Women’s Football Hub

In this episode of Women’s Football Hub, Carolyn Kent sits down with Dr. Anne Leung to discuss sex differences in outcomes following ACL reconstruction, and what they mean for athletes and clinicians working in women’s sport.

Dr. Leung shares insights from her PhD research on quadriceps neuromuscular performance, highlighting key areas where female athletes tend to face greater challenges during and after rehabilitation...

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub psychology series, host Dr Ian Cookson welcomes Dr Adrienn Szabadics, Chartered Sport Psychologist and researcher in team resilience. Dr Szabadics shares insights from her research on resilience within elite women’s football environments.

They discuss: • Why team resilience is a psychosocial process, not just a collection of resilient individuals • Organisational and on‑pitch stress...

In this episode of the Women’s Football Hub podcast, host Carolyn Kent welcomes Carol Bates, founder of Old Girls Play Too and Crawley Old Girls (COGS). Carol has become one of the leading voices championing recreational football for women aged 40+, 50+, 60+ and beyond.

Carol shares her journey from growing up in a generation where girls weren’t allowed to play football, to becoming a key figure helping thousands of wo...

In this powerful episode, host Carolyn Kent speaks with attorney Steven DeBonis of Cordisco & Saile about the growing legal landscape surrounding traumatic brain injury (TBI) in football. With rulings such as the UK’s Gordon McQueen inquest and decades of concussion litigation in the United States, the conversation around brain injury in sport has never been more urgent.

Steven breaks down the intersection between law and...

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 ...

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 prote...

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 proprioc...

Hypothalamic Amenorrhea in Female Football: What Every Athlete and Coach Needs to Know

In this episode of Women’s Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent speaks with Greta Jarvis, nutrition and public health expert and founder of the Center for Active Women. Together they unpack Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA) a missing or irregular menstrual cycle caused by factors such as low energy availability, psychological stress, and high trainin...

Identity & Belonging with Dr Ian Cookson

In this episode of the Women’s Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent sits down with Dr Ian Cookson, sport psychologist and host of our psychology series, for a deep and honest conversation about identity, belonging, and the evolving culture of football.

We explore: • How players develop (and sometimes lose) their sense of identity • The emotional impact of injury, long-term rehab...

In this episode of Women’s Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent is joined by women’s health physiotherapist and Pilates instructor Chloe Evans to discuss the often‑ignored but hugely important topic of pelvic floor relaxation.

Many women - especially athletes - experience pelvic floor symptoms despite doing regular strengthening exercises. Chloe explains why this happens, why relaxation is essential before any contraction wo...

Sleep isn’t just rest it’s a performance enhancer. In this episode of Women's Football Hub, Carolyn Kent talks to Dr. Kirstie Anderson, a leading sleep specialist and neurologist, about the science behind sleep and its impact on football. We dive into why sleep matters for memory, mood, and recovery, how it affects injury risk, and what female athletes need to know about hormonal changes and aging. Plus, we bust myths a...

When footballers get injured, the first instinct is often to cut calories but is that the right move? In this episode, Carolyn Kent talks with sports nutritionist Phil Woodbridge about why nutrition matters during recovery and how athletes can avoid common mistakes.

Topics include:

• Energy balance and why healing costs calories
• Protein’s role in preventing muscle loss
• Carbs and fats - how to adjust your plate when sidelin...

In this episode of Women's Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent is joined by Christos Pippas, a physiotherapist and PhD researcher specialising in longstanding groin pain. Together, they unpack the complexities of groin injuries in football, including adductor, iliopsoas, pubic, and inguinal-related pain.

Christos shares insights from his research and clinical experience, offering practical advice on assessment, rehabilitation, and the ...

In this episode of Women's Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent speaks with PhD researcher Wyatt Hampstead about his recent study analyzing 208 ACL injuries across professional women's football. They discuss why most ACL injuries happen in the first half, the biomechanical and tactical factors at play, and how fatigue both acute and chronic may be influencing injury risk.

Wyatt shares insights into the use of public data, the importance...

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent is joined by Dr. Stephanie Adams, neuropsychologist and founder of concussED, to discuss the evolution of concussion guidance in grassroots sport over the past decade.

From the tragic story of Benjamin Robinson to the development of the GRASP program and the 2024 UK-wide concussion protocols, this episode offers vital insights for coaches, parents, players, and ...

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent speaks with Tracey Smith, founder of Player Care Support Services, about the essential role of off-pitch support in football. From helping players settle into new countries to supporting their families and mental wellbeing, Tracey shares her experience working across male and female academies and professional teams.

We discuss:

• The importance of holistic pl...

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, Dr. Ian Cookson is joined by Lucy Burdin, a freelance sports psychologist with experience at Arsenal Women’s Academy and London City Lionesses. Together, they explore the psychological demands of goalkeeping, the impact of trauma and somatic psychology on athletes, and how attachment theory plays out in sporting environments.

Lucy shares her journey into trauma-informed pra...

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent is joined by Harry Watson, Women's Goalkeeping Talent Coach at the FA, to shine a spotlight on the art and science of identifying and developing goalkeeping talent in the women's game.

They discuss:

• The FA’s “Discover My Talent” initiative
• Why early specialisation can be risky
• The evolving standards of goalkeeping in the WSL
• The impact of ...

In this episode of Women's Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent speaks with Dr Paul Pearson, whose Injury Time Report investigates the impact of acquired brain injuries on footballers in Scotland. Drawing from interviews with nine players, including those diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, Dr Pearson discusses the physical, emotional, and financial toll of brain injuries, the gaps in support systems, and the urgent need for recogni...