Wolverhampton Wanderers Women are stepping into uncharted territory this season as they begin life as a fully professional outfit for the first time in the club's history, following promotion to Women's Super League Two in May.
The achievement, secured with victory over Plymouth in the third-tier promotion playoff, capped years of grassroots effort for a team that once operated on shoestring resources. Head coach Dan McNamara, who has guided the side for eight and a half years, recalled the stark contrast between then and now. "Initially, I think my 'office' was me sitting in the driver's seat of an old Ford Focus," he said. "I first walked on to an Astroturf with about seven bibs, three footballs and 58 players and probably thought: 'What the hell have I done?' Now I'm in my own office. We've got a fantastic setup here."
McNamara, who combines his coaching role with duties in the Royal Air Force's elite athlete scheme, has extended his commitment to the RAF for another year while leading Wolves in WSL2. He missed the club's near-miss playoff defeat to Southampton in 2022 because he was stationed in the Falkland Islands at the time. Last year brought fresh heartbreak when Wolves finished second in the league but discovered the club had not applied for a promotion licence.
This year, under new executive chair Nathan Shi, the club's investment in the women's side has transformed. Players now have access to private changing cabins, a dedicated meeting and analysis room, and additional training pitches are planned. The club has also appointed Russ Fraser, formerly of Reading, West Ham, Leicester, Liverpool and Saudi side Al-Qadsiah, as head of women's and girls football.
Many players who helped secure promotion have since turned professional, giving up other jobs to focus solely on football. Captain Anna Morphet, who resigned from her position as a physio just a week after the playoff win, reflected on the club's humble beginnings: "We used to collect the kit out the back of Macca's car boot. Those 90 minutes [against Plymouth] were the opportunity to change our lives. The work that's gone on over the summer and in pre-season has been immense and I think now it's about believing that we are ready for this level."
The recruitment drive has brought in experienced WSL talent including Mel Lawley, Jasmine Matthews, Yana Daniëls and Mel Filis, alongside loan goalkeeper Emily Orman from London City Lionesses. McNamara emphasized the club's careful approach to signings. "We don't want to just be a team that goes up and then straight back down, so the work was almost immediately after the playoff," he said. "We wanted to bring in the right technical players, but also players that represent this great club and the city."
Beyond the training ground, the squad has bonded through unconventional team-building activities, including a bouldering trip to the Lake District and a wrestling session at Wolverhampton Wrestling Club. Midfielder Tammi George, who returned to Wolves after a spell at Sheffield United, said the Lake District trip in particular strengthened team spirit: "That brought the group together so much because people were put through difficult situations and needed an arm around them at times. Everybody really saw the benefit."
Ahead of their first home league match against Sheffield United, the players also toured Wolverhampton, visiting local landmarks and helping run a community session for children through the club's foundation. Longtime club chair Jenny Wilkes, who has held the role since 1999, expressed pride in how far the team has come from its amateur roots.
Wolves opened their WSL2 campaign with a 2-0 defeat away to promotion favorites Newcastle. Fraser remains confident about the season ahead, saying: "Wherever we finish in the league, I want other teams to go: 'Wow, Wolves were so much better than I thought they were.' I think we've got a good group here."
Based on reporting from The Guardian.