Mansfield Town Ladies have made history by employing the clubs first ever female Manager as Andi Bell replaces Tony Palmer as first team manager after Palmer, who enjoyed four seasons at the club, left in May.

Bell steps into the managerial shoes following nine months as player/coach and assistant manager at the East Midlands Womens Premier League side and includes the likes of Nottingham Forest and Derby County Ladies on her playing CV.

This is not the first woman to be inducted into the elite settings of Mansfield Town Football Club of course as Carolyn Radford, CEO has become a popular symbol for women in football in recent years.

On the news of Bell becoming Manager, Director of Ladies Football Allan Woodfield stated “We are delighted on the appointment and Andi has the capabilities to be a top Manager at the highest level, We have also made history for our club which is a continued target for us, having on board more female coaches to which Andi will lead as an excellent role model”

In her own response to becoming the clubs first ever female manager Bell described her new position as “a proud moment” for herself and for women in football in general.

Elsewhere Notts County Women have announced Thomas Hodges as their Development Team Manager. Thomas who joins from Derby County Women stated “I can’t wait to get started with this club which shares my ambition”.

And finally congratulations to the girls at Nottingham Forest women who took part in the 100k in May. Reds Midfielder Sophie Walton set up a Just Giving Page which you can donate to here and along with some of her team-mates ran and walked through the month of May to raise money for the Darby Rimmer Motor Neurone Disease Foundation raising over £1,000 so far to a worthy cause.

Defender Georgie Hewitt stated after completing her 100k “I feel so proud to have been a part of raising not only money for Darby Rimmer but to have also hopefully raised awareness of how life changing Motor Neurone Disease is and how devastating it can be for not only the person but everyone surrounding them” whilst Lyndsey Harken said she was “Proud to have been a part of this and hope that the money raised will be able to help towards the fight to attack MND.”

Finally the last word should go to Sophie who on completion of her fantastic achievement stated “And I am DONE!! So proud to be a part of this amazing group of people. We will continue our fight to attack Motor Neurone Disease.” Remember you can still donate to this worthy cause by clicking here

Main image @MTFCLadies Andi Bell the new Manager of Mansfield Town Ladies FC.