Karen lifts prestigious LMA award
Karen Hills has capped a season to remember by being named Manager of the Season for the FA Women’s Championship by the League Managers Association (LMA).
The award – presented at the LMA’s Annual Awards Dinner in London on Tuesday evening - follows Spurs making history by reaching the very top of the women’s game in this country with promotion from the FAWC into the Women’s Super League next season.
The team finished second behind Manchester United to secure promotion, coming through a huge test away to fellow contenders Charlton at the end of April to put them in the driving seat for second before clinching that runners-up spot with a point at Villa on 1 May. They will now take on the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in 2019/20.
What a journey! In 10 years in charge, Karen has overseen three promotions, a first senior cup win, successive ‘trebles’ in 2015/16 and 2016/17, record runs in the FA Cup and now the greatest achievement of them all, promotion into the top echelon of women’s football.
“I’m thrilled, proud, all of those emotions,” said Karen. “It’s been an absolute dream for the last 10 seasons, gaining three promotions and working our way up to the top level.
“The London Cup was the first trophy back in 2012, that was the breakthrough for us and the last four seasons have been special - sometimes I have to pinch myself! It’s been an amazing journey and I’m extremely privileged to have worked with so many incredible people.
“Juan Amoros (Head Coach) has been there every step of the way and is very much as big a part of this success as me. It has been a massive team effort from all the players and the staff.
“Now it’s a whole new world. Go back a few years and we always wanted to pit ourselves against the best teams in the FA Cup. That was the dream back then, every season. We played Notts County, Arsenal, then Manchester City this season, all great experiences and now we’re lining up against the very best in the Super League.
"The players have been tested again, mentally and physically, taken to the wire and they've come through with flying colours. They’ve been magnificent. They’ve worked so hard. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Spurs Ladies will be renamed Tottenham Hotspur Women from the start of next season when they will compete in the Women's Super League for the first time.