
Reading 'still a huge women's club', says new manager
"Behind the scenes, it's just been about making sure that the infrastructure is there to achieve what we want to achieve," said Jackson-Norris. "Three years ago we were preparing for a season in the WSL. Now, three years later, we're preparing for a season at tier five which is an almighty drop off."We've gone from being a full-time professional club to now being in a division that doesn't allow players to be contracted. With that comes all sorts of challenges."
'Think forward'
The women's side currently play their games 20 miles outside of Reading, at Slough Town's Arbour Park."We're still a huge women's club, so we've got a very loyal supporters' base who remain interested in the women's team. "We're fortunate in that sense, but we're playing games outside of Reading which makes it difficult to continue to grow."Certainly the air at the women's and girl's section of the club at the minute is a case of, well, what's happened is outside of our control, we have no influence over it, all we can do is think forward, we don't want to look behind us anymore."Jackson-Norris says he hopes new owner Rob Couhig will be able to help get the women's team back to the top tier. "The priority in the short term for him has been to stabilise the men's first team and to make sure the men's side of the club, and on a lesser scale the academy, are operating at a financially sustainable and sensible way whilst trying to be competitive. "That side of the club is what brings in the majority of the money so that's totally understandable."He's also said that women's side is part of his thinking, they want to be able to help our set-up as much as possible and we are in the medium-to-long-term thinking of the football club and that's great."After an exodus of players following the drop down the divisions, Reading finished eighth of 10 teams in their division.They were defeated 3-2 in their first pre-season game away at Leatherhead FC on Sunday.
You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Households could net thousands of pounds in savings from clean tech
Households with clean tech including heat pumps, solar panels and home charging for electric cars could save £37,000 over 15 years, a report suggests. But high initial costs of adopting the green technologies are a barrier for most people, with 92% of those on lower incomes feeling they are 'out of reach', the research by energy company Ovo warns. The firm is calling for an expansion of grants and low-cost loans to help people make the switch to green tech, particularly low income households, as well as a social tariff to support vulnerable people through the UK's transition to clean energy. And it joins widespread calls to reduce the cost of electricity, which is significantly more expensive than gas due in part to high policy costs added to power bills, to further incentivise the switch to electric heat pumps and cars. The report from Ovo, which has been reviewed by academics from the universities of Exeter, Leeds and Stirling, warns delaying the shift to the clean tech that is critical for the UK's efforts to cut climate emissions has a major financial impact for households. It looks at six green measures: heat pumps, home insulation, solar panels, leased electric vehicles (EV), a home EV charger and a smart meter. The average household installing all the measures would pay out, after incentives, around £15,500 to make the green switch. But they would get the return on their investment within five years, with savings on bills from the insulation, efficient heat pumps, home-generated solar, battery storage of power and EVs which are cheaper to run than petrol equivalents totalling around £17,600 by that point, the study suggests. And 15 years after installation, net savings could total more than £37,000. Even if the cost of inflation and borrowing to invest in the green tech is taken into account, net savings could add up to more than £23,000 over 15 years, the report says. However surveying for the report also found nearly three quarters of people (72%) cited upfront costs as their main reason for delaying adopting green technology, with two thirds (67%) needing to prioritise immediate financial needs over long term savings. And 92% of households with an annual income of less than £30,000 in the survey said green technologies feel 'out of reach' financially. That is despite nearly four fifths (78%) of the more than 4,000 people polled by Strand Partners saying they wanted to decarbonise their home further. People living in private rental homes are in a particular bind, with 81% feeling 'trapped in energy inefficient homes' with landlords not incentivised to pay the upfront costs when bill savings will be realised by their tenants. There was also a lack of knowledge about green technologies, with just 41% of households in the survey aware heat pumps could reduce their energy bills over time, and 64% of respondents were confused about which technologies would be most suitable for their home. But alongside the financial savings clean tech can offer, there is growing evidence energy efficiency can increase property values, reduce exposure to sudden market shocks and improve daily life for example by making homes more comfortable, the report said. David Buttress, Ovo's chief executive, said: 'We've stumbled into a false debate. 