:Draft:Rebecca Sawiuk

Rebecca completed her UEFA B Licence at 21, and her UEFA A Licence in 2014, at 25. Sawiuk spent 3 years working in community, rec and school football in Cambridgeshire for both Cambridge united and Cambridge City Council between 2006-2009. She moved to study a sports coaching degree at Manchester Metropolitan University{{Cite web |title=Rebecca Sawiuk |url=https://www.mmu.ac.uk/individual-profile/rebecca-sawiuk |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Manchester Metropolitan University |language=en}} between 09-2014. During this time, she worked with Crewe Alexandra performance pathway u14, u11 and moved to Stoke City following the FA's decision to close Crewe{{Cite web |last=Morse |first=Peter |date=2011-06-14 |title=Crewe Alex: MP vows to tackle FA over axed girls centre of excellence |url=https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/crewe-alex-mp-vows-tackle-5607960 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=crewechronicle |language=en}}. Here she coached the u13, u15 age groups which included a young, Hannah Hampton{{Cite web |last=Association |first=The Football |title=England Football player profile: Hannah Hampton {{!}} England Football |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/england/womens-senior-team/squad/hannah-hampton |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=https://www.englandfootball.com |language=en}}. In 2013-2015, an opportunity to work within the National system followed, Rebecca held the role of u15s Assistant Coach on the national talent camps which helped to develop the best young players in the country. Her work for the FA included holding the role of u17s Head Coach on the SW performance pathway{{Cite journal |last=Ye |first=Xin |title=supp1-3184980.pdf |url=https://doi.org/10.1109/lgrs.2022.3184980/mm1 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=doi.org|doi=10.1109/lgrs.2022.3184980/mm1 }}where she coached the u17s age group whilst supporting with the research process.

Rebecca has held coaching roles for London Bees, Millwall Women (now London City Lionesses) and Oxford Women who all competed in the Barclays WSL2. In 2014-2015{{Citation |title=Women's Super League 2 |date=2025-05-13 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_Super_League_2 |access-date=2025-05-13 |language=en}} Sawiuk was Assistant Coach at London Bees following the departure of Head Coach Donati, subsequently she was appointed interim Head Coach for the Bees. Sawiuk was in the dugout for the first ever WSL2 match an (A) 0-3 win {{Cite web |last=Association |first=The Football |title=London Bees ease to victory over Oxford in FA WSL opener |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2014/apr/14/wsl-2-oxford-united-london-bees-abingdon |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.thefa.com |language=en}}at Oxford. In 2016 she was appointed{{Cite news |date=2016-01-22 |title=Rebecca Sawiuk: Millwall Lionesses appoint new manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35384587 |access-date=2025-05-13 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} as the Manager{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Carrie |date=2016-03-15 |title=Women's Super League Preview |url=https://thesetpieces.com/latest-posts/womens-super-league-preview/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=The Set Pieces |language=en-GB}} of Millwall {{Cite web |url=https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2016/february/millwall-lionesses-add-three-signings-to-their-squad/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.millwallfc.co.uk}}and succeeded Dan Milnar, during this time she oversaw{{Cite web |last=Association |first=The Football |title=FA Women's Super League: 2016 fixtures released |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2016/jan/27/fa-womens-super-league-2016-fixtures |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.thefa.com |language=en}} 1-1{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9rtERcSRU |title=Millwall Lionesses 2-2 Everton Ladies {{!}} Goals & Highlights |date=2016-03-29 |last=England |access-date=2025-05-14 |via=YouTube}}, 2-2{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9rtERcSRU |title=Millwall Lionesses 2-2 Everton Ladies {{!}} Goals & Highlights |date=2016-03-29 |last=England |access-date=2025-05-14 |via=YouTube}} results against Everton, 3 -1 win against Watford {{Cite web |date=2016-02-09 |title=Lionesses roar past Golden Girls in extra-time as FA Cup dreams come to an end |url=https://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/sport/football/lionesses-roar-past-golden-girls-in-extra-time-as-fa-cup-dreams-come-to-an-end-796193 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Hemel Today |language=en}} 5-3 win against Oxford and a 1-1 draw with eventual champions Yeovil{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WAKwA5-v_g |title=Yeovil Town Ladies 1-1 Millwall Lionesses {{!}} Goals & Highlights |date=2016-04-25 |last=England |access-date=2025-05-14 |via=YouTube}}. Rebecca's Millwall side also fell to a 2-0 away loss in the FA Cup to WSL1 side Reading{{Cite web |url=https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2016/march/millwall-lionesses-suffer-sse-womens-fa-cup-exit/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.millwallfc.co.uk}}. After a 6 month stint, she departed to focus on a different career opportunity. In 2017-2019{{Cite web |title=Women and Oxford Bus Company Build Partnership {{!}} Oxford United Football Club |url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2017/september/a |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.oufc.co.uk |language=en}} Rebecca held the role of Technical Director at Oxford United where she oversaw the programme from u9-u21. She additionally supported Andy Cook as a first team coach following a departure to his backroom team for the 18-19 season. During this time the u16s reached the final 4 of the FA Youth Cup and lost 0-3 to Arsenal in the semifinal, the furthest an Oxford team had ever reached.{{Cite web |title=Under 16 Girls Go Out Of FA Youth Cup {{!}} Oxford United Football Club |url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2019/march/u16-girls |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.oufc.co.uk |language=en}}

