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The female coach in semi-professional football changing attitudes

Arlesey Town head coach Natasha Orchard-Smith
Image: Arlesey Town head coach Natasha Orchard-Smith

Arlesey Town head coach Natasha Orchard-Smith is far from your average coach.

According to the Football Association, Orchard-Smith is the only female to hold a coaching position in men's semi-professional football.

Orchard-Smith is a former footballer herself, who started coaching her son's team when he was five years old.

The majority of her coaching career has been at the foundation phase, coaching five to 11 year-olds, and after a decade at grassroots level, Orchard-Smith spent a season coaching within Arsenal's women's set-up.

Now the head coach at Bedfordshire-based Arlesey Town - in the ninth tier of English football - Orchard-Smith insists she is loving every minute of her trailblazing journey.

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Hit play on the video at the top of the page to see the Arlesey Town boss in action.

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