'Net zero is framed as expensive and unrealistic – but the data is clear: not decarbonising will cost households and the country far more. 'We talk endlessly about the cost of action and investing in net-zero – but the real crisis is the cost of inaction, and the investment that our energy system would require even without net zero upgrades. 'We need to move away from endless debate and accept that there is a clear economic reason for moving to clean energy sources.' Dr Maximilian Gerrath, of the University of Leeds, said consumers were not just making economic decisions about green tech, 'they're navigating a maze of fear, complexity, and inertia'. 'To accelerate decarbonisation, we must make green homes not just affordable, but easy, visible, and aspirational. 'Most people don't resist green upgrades because they dislike them – they resist because the benefits feel distant, while the costs are immediate,' he said. Nick Davies, head of climate policy at Green Alliance environmental think tank, said: 'Upgrading our homes with clean tech isn't just good for the planet, it's good for our bank balances in the long run too. 'This research shows just how big the green homes bonus can be for households that switch to clean tech like solar, home EV charging and heat pumps. 'We need more households to be able to access government support or finance to cover the upfront costs for these upgrades, so that more people can enjoy the cash-saving benefits of clean technology.' A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: 'These findings show families can save thousands of pounds every year by upgrading their homes, protecting them from energy price spikes caused by volatile fossil fuel markets. 'We are investing £13.2 billion to upgrade up to five million homes over this parliament, while supporting industry to develop financing models that can remove the upfront cost entirely, helping more households make the switch to cleaner heating in a way that works for them.'


Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Liverpool's new £79m striker Hugo Ekitike reveals why he joined the Premier League champions and issues warning to their title rivals after impressive Anfield debut
Hugo Ekitike has opened up on his decision to join Liverpool in a £79million deal and issued a warning to their Premier League title rivals after impressing in his first appearance at Anfield. The Frenchman was part of the Reds squad that contested the second of two matches against LaLiga side Athletic Bilbao on Monday, assisting the side's opener in a 3-2 win, following a 4-1 victory for the less experienced roster hours earlier. Ekitike was one of five new signings to feature for Arne Slot 's free-spending side, who were playing in their first home match since the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota, as the Premier League champions put the finishing touches on their preparations for the new campaign. Liverpool saw off competition from the likes of Newcastle and Manchester United to secure the 23-year-old's signature and after making a great first impression in front of the home support, Ekitike claimed that made the switch from Eintracht Frankfurt 'to win'. 'We have a group of competitors,' he told LFCTV. 'We want to win everything. We are going to give 100 per cent. I am going to give 100 per cent. I am here to win.' The young forward linked up well with his new team-mates despite Monday's clash being only the second time he has turned out alongside them. The France Under 21 international hailed his new colleagues, adding: 'I enjoy playing with them. 'Outside of the pitch they are good guys. We have some little things to fix, on the ball. I have things I can do better. I am going to enjoy playing with them for the season.' Ekitike's acquisition is the most recent by Liverpool this summer but it is unlikely to be their last piece of business before the window closes at the start of next month. Darwin Nunez, who scored in the first match at Anfield, has been heavily linked with a move away this summer and is attracting interest from AC Milan and Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. Meanwhile, the Reds are eyeing an audacious move for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak and saw an opening £110m bid rejected on Friday. The Reds are next in action in the Community Shield, where they will face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Wembley. They begin the defence of their Premier League title at home against Bournemouth on August 15.


