Alice Weekes | Senior success can help achieve long-term aims

Swansea City’s head of women’s football Alice Weekes feels success for the senior women’s side can be crucial in the long-term development of the game in south-west Wales. 

The Swans are six-time champions in the Genero Adran Premier, and are currently in the hunt for their seventh title, trailing league leaders Cardiff City Women by eight points with a game in hand.

Weekes has outlined a desire to have more girls across south Wales playing football, with the ambition of introducing a development pathway to help raise standards and the number of opportunities to enjoy the game.

As she begins to work towards this longer-term goal, Weekes believes having a successful first-team can be vital in driving positive change.

“It’s hugely important to remain successful,” said Weekes. 

“That’s where the initial interest comes from when we look at media and the commercial side of things and getting people to games," she said.

"They want to watch a successful team and I know Swansea have had amazing success in the past and I’m sure that will continue into the future.

“Long term, we don’t want to get in the way of the football but if we work closely with the players and the coaching staff, I think we can make something really special here.

“I know (chairman) Andy [Coleman] is really keen to get the academy set up for the girls which is huge in terms of bringing in stars of the future, and a successful senior side can help with that.

“With my background, I think the commercial opportunities are huge and I’d like to think long term we will develop a commercial strategy that is suited towards the women’s team almost as a separate entity. 

"It’s a different product and a different audience and there is so much we can do with that.”