Club News| Laura Davies Appointed Performance Squad Coach

We are delighted to announce that club legend Laura Davies has been appointed Performance Squad Coach ahead of the 2026/2027 season following her retirement from playing football.

Photo by Sam Dawson Photography

The 37-year-old former midfielder called time on her playing career at the end of the last campaign having been at the club since November 2022. We caught up with club legend Laura Davies, who was part of our historic double campaign of the 2023/2024 season to discuss her time at the club, and to get her thoughts on her new role within the Performance Squad.

What was your earliest memory of football? 

My earliest memory of football was playing in the garden during family BBQ’s; I also watched a lot of it on TV from a young age, too.

How did you get into football, and what was it like being a female trying to break down the barriers that males didn’t have? 

I always played football growing up with my brothers and other family members, but didn’t play for a girls’ team until U14 onwards.

At the time, I never felt like there were barriers for me because I was playing football as much as I could. I was very lucky that my parents supported my decision to play, and they gave up a lot of their time to make this happen. I played in the boys’ football team in

primary school and was the only girl to play; I saw that as an achievement. I think it’s only now, when I reflect and look back on my experiences, that I see the disadvantages of being a female footballer and how the lack of opportunities meant I may have missed out on furthering my playing career.

I’m also very grateful to have been a part of the game during the period I grew up in because I’ve been able to experience the growth, from

playing in men’s kits to playing in stadiums, home and away. I’m excited for what the next generation has to look forward to, and I’m happy that I’m leaving the game after witnessing so much progression for women and girls.

Talk to us about playing in the Champions League for Swansea, and how that move came about. 

I joined Swansea City Women in the summer of 2020, after having spent four years with Abergavenny Women, both as a player and a coach, in my final season. Swansea had won the league title the previous season and therefore qualified for the Champions League. My first experience included a flight out to Cyprus in November 2020, during the pandemic, and being a part of a game where we unfortunately lost to the Cypriot champions at the time.

I was then able to travel back to Cyprus the following year after winning the league in my first season and enjoyed the experience of playing against CSKA Moscow, who were full-time professionals at the time, and we managed to take them to extra time.

My second season ended the same as my first; we won the league, and this time we travelled to Greece for the CL qualifiers. I made my first CL start during this campaign, which was a very proud moment for me and one I’ll always remember. Being involved in those campaigns was really tough, the preparations made for those trips are so different to what we’d usually expect for the regular domestic season, mostly due to the fact that every team we faced were professionals. It makes you realise how much time and dedication is needed by everyone in the squad, and although results were often not in our favour, we were always able to compete against top-level opposition.

Photo by Maisie Tay Photography

What made you want to join Worcester City Women? 

I remember being introduced to Nicole online around six months prior to making the decision to join WCWFC. I was aware of the club because of this engagement, so I had been keeping tabs over the summer but had decided to stay with Swansea for at least another season.

Unfortunately, my time at Swansea hadn’t worked out the way I’d have hoped, and I was struggling with my confidence at the time I reached out to Nicole, unsure as to whether I wanted to continue playing. I met up with Nicole in the Kiln in October 2022 and was already sure of wanting to sign for the club before I’d left.

It was refreshing to have a conversation about women’s football with someone who had achieved so much, both as a player and as a professional in the game. Nicole’s vision for what she wanted to achieve with the club was clear from the beginning of that first conversation I had with her, and I’m so pleased I decided to join.

I met Katie, Gill and others at an FA Cup game; it felt very much like a family, and I knew it was the right move for me.

What aspects of the club do you think have changed since arriving through the door? 

I honestly think everything has changed over the past few years, from playing facilities to the media coverage to sponsorship. The game has developed so much from when the Lionesses won their first Euros in 2022, which has elevated the women’s game, as it should. The club is striving to be at the top, and with this comes change, naturally, but I feel as though this is something that is needed to ensure those dreams are met.

The club is growing and is on an upward trajectory, and again, I’m happy to have been able to help in this journey.

What are your favourite memories of your time at the club?

My favourite is winning the league title back in the 2023/24 season. That was always the plan going into that season, but to be as good as we were and as consistent was really a testament to how far we’d come. That was down to everyone involved at the club, players, coaches, physios, all staff, fans, sponsors, everyone.

It was a tough year for me as my Grandad passed away the day before we won the County Cup final and only a few weeks before we officially won the league. He was always supportive of me playing football, messaging me after each game to see how we had got on, so I made a promise that we would win the league, and I was relieved when we did.

