game Academy (PGA) League Division Two while also enjoying a successful run in the Capital Cup, reaching the semi-final stage against senior opposition.
Whereas, for the Under-16s, they lifted the PGA Champions Trophy after overcoming Blackburn Rovers 6-2 in the final last month - the first time we’ve won silverware at that level.
Reflecting on the campaign, Nick told us: “It has been really positive, lot of changes and obviously, for us on the inside, this is year one of the programme and an exciting future for our PGA.
A really positive period which has resulted in success in terms of trophies and also pathway progression for players in terms of opportunities.
“There has been a lot of hard work, we were pretty much starting from the beginning, on and off the pitch, lots of new staff members and a few new faces in the squad, some of our players have been around the PGA for a couple of years, but I certainly know that they’re part of a technical, tactical programme that has been very new for them this season.
“So, ultimately, lots of work, lots of changes, but a really positive period, which has resulted in success in terms of trophies and also player progression for players in terms of opportunities.
“There has been a lot of movement for our Under-16s to get into the Under-21s, while our Under-21s cohort around the first team so, if you look at it from that side of things, that’s definitely one of the most important things we have seen in such a short space of time.”
There was also plenty of success for our youngsters in the first team, with Zara Bailey making her senior debut in December, 2024, coming on as a second half substitute in the Women’s League Cup win over Crystal Palace.
Watch | Bailey reflects on making her senior debut
Alongside that, we’d three further players have been involved in senior matchday squads – Erin Radbourne, Jhanaie Pierre and Sophie Jackson – while a host of our youngsters have trained with the first team.
Asked about the player pathway, he added: “It was such a special moment for everyone involved, I feel we’re right at the business end for when these players make that milestone and we can take the accolades, but there’s so many people that have played a part in Zara’s journey but also Jhanaie, Sophie and Erin, so it’s a great feeling in the moment but it’s also a reflection on everyone’s hard work and, again, it’s just the start.
“There’s so much more for those girls and there’s so much more we hope to achieve. A great sense of achievement for staff and team-mates and, realistically, it’s a reflection that pathway is there and the programme we’re developing is only going to pave the way for more of those opportunities.”