The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Premier League 2025-26 preview No 3: Bournemouth
Guardian writers' predicted position: 10th (NB: this is not necessarily Ben Fisher's prediction but the average of our writers' tips) Last season's position: 9th Three months ago, Bournemouth won at Arsenal for the first time to maintain their hopes of qualifying for Europe with three games to go. It was an impressive comeback victory built on set pieces, Dean Huijsen heading the equaliser from Antoine Semenyo's long throw – cue the Chill Guy meme celebration – before Evanilson poked in a scruffy but well-worked winner from a corner. Bournemouth came up short in their quest to play in Europe as a positive season fizzled out after three wins from their final 15 matches. And now three of their back five from that day have departed – Huijsen for Real Madrid, Milos Kerkez for Liverpool and Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was on loan from Chelsea, for Arsenal. The expectation is that Illia Zabarnyi will become the next high-profile exit, with Paris Saint-Germain pushing to sign the 22-year-old. The fact Bournemouth sold Huijsen to Real in a £50m deal after a single season and 36 appearances serves as a reminder of the club's journey across the last decade, and their continued eye for smart business. The thing worth remembering is that while it appears Bournemouth have been decimated, those on the inside recognise this is how their buy-low, sell-high model works. The downside is the breakup of a brilliant, buccaneering defence. Whether Bournemouth can cope with a flurry of key departures remains to be seen but this summer they moved to find a permanent goalkeeping solution in Djordje Petrovic, a £25m signing from Chelsea. Finding a commanding No 1 capable of holding down the position had been a priority after acknowledging the stability rival clubs had gained from making similar moves. Petrovic, who shone on loan at Strasbourg last season, would appear a solid platform on which to build. But for a team that operated with a thin squad last season, it is impossible to shake the sense that starting over represents a daunting task. Andoni Iraola led Bournemouth to 56 points last season, their record tally in the top flight, as they finished ninth, equalling their best finish. His appointment two years ago, driven by the now Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, has proved a masterstroke and last term enhanced the reputation of Iraola, the definition of a hands-on coach, among rivals. The 43-year-old is into the final 12 months of his contract and while he prefers working on rolling contracts, another extension is up in the air. Iraola, who does a good line in self-deprecation, is a self-confessed fidget: he clicks a multi-colour pen throughout interviews and tapes over some of his fingers for superstitious reasons. 'It's stupid,' he said. 'But I have done it for so many years that I continue doing it.' Bournemouth's 80-year-old billionaire owner, Bill Foley, flew from the US in April to formally open the club's £35m state-of-the-art training complex and on the same visit he shared another welcome nugget: he has agreed a deal to buy their Vitality Stadium home, allowing Bournemouth to expand its capacity to about 20,000. The Cherries have been locked into an onerous lease with the property company Structadene, which bought the ground in 2005, then known as Dean Court, for £3.5m, a deal that helped the club avoid administration. Foley – via his Black Knight consortium – added the Portuguese club Moreirense to his stable, which includes investments in Lorient, Hibernian and Auckland FC. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion There was so much noise about Kerkez's departure for Liverpool that the arrival of his replacement, signed before Kerkez officially headed for Anfield, went under the radar. Adrien Truffert has the tools to be a breakout star in the Premier League. Bournemouth sealed the signing of the 23-year-old Belgium-born left-back for an initial £11.4m from Rennes, a fee the Cherries – and some of their top-flight rivals who have tracked the full-back – regard a snip given his profile. Truffert, capped once by France in 2022, was captain of Rennes and made his 150th Ligue 1 appearance in May. Perhaps it is a quirk of fate that as a toddler he lived in Bournemouth for a year with his family. Daniel Adu-Adjei spent the first half of last season on loan at the bottom of League Two, scoring two goals in 17 appearances for relegated Carlisle, so it would be quite the jump if he is involved. The 20-year-old striker, born in Hammersmith to Ghanaian parents, has impressed in pre-season, scoring against Everton, and trained regularly with the first team at the beginning of this year. His father, William, regards Tony Yeboah as one of his closest friends, while Daniel is studying a nutrition course funded by the Professional Footballers' Association, his go-to dish a BBQ pulled chicken burger. 'At Carlisle, I lived by myself and had to cook all my dinners so I learned a lot,' he said. Few players had as satisfying a summer as Alex Scott. Even an awkward face mask, the result of a fractured jaw sustained against Aston Villa in May, could not dampen his spirits. Scott starred for England as Lee Carsley's under-21s won the European Championship in Slovakia, starting all five matches, though he was forced off through injury in the final. Bournemouth paid Bristol City £25m to sign Scott two years ago but his progress has been stop-start and he began only eight matches last season, largely owing to a lengthy knee injury. Scott, 22 this month, is a throwback midfielder, a cute passer with an endearing appetite to get his hands dirty. Everybody is craving to see more of his talent.