Events
WOMEN’S PANEL EVENT 2025: MEET THE PANEL
Thursday 6 March 2025 at 7.30pm – Cherry Red Records Stadium
Tickets are FREE and everyone is welcome!
The Women’s Panel Event 2025, presented by WOWSA, takes place on Thursday 6th March, 7.30pm, at the Cherry Red Records Stadium and online. This year you will hear from four inspiring women who have successful careers in the sports industry – and a passion for AFC Wimbledon!
Jenny Archer, Sophie Hosking, Tammy Parlour and Charlotte Samuelson have all carved out significant careers in various areas of sports.
We are delighted to welcome back Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP who will once again introduce the evening before the panel discussion begins.
The four panellists will bring a unique perspective that highlights the intersection of gender, passion and perseverance in an often male-dominated industry. You will hear about each of their journey’s in the industry, find out how they have seen the landscape for women in sports evolve over the course of their careers, what challenges they’ve faced and what their hopes are for the future of women who want to pursue careers in sports.
MEET THE 2025 PANEL:
JENNY ARCHER
Prior to becoming a coach Jenny Archer was a 400m and 800m runner. She moved into coaching and was approached in 1987 by Bobby Gould and assistant Don Howe to work as a fitness coach for Wimbledon FC First and Youth teams; an honour, as she has been a life-long Dons fan. Jenny remained with Wimbledon for 10 years; doing extra individual work with players including Dennis Wise, Terry Phelan, Vinny Jones, John Fashanu, Neal Ardley, Carl Asaba and Stephen Sidwell, to name a few. Following this she joined Fulham Women’s team in 1999 and worked with Marieanne Spacey, Rachel Yankey, and Katie Chapman.
Jenny decided to change direction in 2002 into Para Sport and became David Weirs life-long coach. taking him to many, many successes including 4 Gold Medals at the London Paralympics and an 8 times winner in the London Marathon.
In April 2013, Jenny Archer and David Weir launched the Weir Archer Academy, based at Kingsmeadow Athletics Stadium in Surrey, to help unearth future Paralympic medallists, having successes in the Paris Paralympics last year.
Nearing 81 Jenny is still coaching to this day. She has been awarded for her achievements throughout the years including High Performance Sports Coach UK in 2004, 2008 and 2012, Sunday Times Sports Women Of the Year 2012, the Mussabini UK medal 2012. She was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
Jenny was awarded an MBE in 2014 for services to disabled sport.
SOPHIE HOSKING
A lifelong Wimbledon supporter Sophie’s sporting career started as a teenager playing midfield for Wimbledon Ladies Youth Team. She became a member of the London Rowing Club in Putney and a fixture in British lightweight sculling from 2007. Hosking won a gold medal for Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics lightweight double sculls, along with Kat Copeland.
Sophie trained at Freshfields specialising in intellectual property law. Along with her sporting background, this set the foundation for a natural transition into sports law at the Football Association.
At the FA, Sophie worked on a number of groundbreaking deals for the women’s game. Key highlights included Sky’s (then) record-breaking acquisition of rights in the Women’s Super League and Barclay’s initial title sponsorship. Sophie also worked on the governance and selection policies for the GB women’s team that competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Sophie left the FA to join Cazoo where she headed up the legal team and led on their extensive sports sponsorship negotiations.
Following her experiences at Cazoo, Sophie was enticed to remain in the tech industry and is now General Counsel at Benefex. She stays connected to the sporting world as a trustee of London Youth Rowing and through her role as a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta.
Sophie was awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to rowing.
TAMMY PARLOUR
Tammy co-founded Women’s Sport Trust in 2012 and leads the organisation as CEO. The Women’s Sport Trust is the UK’s leading charity focused on using the power of sport to accelerate gender equality.
Tammy’s role involves working with leaders from across sport, media and business to understand how to practically raise visibility, increase impact and create a stronger women’s sport ecosystem.
Tammy is a Master in the Korean martial art of Hapkido, having practiced for over 40 years. She set up her own Hapkido and meditation school in the early 90’s and still coaches regularly. Tammy holds an MSc in Strength & Conditioning, and post-graduate study into Applied Sport Psychology.
With an interest in women’s football, she also volunteers as a Board Director for her local team – AFC Wimbledon Women – and sits on The FA Women’s National League Board (FAWNL) as a Club Representative.
Tammy was awarded an MBE in 2019 for services to gender equality in sport.
CHARLOTTE SAMUELSON
Charlotte joined World Rugby in January 2022 as Chief Operating Officer. She oversees the organisation’s Global Services division and sits on the Boards of Directors for Rugby World Cup 2025, Rugby World Cup 2027, and the Major League Rugby team, Anthem Rugby Carolina. In her role as COO Charlotte has overarching responsibility for all of World Rugby’s corporate activities, including Finance, Legal, Technology, Risk and HR.
