West Ham Women v Leicester City Women

ONES TO WATCH
THE
MANAGER
T
oday’s fixture will be
the second match
in the dugout for new
Leicester City manager
Willie Kirk, who replaced
Lydia Bedford ahead of
the Foxes’ 4-0 defeat to
WSL leaders, Arsenal on
November 6.
That was, of course,
a tough debut for the
46-year-old, who is
seeking his club’s first
point of the season
in east London today.
Kirk had previously
been brought to the
Midlands-based side as
a Director of Women’s
and Girls’ Football in
July but transitioned
to the dugout in early
November. Of note is
that Kirk has a wealth of
experience as a manager.
A career that started as
an academy coach at
Livingston FC and later
Hibernian has also taken
the 44-year-old to Bristol
City and seen him work
as an assistant manager
at Manchester United.
The Edinburgh-born
coach saw his most
recent WSL managerial
experience come on
Merseyside, where he
was the manager of
Everton until 16 October
2021. He will seek a
change of fortunes for
his Leicester City side in
the WSL today.
CARRIE JONES (MF)
A product of the Cardiff City
Ladies youth set-up, Carrie
Jones has joined Leicester City
on loan from Manchester United
for the duration of the 2022/23
Barclay’s Women’s Super League
season. The Welsh 19-year-old
earned her first international
call-up aged just 15 and joined
Manchester United from Cardiff
in 2020. She has made 10
appearances for the Red Devils
– in all competitions – but is set
for more regular game-time at
Leicester City.
CJ BOTT (DF)
Wellington-born defender
CJ Bott saw the first part
of her Leicester City career
hampered by injury after
she signed from the Foxes in
March 2022. The New Zealand
international arrived at LCFC
Women from Norwegian
first-division side Vålerenga.
She has also featured for
Bundesliga side FF USV and
Swedish team Vittsjö GIK.
ERIN SIMON (DF)
Former Hammer Erin Simon
joined Leicester City in July
2022 following a spell with
National Women’s Soccer
League side Racing Louisville.
Capped at the U23 level by the
United States, Simon saw her
first taste of the WSL come in
east London, during a two-year
spell with West Ham United. The
highlight of her time in Claret
and Blue was a run to the FA
Cup Final in 2019. She made her
Foxes debut against Tottenham
Hotspur last September.
COME ON YOU IRONS 21