NEW WOMEN’S TEAM MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCED!

Following on from the news that Callum Meadows has chosen to step-down from his managerial role, the club is pleased to announce that Jake Waller and Jamie Sellen will be taking over as Women’s Team Managers. Both Jake and Jamie are firm advocates of supporting the growth of women’s and girl’s football, given their current involvement at Deal Town Rangers; they bring a wealth of experience and are eager to build upon the strong foundation laid by Callum.

Deal Town Director, Danielle Johnson, was instrumental in the recruitment of Jake & Jamie, adding:

We are incredibly grateful to Callum for their leadership, dedication and contributions to the club. His efforts have been invaluable as he leaves behind a strong legacy; we, of course, delighted that he still wishes to be involved around the club. As we now move forward, we are excited to welcome Jake and Jamie into the club and look forward to seeing how they take the team forward.

On being appointed, we spoke with Jake:

First of all, I want to congratulate Callum on the great job he has done with the team since he has been with them. He has taken them from strength-to-strength and will be leaving the team in a good place. Being a big supporter of the club, as well as being involved in girls’ football locally, I was honoured to be asked to manage Deal Town FC Women’s team. The club has been very welcoming, supportive and we have already had discussions on how to develop the team which I find stimulating as a coach. There is a positive vibe around the club with women’s football which makes you feel proud to be involved in. The aim now is to match this energy with my passion for the game and determination for improvement.

I have watched the team improve in the last few seasons and have always thought they are destined for the top. I have belief in myself and what I can bring to the team can help the squad reach their potential. No job will be too big or too small; no stone will be left unturned in our approach. I am a realist; I do understand there will be challenges along the way but, as a team, we will get through and come out stronger. I can’t wait to meet the squad properly and get to work!

We took the opportunity to get to know him with some quick-fire questions too:

Favourite Sporting Moment

As a youth player, playing for Dover & Deal District. I was in the same team as some of our first team players, Macca Murray and Tom Chapman and also the U23 coach John Brayne.

Team Supported

West Ham United

Preferred Drink

Would have to be Corona but obviously am partial to a Krombacher.

Day-Job

Operations Manager at MKM Building Merchant; they have been very supportive with my coaching journey.

Family

I live with my partner Kelsie; football takes up a lot of my time on and off the pitch but she has always been supportive of what I do. I also have two children; Reggie and Kleyo (an aspiring Deal Town player). As a family we like to watch all the Deal Town teams at the Charles ground.

Other Interests

I am also a part of Deal Town Rangers, who have just made me ‘Head of Girls Section’. I coach the U14 girls team there as well as run Dover District U13/U14 Girls with Jamie; the girls are doing really well this season.

Equally, we took time to get to know fellow-joint manager, Jamie Sellen. Jamie had this to say about his new involvement:

Being involved with DTFC will be a truly rewarding experience. It’s not just about the games; it’s about being part of something much bigger – a movement to uplift women in sport. Seeing through the growth of our Women's Team over time and the impact it will have on the community will be deeply motivating.

The energy within the club, and the support from fans, create an environment of determination and empowerment for the men’s team; our goal is to bring this to women’s football. Moving forward, I plan to continue this growth by ensuring we have the resources, training, and visibility we need to reach new heights. Building on the foundation established, I’ll focus on creating more opportunities for our players, strengthening our community connections, and expanding the reach of our team to inspire even more future players.

My immediate aspirations are to:
1. Create a positive team culture
2. Focus on building strong relationships
3. The power of a growth mindset
4. The importance of teamwork
5. Remember that enthusiasm is contagious

In the same vein as Jake, his quick-fire questions were very similar:

Favourite Sporting Moment

Seeing Manchester United win the treble all those years ago!

Preferred Drink

Is there any other choice apart from Krombacher?

Day-Job

Area manager for Mountain Warehouse - looking after 18 stores and 250 colleagues across the South-East.

Family

I live in Dover with my fiancée, Emma, and our two children Isla and Ezra.

Other Interests

We are never too far away from the pitch as I also coach Isla’s district team, with Jake. Ezra has also done wonders in goal starting with his first club last year. Whenever I get the opportunity we watch Ezra play. We also have a Labrador, called Ronnie, so the family enjoys taking him out for his daily walks.

We are delighted to formally welcome both Jake and Jamie into the Hoops family.

#COYH