She served as a member of the Board of Surrey County Cricket Club as a non-executive director, and on the Audit and Risk Committee, for eight years until April 2024.
A qualified auditor with degrees in Psychology, and in English and Philosophy, prior to her role at Word Rugby – building on two decades of cross-sector experience in consultancy, risk advisory and internal audit – Charlotte served in senior roles at Close Brothers, Vanquis Bank, Barclays Bank and Grant Thornton, as well as consulting, internal audit and risk management roles at EY, BBC and the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity.
Charlotte has a passion for sport – including the Dons!
PANEL HOST: HANNAH KUMARI
Hannah Kumari will once again host the Women’s Panel Event. Hannah is Campaign Manager of Fans For Diversity at the Football Supporters’ Association.
Hannah is a performer, writer, director and producer who creates original theatre and film. Her aims are to amplify the voices of people from the global majority and break down stereotypes by showcasing diverse experiences, starting with her own.
The Women’s Panel Event 2025 is a hybrid event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium and online, in collaboration with the Dons Trust and AFC Wimbledon, and supported by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA).
The panel event is FREE and open to everyone. Doors open at 6.45pm with the panel discussion at 7.30pm. The bar will be open!
WOMEN’S PANEL EVENT 2025
WOWSA to host second Women’s Panel Event as part of AFC Wimbledon’s International Women’s Day celebrations
Thursday 6 March 2025 at 7.30pm – Cherry Red Records Stadium
Doors open: 6.45pm
Tickets are FREE and everyone is welcome
As part of AFC Wimbledon’s International Women’s Day celebrations WOWSA will be hosting a second Women’s Panel Event on Thursday 6th March at the Cherry Red Records Stadium to hear about the careers and successes of women connected with our club who work in the sports industry. Those unable to join in person will be able to watch live online.
What drives women to work in sport? Where do you start if you want a career in the sports industry? How do you break through and get noticed? Now is your chance to find out at this free event hosted at the home of AFC Wimbledon.
Following last year’s successful inaugural Women’s Panel Event, which delved into the experiences of women who work in and around our club, WOWSA are delighted to host a second panel event. This year we will hear from women who have significant careers in the sports industry – and a passion for AFC Wimbledon. The night will also offer the opportunity to put your questions to the panel.
The 2025 panel line-up is:
Jenny Archer: Former Wimbledon FC fitness coach, and coach of the 10 time Paralympic gold medal winning champion David Weir, and co-founder of the Weir Archer Academy
Sophie Hosking: 2012 Olympic gold medal winning champion Women’s Lightweight Double Skulls rowing. Former Legal Counsel for The Football Association, now General Counsel at Benefex
Tammy Parlour: Co-founder and CEO of the Women’s Sport Trust, Director of AFC Wimbledon Women, and Board member of the Football Association Women’s National League (FAWNL)
Charlotte Samuelson: Chief Operating Officer (COO) of World Rugby, former Non-Executive Director of Surrey County Cricket Club
WOWSA are delighted to welcome back last year’s panel host Hannah Kumari, Campaign Manager of Fans For Diversity at The Football Supporters’ Association, who will once again host this exciting and insightful evening.
The Women’s Panel Event 2025 is a hybrid event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium and online in collaboration with the Dons Trust and AFC Wimbledon, and supported by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA).
We look forward to welcoming you in person or online to this unique event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
The Women’s Panel Event 2025 is FREE and open to everyone. Doors open: 6.45pm. Panel discussion: 7.30pm. The bar will be open to purchase refreshments.
WOWSA Awayday: Harrogate vs AFC Wimbledon Saturday 7 December 2024
Following the successful event to Notts County away last season we are organising another awayday. Positive feedback from our members who joined us on last season included it being “an amazing day” and thanking us “for such a caring and friendly approach” and that it was “a really good way of meeting new people and feeling supported”. We have been liaising with the club who have kindly agreed to arrange a block of tickets so members joining us can sit together at the game.
Please email us if you can join us and we will provide further information including travel details and which pub we will be meeting in pre-match: womenofwimbledon@gmail.com
WOMEN’S PANEL EVENT
Wednesday 6 March 2024 at 7.30pm – Cherry Red Records Stadium
Doors open: 6.45pm
MEET THE PANEL
The Women’s Panel Event, hosted by Women of Wimbledon Supporters Association (WOWSA), takes place on Wednesday 6 March at 7.30pm as part of International Women’s Day later that week. The event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium is in collaboration with AFC Wimbledon, The Dons Trust, and supported by the Football Supporters Association’s Fans For Diversity campaign. The Women’s Panel Event is open to all supporters – not just WOWSA members and women – with the option to join online if you can’t attend in person.