Sawiuk spent 4 seasons (18-22) coaching at Watford Academy and was appointed by Head of Football Barry Quin. She held her role under a variety of different Academy Managers and Head of Coaching staff, Jimmy Gilligan, Richard Johnson, Richard Thomas and Darren Searle. Rebecca mainly worked in the YDP phase but assisted throughout the pathway. She is one of only a few female coaches to have held roles in a male football Academy.

Rebecca was appointed Director of Football{{Cite web |date=2022-03-10 |title=Sawiuk appointed as Loughborough's new Director of Football |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2022/march/sawiuk-appoinited-director-of-football/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Loughborough University |language=en}}at Loughborough University in April 2022, following her departure from the University of Hertfordshire. Sawiuk oversaw a successful spell for the men and women's performance football offer, men and women's futsal and all BUCS and rec football on campus. Loughborough University is the best University in the world for sports-related subjects{{Cite web |title=Number one in the world for sports-related subjects |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/about/qs-world-sport/#:~:text=Loughborough%20has%20been%20named%20the,and%20our%20phenomenal%20research%20impact. |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.lboro.ac.uk |language=en}} and has been for 9 years in a row and has won the BUCS national competition for 43 years running{{Cite web |date=2024-07-19 |title=Loughborough University wins incredible 43rd consecutive BUCS title |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2024/july/loughborough-wins-another-bucs-title/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Loughborough University |language=en}}. Loughborough is renowned for its high-performance environment {{Cite web |title=Performance {{!}} Sport {{!}} Loughborough University |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/performance/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.lboro.ac.uk}}and is home{{Cite web |title=A World-Class Venue - Elite Athlete Centre |url=https://www.eliteathletecentre.co.uk/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel |language=en}} to many of the best athletes in the UK.{{Cite web |title=Athletes {{!}} Loughborough athletes on the global stage {{!}} Loughborough University |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/athletes-global-stage/athletes/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.lboro.ac.uk}} During Rebecca's time at Loughborough, she supported the men's performance side with their groundbreaking promotion into Step 4 of the non-league pyramid{{Cite web |date=2024-08-01 |title=Loughborough Students ready for historic Step 4 debut in Northern Premier League Midlands Division |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/news/2024/august/lboro-students-step-4/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Loughborough University |language=en}}, with support from the FA and the non-league board to break through {{Cite web |last=Poulain |first=Alan |title=Loughborough Students statement from the FA |url=https://theucl.co.uk/2023/04/21/loughborough-students-statement-from-the-fa/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=United Counties Football League |language=en-GB}}the historical red tape. She led the growth and development {{Cite web |date=2022-07-27 |title=Lightning Football agree season long loan with Leicester City Academy Graduates |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2022/july/lightning-seaon-long-loan/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Loughborough University |language=en}}of the Loughborough Lighting football{{Cite web |title=Football {{!}} Sport {{!}} Loughborough University |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/performance/lightning/football/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.lboro.ac.uk}} programme and appointed current Head Coach Charles Baxter. {{Cite web |date=2023-01-30 |title=Alumnus Baxter appointed new Loughborough Lightning Head Coach |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2023/january/alumnus-baxter-appointed-as-new-head-coach/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Loughborough University |language=en}} Alongside this role Rebecca held the title of Head Coach of the English Universities{{Cite web |title=EUS |url=https://englishuniversitiessport.co.uk/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=englishuniversitiessport.co.uk}} Women's programme from 2019-2023.

