Ex-England International footballer, Karen Bardsley, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s SAPCA Technical Conference. Bardsley, who won 82 caps for England and lifted eight domestic titles, will outline how excellence in facilities breeds excellence on the pitch.
Following her playing career, Bardsley has become a vocal champion for change in women’s sport and was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director for Women & Girls’ Football in Manchester in 2020 – the first professional footballer to sit on a County FA’s Board of Directors. In her role, she was tasked with continuing the growth of women’s and girls’ participation in football across the city.
Bardsley played in seven major international tournaments, including the 2019 FIFA World Cup, and represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Since retiring, Karen has forged a broadcast career and was part of the BBC broadcast team covering the Lionesses in their 2022 and 2025 UEFA Women’s Euros victories and worked in Australia on the Women’s World Cup in 2023. She was also manager of the Manchester City FC Girl’s Academy until 2023.
The SAPCA Technical Conference will take place at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham on Thursday 27 November. The Conference provides an essential programme of seminars and workshops, covering the most important technical topics affecting SAPCA members, as well as networking during the day and evening dinner. In addition, Women in SAPCA will be hosting a pre-dinner drinks reception.
To book your place at the Technical Conference, click here.