We are delighted to be welcoming Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP to the Women’s Panel Event, Siobhain will be doing an introduction before the panel discussion begins.
The panel is made up of some fantastic women who work and volunteer in key roles across our club. The evening is hosted by Hannah Kumari, Fans for Diversity Campaign Manager for the Football Supporters’ Association’s (FSA).
The Fans for Diversity campaign is a partnership between the Football Supporters’ Association and Kick It Out. Its aim is simple – to celebrate diversity in football to ensure all fans feel safe and welcome at the game, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, faith, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. Football is for everyone, together.
Here’s more on our panel members:
Michele Little has been Chair of the Dons Trust Board since September 2023, she is also an AFCW PLC Director, as well as Finance Committee Chair and Dons Trust Treasurer. She is also the Dons Trust’s trustee representative on both the AFC Wimbledon Foundation and WiSH boards.
Michele is a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor, with an Economics degree from Cambridge. As part of her Dons Trust Treasurer role Michele oversees the Plough Lane Bond.
Sophia Axelsson is the Women’s General Manager at AFC Wimbledon, and has been in the role since February 2022. She sits on the AFC Wimbledon Women’s Board.
As General Manager for the women’s team, Sophia is responsible for anything that happens outside the football pitch, whether that is growing the crowds, social media engagement, income from sponsorships, and anything else that has to do with running a football club – aside from washing the kit!
Jennifer Scott has held the post as Chair of AFC Wimbledon Foundation since 2021.
Jennifer is Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery, a role she has held since April 2017. She is responsible for the artistic vision, management, and strategic leadership of the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery. She is also Governor of Alleyn’s School, Committee Member of The Treasure House Fair, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and Fellow Commoner of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. Jennifer loves the family friendly nature of the AFC Wimbledon and its wide reaching community.
Lou Carton Kelly is Chair of the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (WISA) and an AFC Wimbledon volunteer. Lou was the first elected Chair of the Dons Trust Board when it launched in 2002 and later held the post of AFC Wimbledon’s Operations Director.
Lou served as Vice Chair of Supporters Direct, the national organisation set up to deliver democratic representation within football clubs. She was the driving force behind the foundation of The Dons Trust as Chair of the steering committee. Lou has been a Dons supporter since 1986.
PANEL HOST
Hannah Kumari is the FSA’s Fans for Diversity Campaign Manager.
Hannah is a writer, director and former actor, working across theatre, opera, tv and film. Her play ENG-ER-LAND has toured over 30 venues around the UK. She has appeared on BBC Newsnight, BBC Squad Goals, Talk Sport and BBC Sportshour.
Jane Lonsdale, Chair of WOWSA, said “It’s great that we have so many women working and volunteering at our club. It’s the first time they have been brought together to discuss with fans their experiences in football, their inspirations, successes and challenges. It’s a free hybrid event so I encourage everyone to register early, grab a drink and join in the discussion.”
We look forward to welcoming you in person or online to this unique event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
WOMEN’S PANEL EVENT
Wednesday 6 March 2024 7.30pm – Cherry Red Records Stadium
Doors open: 6.45pm
As part of AFC Wimbledon’s celebration of International Women’s Day, Women of Wimbledon Supporters Association (WOWSA) Women’s Panel Event takes place on Wednesday 6 March at 7.30pm at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
Booking is now open! So come along, grab a drink and join in the discussion. The event is free and open to all fans with the option to join in person or online.
Have you ever wondered what drives women to work and volunteer in football? Could you be inspired to get involved? Now’s your chance to find out at this free event hosted at the home of AFC Wimbledon.
WOWSA has brought together some familiar faces for an open, honest and insightful discussion about their experiences, how and why they got involved, what their roles are, and to answer your questions. The Women’s Panel Event marks the first-time women who hold, or have held, key roles across the club, have come together so supporters can hear from them.
The hybrid event, at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, is presented by WOWSA in collaboration with the Dons Trust and AFC Wimbledon, and supported by Fans for Diversity at the Football Supporters Association (FSA).
The women’s panel line-up is:
Jennifer Scott (Chair, AFC Wimbledon Foundation)
Sophia Axelsson (Women’s General Manager, AFC Wimbledon)
Michele Little (Chair, Dons Trust Board and AFC Wimbledon PLC Director, Finance Committee Chair & DT Treasurer)
Lou Carton-Kelly (Chair, WISA, former Chair Dons Trust Board, former AFC Wimbledon Operations Director)
The event will be hosted by the FSA’s Fans for Diversity Campaign Manager, Hannah Kumari. Hannah is a writer, director and former actor who works across theatre, opera, tv and film. Her play ENG-ER-LAND has toured over 30 venues around the UK. She has appeared on BBC Newsnight, BBC Squad Goals, Talk Sport and BBC Sportshour.
