Club news
Written by: Shrey
Lewes FC are proud to announce the appointment of Emma Byrne as the new manager of our Women’s first team and head of goalkeeping, marking an exciting new phase in our development.
Emma joins at a pivotal moment for the club, taking the baton from Nat Lawrence, who led the team through a strong and stabilising 2024/25 season following relegation.
Nat was instrumental in our rebuild phase, helping lay the foundations for long-term development and future success. We are incredibly grateful for her leadership and proud to celebrate her recent move back into international football as head coach of Wales U17 – a testament to her talent and passion.
Emma is the ideal leader to carry this vision forward as we enter the second phase of our strategic rebuild. With a distinguished background as a player, coach and commentator, she brings a wealth of experience and a proven ability to foster high-performance environments that elevate both players and staff.
“I am delighted to join Lewes FC – a special club that is ambitious and relentless in raising standards at the club and for women’s football everywhere, with an amazing community spirit,” says Emma.
“I am looking forward to working with a talented group of players and staff, and want to thank Nat for all her hard work last season to build the foundation for us to continue to grow from.”
Emma worked closely with Ivi Casagrande at the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) with the Republic of Ireland Women’s national team, and we are excited for them to reconnect in a powerful partnership to drive the next stage of our women’s programme.
Together, we will build a strong, sustainable footballing culture aligned with the values and standards of elite-level football – with our sights firmly set on a return to the WSL2 in the coming years.
“We are thrilled to welcome Emma into the Lewes FC family,” says Lynne Burrell, head of women’s football. “She is a winner, a leader, and someone who deeply understands what it takes to succeed at both domestic and international levels.
“Her passion for developing players and pushing professional standards is exactly what we need at this stage in our journey.”
Emma will continue her role with the FAI and the Ireland Women’s national team, and we are proud to support her in balancing her dual responsibilities. Her presence at Lewes reflects the club’s ambition to connect domestic development with the international game.
With the core of last season’s squad retained, and new talent added across the pitch, the foundations are strong. The club believe Emma is the right person to bring it all together – leading with integrity, ambition, and a relentless commitment to excellence as we embark on this next chapter.
To support Emma, together we will be assembling a technical team, continuing the work that began under Nat’s leadership and progressing toward our long-term goals.
“This is more than a managerial appointment – it’s a statement of intent,” says Kelly Lindsey, Lewes FC COO and sporting director. “We want to be back in the Championship – the new WSL2 – and we know what it takes: the right ecosystem, strategic alignment, collaboration, and the time commitment to earn our way back through hard work, unity and grit.
“Emma is eager to join us on that journey, and we’re excited to cultivate our elite standards together.”
Everyone at Lewes FC would like to welcome Emma to the club.