Sawiuk joined Burnley{{Cite web |title=REBECCA SAWIUK IS NEW BURNLEY FC WOMEN MANAGER {{!}} BurnleyFC |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/rebecca-sawiuk-is-new-burnley-fc-women-manager |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.burnleyfootballclub.com |language=en}} as Head Coach following the departure of Jay Bradford to Rangers in June 2023. Rebecca lead Burnley to their highest ever finish in the Women's FA National League North 23-24.{{Cite web |title=WOMEN'S SEASON REVIEW: PART ONE {{!}} BurnleyFC |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/womens-season-review-part-one-23-24 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.burnleyfootballclub.com |language=en}} In the 23-24 season Burnley reached the 4th round of the FA Cup competition and were drawn against Birmingham City Women who at the time the game was played sat 1st in the WSL2. Burnley lost the game 1-3 AET.{{Cite web |title=WOMEN'S REPORT: BURNLEY 1 - 3 BIRMINGHAM CITY {{!}} BurnleyFC |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/women-match-report-burnley-1-v-3-birmingham-city |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.burnleyfootballclub.com |language=en}} Burnley finished the FA Cup competition as the highest scorers with 23 goals.{{Cite web |title=2023/24 WOMEN'S SEASON IN NUMBERS {{!}} BurnleyFC |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/202324-womens-season-in-numbers |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.burnleyfootballclub.com |language=en}}

Rebecca was recruited for the Ultimate Goal TV{{Cite web |title=http://www.ultimategoal.tv/ |url=https://www.ultimategoal.tv/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.ultimategoal.tv}}show which was originally broadcast on BTSport and can now be watched on ITVX. Sawiuk was part of Racheal Brown-Finnis, Eni Aluko, Rosie Kmita and Molly Kmitas{{Citation |title=Ultimate Goal |date=2020-11-03 |type=Sport |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13652978/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |others=Patricia Kalis, Peter Crouch, Jill Scott |publisher=Zig Zag Productions}} coaching support team. The show run for 2 seasons, each with 6 episodes. As the show searches for the next big untapped talent in the women's game a variety of guest coaches support the search; Freddie Lungburg, Casey Stoney, Peter Crouch, Rio Ferdinand, Fara Williams and Jill Scott to name a few.

Born in Cambridge, she attended the Chesterton Community College{{Cite web |title=Welcome |url=https://ccc.tela.org.uk/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Chesterton Community College |language=en-GB}} and moved onto Long Road Sixth Form College. Rebecca comes from a family with a rich football history associated with Cambridge United. Her grandad Arthur Morgan{{Cite web |title=Category: Arthur Morgan |url=http://www.100yearsofcoconuts.co.uk/news/category/arthur-morgan |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=100 YEARS OF COCONUTS |language=en}} played in goal for Cambridge United in 1947-1955 and his brother Jack Morgan first dropped the Cambridge United anthem 'got a lovely bunch of coconuts' at the Abbey.

Sawiuk holds a MSc in Sports Coaching (MMU), League Manager Diploma (Liverpool Hope) and a PGcert in Teaching (University of Hertfordshire). Rebecca is a published academic in the field of sports coaching; specifically mentoring,{{Cite journal |last1=Sawiuk |first1=Rebecca |last2=Taylor |first2=William G. |last3=Groom |first3=Ryan |date=2018-07-24 |title=Exploring formalized elite coach mentoring programmes in the UK: 'We've had to play the game' |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13573322.2016.1248386 |journal=Sport, Education and Society |language=en |volume=23 |issue=6 |pages=619–631 |doi=10.1080/13573322.2016.1248386 |issn=1357-3322}} coach education,{{Cite journal |last1=Sawiuk |first1=Rebecca |last2=Lewis |first2=Colin J. |last3=Taylor |first3=William George |date=2021-01-02 |title="Long ball" and "balls deep": a critical reading of female coach-learners' experiences of the UEFA A licence |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21640629.2021.1874688 |journal=Sports Coaching Review |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=110–127 |doi=10.1080/21640629.2021.1874688 |issn=2164-0629}} women's football{{Cite web |last=Sawiuk |first=Rebecca |date=2021-07-16 |title=Euro 2020 set England up for a strong World Cup in 2022 |url=https://theconversation.com/euro-2020-set-england-up-for-a-strong-world-cup-in-2022-164604 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}} and gender.{{Cite journal |last1=Clarkson |first1=Beth G. |first2=Parry ,Keith D. |first3=Sawiuk ,Rebecca |first4=Grubb ,Laura |last5=and Kavanagh |first5=Emma |date=2025-03-04 |title=Transforming the English coaching landscape: Black women football coaches' acts of resistance against racism and sexism |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23750472.2022.2148720 |journal=Managing Sport and Leisure |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=156–171 |doi=10.1080/23750472.2022.2148720 |issn=2375-0472}} Her work has close to 200 citations.

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