Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast8 Touko 2025

Inside Kelly Simmons’ storied career at the FA

Joining us today is someone who’s been instrumental in reshaping and driving the women’s game forward in England: Kelly Simmons OBE! From putting the WSL on the map to championing investment in grassroots pathways - and everything in between - Kelly’s 30-year career at the FA has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Kelly reflects on her journey, the highs and lows along the way and whether she’d do anything differently if she was starting out again. Plus, she gives her thoughts on why WSL relegation shouldn’t - and probably won’t - be scrapped, tells us why the exclusion of the women’s game from the Independent Football Regulator is a huge missed opportunity and gives her take on the FA’s controversial decision to ban transgender women from playing women’s football.

Kelly is speaking at a Fair Game conference later this month. For more details and to get tickets, click here.

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Upfront is your definitive women's football podcast, the Lionesses and every team in the WSL – Arsenal, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Brighton, Charlton Athletic, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Liverpool, London City Lionesses, Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs, and West Ham United. We'll take you inside the biggest rivalries, like Arsenal vs Chelsea and Man City vs Manchester United. Subscribe for new podcasts every Tuesday throughout the season.

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