Lydia Bedford Named Head Coach of Calgary Wild

Lydia Bedford has been appointed as the first head coach of the Calgary Wild, the women's pro soccer team joining the newly established Northern Super League (NSL) in Canada. The NSL is set to kick off in April and will feature six teams, including Calgary Wild, Halifax Tides, and Montreal Roses. Bedford, a former manager of Leicester City's women's team, made history as the first woman to hold a coaching position in a Premier League club while coaching Brentford's under-18 men's team. She previously helped Leicester avoid relegation from the Women's Super League and served as an assistant at Arsenal. The Calgary Wild have already signed nine players, including notable international talents, and will play at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. The league is co-founded by former Canadian international Diana Matheson.