The other memory that really stands out for me is our FA Cup run. I remember going up to Rotherham and not really knowing what to expect in the first round and winning comfortably. We were knocked out by MK Dons in the third round, but managed to compete well throughout the game against the Tier 3 team at the time. I feel like that particular game spurred us on for the rest of the season. It showed what we were capable of and those were the standards we’d set for ourselves moving forward.

To have my family come to support me at football matches was also what made my journey even more memorable, particularly the last couple of games I had in a WCWFC shirt. I can’t thank them enough for their ongoing support throughout my career.

Photo by Sam Dawson Photography

Let’s talk about your meniscus injury. When did this occur? How long have you been out of action for?

After the league title win, I was unsure about my future and what I wanted next, but I had come to the decision to keep playing football with WCWFC and challenge myself to compete in the National League. Unfortunately, during my first pre-season session back in July 2024, I fell awkwardly, resulting in a meniscus tear in my right knee.

I didn’t know the full extent of the injury until September, when I had an MRI, as I managed to get back to individual and team training before this. I had my operation in November 2024 and made it back on the pitch with the reserves in October 2025.

How did you find your recovery both physically and mentally? 

I think physically, I had dealt with the recovery well; it was tough to begin with, having a brace for 6 weeks, but once I was through that, I was able to fully focus on my rehab, both with the hospital and the club. I did fall off a bike in Italy, which is a funny story now, but it did set me back a little.

Mentally, it was really tough. I’ve had injuries before, but this was different and quite isolating because you go from playing on the pitch, being a part of a squad, to having to focus on yourself and only yourself. In a way, you’re having to retrain your brain to be patient and to focus on different checkpoints throughout the season, as opposed to looking forward to the game every Sunday and all training sessions in between. I was lucky to have the support of those around me, a lot of people, friends and family kept me motivated and held me accountable when it was needed. Special shoutout to Ed, Liz, Barney and Hannah for working with me throughout my rehab process and ensuring I was able to return to the pitch. I couldn’t have done it without you all. A special ‘thank you’ to Julia and Dave for those conversations that were needed at my most vulnerable times. I appreciated them more than you’ll have been aware of.

Your favourite goal from your time at the club? 

I don’t have many (unfortunately), but I’ll say the one that was caught on camera by Kerstin Ballard, it was a free kick from outside the box at Sixways, and somehow it trickled in.

Can we get a word about the players you have played with over the years? 

There have been so many (obviously!), and I’ve been so lucky to play alongside great players, but more importantly, great people. I’ve been fortunate to create lasting friendships with many people along the way, all who’ve helped through difficult times and times that we’ve been able to celebrate too. Playing for Worcester City Women was an honour, and I hope I’ve been able to have a lasting impact on those I connected with during my time at the club and into the future.

Thank you to everyone who became a teammate over the years, from the First Team to the Reserves. I was always of the mentality that I’d take a yellow card for you all - luckily, I think I managed to escape quite a few of those!

Photo by Sam Dawson Photography

How excited are you to continue at the club and what are you most looking forward to about your new role? 

I’m really excited to continue my time at the club, albeit in a very different role. Having coached previously, I’m looking forward to using my experience, skills, and knowledge to support and develop players within the Performance Squad.

I’m also looking forward to working alongside a fantastic group of staff, many of whom I’ve known for several years.

You’re going into the new role with a wealth of experience. How do you think you can get the best out of the unbelievable talent pool we have here at WCWFC within the Performance Squad?

I hope to draw on my experiences as a player at the club and use them to create a positive environment, where each individual feels supported and can reach their full potential. 

It will be a new challenge for me, but I’m delighted to be stepping into this role and continuing my relationship with WCWFC.

Have you got any words for our supporters? 

A massive thank you! Without you, the club wouldn’t be where it is now, and I know that will continue to be the case moving forward. Special mention to Paul and Gav, who were there from the beginning of my journey. I’m forever grateful for your support, particularly during my injury.

Lastly, what does Worcester City Women mean to you?

It has meant the world to me to represent the club. I feel that I wasn’t able to contribute as much as I’d have liked beyond promotion, but I’m proud to have played a massive part in the history, and that can’t be erased. Everyone involved at the club over my time playing has impacted me in a positive way, and I’ll always reflect back on those memories fondly.