SAWIUK ON ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR WOMEN’S GAME AT BURNLEY

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Newly appointed women’s manager delighted to pick up exciting Clarets project

2023-07-30T08:00:00.000Z

SAWIUK ON ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR WOMEN’S GAME AT BURNLEY

Newly appointed women’s manager delighted to pick up exciting Clarets project

2023-07-30T08:00:00.000Z

Clarets head to Liverpool for season-opener

New Burnley FC Women Manager Rebecca Sawiuk believes there’s ample potential for women’s football at the Club and can’t wait to build on the progress that’s been made already.

Upon her arrival, the new boss talked about the contribution of the Lionesses in growing the game, embracing Burnley's culture and positive conversations with Chairman Alan Pace and First Team Manager Vincent Kompany.

“When I think about Burnley, the last few seasons there’s been big ambition, huge amount of investment, the women have grown and done really well. It’s a great place to be, coming into a solid infrastructure.

“Lola was a huge part in my decision to come here, as Head of Women’s Football, the opportunity to work alongside her and work on this project together, so she was a big factor in me coming here.

“At Loughborough I was Director of Football, so I oversaw men’s football, women’s football, futsal, alongside lots of other different roles and responsibilities there. I’ve been in football for about 16 years now, I’ve done five seasons in boys academies, held head coach and assistant roles in the women’s game, worked in youth development pathways for women’s football as well, so a really diverse portfolio of experience.”

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Women’s football at Burnley FC has seen real growth in recent seasons, with the team finishing third in the Northern Premier Division of the FA Women’s National League last season.

“Jay and Jonno last year did a wonderful job both on and off pitch moving this club forward, and I feel really privileged to get the opportunity to build on the good work that they’ve done.

“When I’ve looked at the squad, analysed some of the footage and the performances from last year, Burnley were an excellent ball playing, possession-based team that were exciting and now I can’t believe that I’m the person that gets to work with that group of players. Huge amount of talent, some players in there with wonderful skillsets and I can’t wait to get on the grass and work with them. I think we’ll be a real force to be reckoned with in the league this year, up there with the likes of Wolves, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, and everyone here wants to be challenging at the top end of the table.”

Embracing the town’s ethos is a high priority to the new manager in the dugout, with Sawiuk keen to ensure Burnley’s characteristics of hard work and a strong desire to compete are embedded in the team’s playing style.

“So, I’ll be bringing in a team that represents Burnley town, it’s something that’s really important to me. We’ll be hardworking, physical, we’ll have a real desire to want to go into every game and be the best version of ourselves we can be. We’ll be combative and very physical, hard to break down and I think that’s really important to me, that we represent the town, and we represent the people that work at this football club and our fanbase here."

Prior to joining the Clarets, Sawiuk had calls with Chairman Alan Pace and Vincent Kompany, to talk the Club ethos and share experiences.

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“It was a fantastic opportunity that I got to speak to Alan and Vinny first off. My conversations with Alan were really positive, he’s very supportive, fully invested in the women here, which is exciting that the top, top guy at the football club is that invested, excited and interested in watching what we’re doing here in the women’s space. For me, that was really important for me, just to know that we’ve got his backing.

“He set some very clear expectations of me, we had a really good chat about creating an identity for Burnley FC Women and what he wants that to look like, which really aligned to myself and my core values. So, I feel like I can deliver on that for Alan.

“Vinny again, very warm, very approachable, open-door policy for me in my time at the football club which is a great opportunity for me to learn and be around. He’s very invested in the women, he’s very supportive and wants to get down to training and games and have coffees and conversations here so I’ll definitely be taking him up on that offer when he returns from being abroad.”

With the scale and popularity of women’s sport in America, owners Alan Pace and the investment of JJ and former US Women’s National Team (USWNT) international Kealia Watt, has cemented the women’s team as a key focus for the club moving forward - which the new manager says gives her a real boost.

“The fact that Alan is so invested and enthusiastic about Burnley women here is inspiring to all of us. It means that we have got the backing and infrastructure of everyone at the club. So, for example my first full day, walking around Turf Moor, finding out about all the people in the commercial team, the people in the marketing team, the people in the community. There is not a single person working at this football club that is not invested, asking questions about Burnley women, wanting them to do well, so I think Alan’s philosophy and approach from the top of the tree here is filtered down to everybody in this organisation. What an exciting time for me to arrive and be a part of that.

“It’s brilliant [JJ and Kealia Watt], not only to have iconic sportspeople but to have female role models like that, players who have played internationally. I think she scored the fastest goal in history didn’t she as well, so to have people like who are invested in Burnley women and Burnley Football Club is great.

“I think for us it puts Burnley women on the map internationally, so we can increase our fanbases, expose our brand and hopefully get out into that worldwide space. I’d love to see them both at a Burnley women’s game this season if they’re free!”

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