FC United Women’s Team: Jennie Swarbrick Resignation. Welcome to Sam Irvine.

The club regrets to announce that Jennie Swarbrick has decided to step down from her position as our Women’s First Team Manager. We are pleased to confirm that we have appointed a capable and experienced successor in Samuel Irvine , who will continue to build on the strong foundation Jennie has laid.

Jennie, together with Brian Richardson, assisted in the search and appointment of the new manager. She will also continue to serve as our Community Manager, allowing her to dedicate herself entirely to this vital area of the club’s operations.

Jennie said: “This has been an incredibly tough decision, and I’m deeply saddened to be stepping down at this time, especially after recently committing to a two-year contract extension. After much heartache and consideration, I’ve realised that juggling a full-time job alongside the demands of managing the football team, while missing out on valuable time with my family—especially watching my daughter grow up—is too much to balance. This decision was agonising, but I believe it is the right choice for me and my family. I’m immensely proud of what we achieved last season, and I have every confidence that the team will continue to go from strength to strength. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the club for their incredible support during my time as manager, and to express my gratitude to the players, backroom team, support staff, and our amazing fans.”

Jennie will manage her final game for the club here against Darwen next Sunday (8th September)?before handing over the reins to Sam Irvine.

Sam joins us after spending the last two seasons with Tranmere Rovers as their women’s first team manager. In his first season with Rovers, he led the team to victory in the Cheshire County Cup with victory over Stockport County. Prior to joining Tranmere, Sam managed Bury AFC’s women’s reserve team, leading them to a league and cup double in 2022. Alongside other qualifications, Sam holds a UEFA B coaching licence and has a real focus on developing players. In his two seasons at Tranmere, he gave debuts to more than a dozen players from the club’s development pathway, many of whom have gone on to become first team regulars.

Sam said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining FC United. Coming from Heywood, I’ve always been aware of the club, and I admire the ethos, history, and strong connection with the community, and it’s fantastic to now be a part of that. I’d like to thank the club for putting their trust in me, and a special thanks to Jennie for the warm handover and her ongoing support during this transition.

I’m eager to get started and build on the solid foundations already in place. My focus will be on developing the team, creating a positive environment, and ensuring that we play an exciting, competitive style of football that our fans can be proud of. After meeting the players and support staff today, I’m confident we have a talented squad that’s ready to embrace the challenges ahead. I look forward to meeting supporters in the coming weeks and working together to make this season a successful one on and off the pitch.”

Simon Preston, Board Lead for Football, commented: “While we are saddened by Jennie's decision, we fully respect her reasons and appreciate the honest and thoughtful conversations we've had throughout this process. Jennie took on a challenging role when she joined last season, and despite the setback of relegation, leading the team to victory in the Manchester FA Challenge Cup in May showcased the resilience and determination she instilled in the squad. Jennie has played a crucial role in professionalising the women’s team setup and has worked tirelessly with the board to establish a clear vision for women’s football, leaving a lasting legacy. We sincerely thank Jennie for her dedication and hard work and look forward to her continued contributions as Community Manager.

On behalf of everyone at the club, I’d like to offer a warm welcome to Sam as he steps into the dugout here at Broadhurst Park. We scoured our collective network in looking for Jennie’s replacement, and Sam was an outstanding candidate. We look forward to Sam taking charge of his first game against Wythenshawe FC in a couple of weeks, and we know he’ll be able to count on your fantastic support.”