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Matt Beard: A Hall of Fame Legacy Built on More Than Just Trophies
- Sophie Hurst
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The news of Matt Beard’s passing last September left a hole in the football community that results and stats can’t really explain. When someone like Matt is gone, the instinct is to look at the trophy cabinet, and with him, there’s plenty to see. But as he is posthumously inducted into the Women’s Super League Hall of Fame this month, it’s clear that his real impact wasn't just results, but instead, it was deeply, and fundamentally human.
Matt Beard was a trailblazer, but he was also a Londoner who never lost that grounded, work-for-it identity. He was an integral figure into shaping the women’s game to where it is today - something he was a part of right until his death.
Built From the Ground Up
Matt started his career in non-league football as a reserve manager at Kingstonian, moving through coaching roles at places like Tooting & Mitcham and Hampton & Richmond. Non-league football, by any means, isn’t a glamorous job, but they are the roots to where he learned how to build a team from nothing.
His first real breakthrough came at Millwall Lionesses. Stepping into the manager's seat, he guided them to the Southern Division title and promotion, setting a pattern that would define his entire career: he took teams that people overlooked and made them believe - and subsequently proved - that they belonged at the top.
Breaking the Mold at Chelsea and Liverpool
When Matt took the Chelsea job in 2009, on the recommendation of Casey Stoney, the women’s game was in a very different place. He took them to their first ever FA Cup final - a team that are now accustomed to win it - and established them as a top-level force before the Super League era truly exploded, or was even formed.
If you mention Matt Beard to any Liverpool fan, you’ll see exactly what he meant to the sport. Taking over a side that had struggled, and fought relegation, he led Liverpool to back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014. At a time when Arsenal seemed untouchable, Matt found a way to break the norm.
On top of this, he was a master of the ‘bargain’ find, spotting talent like Olivia Smith - who Arsenal bought for a record breaking £1 Million last summer - Missy Bo Kearns, Leanne Kiernan and Gemma Bonner and turning them into the spine of a winning side.
Matt was a builder, whether it was leading West Ham to a historic Wembley FA Cup final in 2019 or returning to Liverpool in 2021 to drag them out of the Championship and back into the elite, Matt always finished what he started.
Person First, Player Second
You can list the wins and the Manager of the Year awards, but that misses the point of who Matt Beard was. In an industry that often treats players like assets or stats on a screen, Matt was known for doing the opposite.
Whilst Fara Williams refers to Matt Beard as "the best manager (she) ever played for", Rachael Laws perhaps put it best when she described him as a "special man who put everybody else first." She commented that in football, it is so easy to focus on the performance, but Matt always puts the person before the player. He cared about the people, over the footballer, which is why he is not only highly praised, but also had players that moved clubs to be managed by him. It is hard to find a male manager in the women’s game with the empathy, consideration and understanding, and Matt had it all.
And whilst his wins, successes and trophies are of course recognised in the wake of his passing, the tributes following were much more about the kindness and the environment he created.
Beyond the training ground, Matt was known for being one of the most honest managers in the league. He didn't speak in ‘PR-speak’, he was witty, quite direct, and sometimes bluntly honest about the challenges facing the women’s game. He was one of the loudest voices calling for better facilities and pitches, and more respect for the athletes, fighting the battles behind the scenes so his players didn't have to.
A Lasting Shape
His induction into the WSL Hall of Fame isn't just a flag to wave for the titles he won, but it’s more importantly recognition of a man who bridged the gap between the semi-pro era and the professional powerhouse we see today.
Matt Beard leaves behind a shape in the women’s game that won't easily be filled, making the sport better, not just by running winning sides and making history, but by ensuring the people in it felt seen and supported.
If you or someone you know is struggling, or if you would like to support the work being done for mental health in the UK, please consider donating to, or seeking guidance, from Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/donate/
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