Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), which oversees the top two tiers of women’s professional football in England, has announced two new board appointments as it aims to build on a strong 2024.

Will Garton has been appointed to the WPLL Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED), while Debra Nelson takes on the role of Board Observer.

Dawn Airey CBE, Chair of the WPLL Board, said: “We are thrilled to have been able to add both Will and Debra to the board. 

“They both bring a plethora of experience from different sectors to the table, and the knowledge and expertise they have will be hugely important for us as the women’s professional game grows and develops.”

Garton will collaborate with the league, providing guidance and insights from his diverse industry experience. In this role, he joins Maria Raga Frances, former Depop CEO, and former professional footballer Malcolm Kpedekpo.

The newly appointed INED has spent the past 20 years in various government roles. He currently serves as Director General for Local Government, Growth and Communities at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

In this position, he oversees local government finance and reform, regional economic growth, devolution, and community cohesion policies. He is also responsible for the legal and policy framework for elections. 

Previously, Garton was Director for Public Services at HM Treasury and held positions as Press Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Head of Communications. Earlier in his career, he worked across HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

As a Board Observer, Nelson’s primary role will be to bring a youth culture perspective to Board discussions and an independent point-of-view around youth culture habits, along with new technology that could impact the sports experience and consumption, ensuring WPLL remains relevant, inclusive and inspiring to a younger generation.

At the moment, Nelson serves in a Special Projects role at Football Beyond Borders. She recently led the rebranding of the organisation’s Youth Board, ensuring programme graduates have a voice in governance. Additionally, she secured partnerships with culturally relevant brands such as Snapchat and Wingstop.

Further commenting on the two new appointments, Airey concluded: “The board and I are looking forward to working with them both, along with Malcolm and Maria, moving forwards.”

How will these appointments assist the women’s game?

Over the past year, WPLL has made significant progress in advancing women’s professional football, and these latest board appointments signal its continued ambition.

The journey began in August when WPLL officially took over the management of the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) and the Barclays Women’s Championship from the Football Association (FA). 

Since then, the organisation has introduced innovative ways to expand the game’s reach, including streaming all non-televised matches on YouTube.

This initiative has already proven successful, with WSL matches reportedly tripling in viewership. Given YouTube’s strong appeal among younger audiences, it could be an area where Nelson, with her expertise in youth culture and digital engagement, plays a key role in further developing its audience.

Garton’s influence on the women’s game could focus on expanding the positive impact the WSL has had on local communities. One key initiative has been increasing match attendances to demonstrate the demand for larger stadiums for women’s teams. Last season, Arsenal hosted several home games at the Emirates Stadium, traditionally used by the men’s team, as part of this effort.

According to a Mastercard report, these matches had a notable economic impact, with local bar spending rising by an average of 16% and restaurant spending increasing by 15%, compared to non-match days. 

Garton’s expertise in local government, economic growth and community development could help build on these successes, further strengthening ties between women’s football and local economies.

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