The Fans for Diversity campaign is a partnership between the Football Supporters’ Association and Kick It Out. Its aim is simple – to celebrate diversity in football to ensure all fans feel safe and welcome at the game, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, faith, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. Football is for everyone, together.
Hannah said “I’m looking forward to hosting the Women’s Panel Event at AFC Wimbledon. While there are a number of women working in football, it’s not often that we hear their voices. This panel event will be a great opportunity to find out more from some of the key women at AFC Wimbledon, and hopefully inspire others to get involved”
We look forward to welcoming you in person or online to this unique event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY – WOMEN’S PANEL EVENT
Wednesday 6 March 2024, 7.30pm – Cherry Red Records Stadium
What drives women to work and volunteer in football? What have their experiences been? Could a role in football be for you?
On Wednesday 6th March WOWSA will be holding a Women’s Panel Event in the run up to International Women’s Day (8 March). This hybrid event at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, in collaboration with the Dons Trust and AFC Wimbledon, will be an opportunity to hear from some of the women who hold, or have held, key roles in various areas of our club.
The Women’s Panel Event marks the first time key women with roles across the club have been brought together for an open discussion about their experiences, how and why they got involved, and what their roles are. There will also be the opportunity to put your questions to the panel.
The panel comprises:
Jenny Scott (Chair, AFC Wimbledon Foundation)
Sophia Axelsson (Women’s General Manager, AFC Wimbledon)
Michele Little (Chair, Dons Trust Board and AFC Wimbledon PLC Director, Finance Committee Chair & DT Treasurer)
Lou Carton Kelly (Chair, WISA, former Chair Dons Trust Board, former AFC Wimbledon Operations Director)
The aim of the Women’s Panel Event is to encourage and inspire more women to get involved across all areas of our club. The event is free and open to all fans.
Further details to follow.
WOWSA Social Event: Dulwich Picture Gallery – Berthe Morisot Shaping Impressionism Exhibition
September 2023:
A small group of WOWSA members visited the Dulwich Picture Gallery on 10 September 2023 to see the Berthe Morisot Shaping Impressionism Exhibition. The Director of the gallery Jenny Scott – who is also the Chair of the AFC Wimbledon Foundation – kindly hosted our group of WOWSA members and provided us with a fantastic guided tour of the exhibition.
Berthe Morisot was a celebrated female French impressionist who was part of the founding impressionist group alongside Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro and Edgar Degas. These painters worked together, influenced, inspired and exhibited together in the late 19th century. Their style captured the effects of light and movement on the scenes they observed.
The Dulwich Picture Gallery, working in partnership with Musee Marmottan Money, Paris, has borrowed artworks from 18 international museums and private collectors. They have done a brilliant job of bringing together the most amount of Morisot’s work ever seen and the first Morisot show in the UK for over 70 years. The exhibition outlined her work and the inspiration, along with her personal letters and artefacts to demonstrate her inspiration and style.
Morisot created her paintings and drawings by using traditional art as her inspiration and elevating it in her own impressionist style. As a woman in that period of time, we were fascinated to learn that she would work outside between 6.30am and 9.00am (when women were allowed to work outside alongside their peers) and would finish her artwork at home in her studio.
Her work includes paintings of her husband (who she described as impatient sitter) whilst they were on their honeymoon, and portraits of her sister, niece and daughter.
It was a fascinating trip and a great way to meet other WOWSA members. The visit wasn’t complete without a trip to the gallery’s café.
Thank you to Jenny Scott for providing the opportunity and the tickets for WOWSA members who came along.
We’ll be organising more social events in future so please keep an eye on the WOWSA website and social media platorms – Facebook and X.
Women’s World Cup Screening
England vs Haiti
22 July 2023:
We are delighted to be working in collaboration with AFC Wimbledon and AFC Wimbledon Women on the screening of the England vs Haiti Women’s World Cup game at 10am (kick-off 10.30am) on 22 July in the Silver Lounge at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, Plough Lane. WOWSA members will get a free glass of fizz! The AFC Wimbledon women’s team will also be joining us. Tickets are available £5 for adults and £3 for children (includes a complimentary breakfast roll) or £14 / £4 if you book the screening and the QPR friendly match taking place on the same day.
Launch 18 March 2023:
WOWSA officially launched on 18 March 2023.
Women at the Game 2023:
Linking with the AFC Wimbledon Foundation, this year’s Women at the Game event took place on 18 March 2023. This year’s event was a Mothers Day Special and Mums (or mother-figures) and daughters were invited to come along to experience a live football match for the first time. WOWSA hopes that all those who took part enjoyed their first live football experience.
Previous Event: International Women’s Day 2022
In 2022 the club celebrated International Women’s Day with a series of interviews with women from around the club. Follow the links below to hear about their experiences of AFC Wimbledon.
