Brentford Women: The team behind the team | OneFootball

Brentford Women continue to grow and, through this progression, a professional set-up of coaches and staff have been formed around a talented playing group.

Led by general manager Amy Crook and first-team head coach Karleigh Osborne, Brentford Women and Brentford Women B players are surrounded by a professional-level set-up while playing in tiers six and seven of the football pyramid respectively, with ambitious future plans.

This is Brentford Women's fourth season in the London South East Division One North, narrowly missing out on promotion last season, but adding the Capital Cup and Trophy Cup to their cabinet.

This season, the team have their sights set on winning the league and subsequent promotion.

Brentford Women B are fresh from a league-winning campaign last season, which now sees them compete in the Greater London Premier Division.

The first team's undefeated season continues at Gtech Community Stadium on 29 September. And you can grab your tickets now.

And, ahead of that clash, get to know the staff that ensure that everything runs as smoothly as can be on the pitch.

Amy Crook

General manager

A stalwart of the club, Crook has been an instrumental member of Brentford Women, first as a player from 1993, then as a coach and now as general manager.

Crook has played a pivotal role in getting the women’s programme to where it is today and continues to lead the players and staff forward.

“I coordinate and support the day-to-day operation of staff and players and oversee showcase games, as well as league games, implement strategy, manage budget, develop the profile and presence of the teams and oversee player welfare/safeguarding,” said Crook.

Roger Crook

Chair and club secretary

The man who helped begin the Brentford Women journey back in 1990, Crook has continued to be a vital cog of the machine that Brentford fans know today.

Crook does a range of jobs to ensure that players are able to train and play each week; his hard work never goes unnoticed.

“I register players on the FA Whole Game System, I do the ground bookings, and book officials for both teams for matchdays,” explained Crook.

“I enter all match details onto FA Full-Time as well, and make all the match arrangements for both teams.”

Karleigh Osborne

Technical lead and Brentford Women head coach

The head coach of Brentford Women since 2018, Osborne has been instrumental in the side's increased performance on the pitch.

He took on the role of technical lead in 2023, eventually helping guide the first team to a Capital Cup and Trophy Cup double.

"My day-to-day involves all on-pitch coaching and managing the team," said Osborne.

"My technical lead role involves me working on the overall programme of the women's team and how we progress the team and club forward."

Sean Hillier

Brentford Women assistant coach

Joining the Brentford Women set-up in April 2019 after finishing his semi-professional playing career, Hillier has become a key part of the coaching group.

Working under Osborne, Hillier plays a key role in the development of players across training and matchdays.

“My role is to work alongside Karleigh in the delivery of sessions and matchday performances,” said Hillier.

Kevin Palma

Technical performance analyst and coach

Palma joined Brentford Women in April 2023 from Cray Wanderers Under-18s.

His role in Osborne’s team is to liaise with the coaches on session plans to improve team and individual performance based on the side’s playing philosophy and the opposition.

"I analyse the footage from the game, present it to the players on a Tuesday night at training and then look to coach the ideas within the training sessions during the week,” said Palma.

Cameron Crook

Goalkeeping coach

Now in his fourth full season at the club, Crook has played a big role in the development and success of the goalkeepers who have come through Brentford Women’s ranks.

Previously a player within Next Generation Pro's Academy, Crook has made a seamless transition to coaching.

"My role involves working with the goalkeepers, training them on technical and tactical areas of the game during the week. This allows the players to be well prepared for matchday each week,” said Crook.

Beata Ostrowska

Strength and conditioning coach

Joining the club in 2021 following her university studies, Ostrowska has played a pivotal role in ensuring the group is ready to perform at their best every training and matchday.

"My main role includes running the gym sessions every Tuesday, conditioning and movement-specific strength and conditioning on the pitch, and delivering training and matchday warm-ups and cool downs,” said Ostrowska.

Charles Rennie

Lead sport rehabilitator

Rennie joined the Brentford Women staff in 2022, having previously worked at Woking in their academy ranks.

He holds a significant position at the club, ensuring all players across both squads return to the pitch as soon as possible following an injury.

"My role involves assessing players and ensuring they return successfully following injuries and get back to peak performance,” explained Rennie.

Ollie Cottis

Sport psychologist

Cottis is a well-known staff member at the club, having joined in October 2019.

While a regular helper on the pitch during training, Cottis’s real impact is through the work he does with players and staff off the pitch.

“I support the players and staff to enhance their well-being, thrive amongst the challenges they face and help them reach their potential as players, staff and people,” said Cottis.

Louise Jensen

Athletics coach

One of the newer additions to Brentford Women’s staff, Jensen brings with her a strong athletics background, having been a Danish 400-metre champion in her competition days.

She approached the club about offering her services to the first and B team, joining the staff in July 2023.

“I approached Brentford to help with sprinting, acceleration and overall running fitness. I love helping the girls improve their running technique, especially by using big hurdles for drills,” explained Jensen.

Gina Coleman

Safeguarding manager

Coleman works across departments at Brentford Women and the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, leading on safeguarding and protecting young people and adults.

Yannawit Khantharat

Brentford Women B head coach

Having previously coached Brentford Under-16 girls in 2015/16, Khantharat returned to the Bees this season to lead Brentford Women B as head coach.

He has previously worked at Paris Saint-Germain’s UK/London Academy in the youth development phase and, prior to this, spent three years at Sukhothai FC, who play in Thai League 1. He was head of coaching there, before taking over the head coach role of the first team in a caretaker capacity.

“I’m a technical specialist football coach and I develop youth players to compete at the highest level,” said Khantharat.

“We plan short, medium and long-term goals for each individual and team, gradually making progress to achieve those goals.”

Olivia Thick

Brentford Women B assistant coach

A former B-team player, Thick has made the transition to coaching and will work alongside Khantharat this coming season.

Thick plays a key role in developing young players, which is a focus of Brentford Women B.

“The nature of my role is to assist the head coach. But a massive part of my job, being an ex-player, is to work with the players in a psychological way to get the most out of them and to grow and develop them into first-team players,” said Thick.

Leah Randall

Brentford Women B physiotherapist

New to the club this season after graduating from the University of Winchester, Randall has become another key figure in ensuring the squad remains healthy across the campaign.

Working with the B team, Randall will play a key role this season as they make the step up to the Greater London Premier Division following a promotion last season.