The Julie Chipchase Coaching Legacy

Julie Chipchase was a local Yorkshire girl who loved football. Commonly known as “Chippy” she is regarded as a pioneering female football coach who played an important role in the development of Women’s football in England.

Julie had a long association with Doncaster Belles and served the club as a Player, Manager and Director of Football. She also managed Leeds United for 4 years and spent 15 years working for the Football association in various roles.

Julie Chipchase was the sixth female in England to obtain a UEFA A Licence. In June 2009, Julie was the only female candidate in The Football Association's (FA) intake for that year UEFA pro licence. She worked with the England women's Under-15, Under-17 teams and Under 23 teams. Julie ran The FA's first female-UEFA B LIcence in 2015–16. By 2017 Chipchase was among the most highly-qualified football coaches in England. Despite her death in 2021 her legacy still remains in the women’s game.

Julie sadly passed away through cancer in 2021 at the age of 60, she was a friend, teammate, coach and manager. We have set up The Julie Chipchase Coaching Legacy to provide financial support to aspiring female coaches who want to develop their coaching skills through certified FA coaching Licences. This will enable the Women’s Game to continue to grow, provide more female coaches at both at Grassroots and higher level of women’s football.

It will enable more grassroots Clubs to set up girl’s pathways. Having more female coaches within clubs will help girls feel more confident to play, it will encourage girl’s football even more in the community. Having a female coach gives girls a role model that they can look up to trust and confide in. Female coaches have a better understanding of the unique challenges and experiences of young female footballer’s and they can provide specialised training and support.