The London Bees, a founding members of women’s football’s second tier, have come into a new era with new players, new managers and a new attitude.
As one of London’s first women’s football teams, starting in the 70s, they successfully joined the WSL in 2013 under their current name for the 2014 season.
Following their most successful season to date in 2016, they have taken home a record points haul while also reaching the semi-finals of the Continental Cup and knocking out Chelsea en route.
It has not been easy for the North West London club since then.
In the 2018/19 campaign, they finished 8th and the following season 5th, but were relegated in 2021 to tier three of the National League Southern Premier division.
This year, they were relegated to tier four, following a winless season.
But that feat will not be repeated, after alread securing a win in the league after five games.
Head coach Daniel McKimm stated he is looking strengthen his squad for the future, looking at the club’s infrastructure and establishing what works and what does not.
He said: “We are starting from what exists now and what can be done to bring success back to the club.”
The head coach said they have had an overhaul of players, only keeping three from last season, and bringing new players in had led to a fundamental shift in the club’s identity.
He said: “The reason for the immediate win, unlike last season, was mainly around the positive atmosphere of the group.”
Another positive is the excellent relationship with Barnet FC, with whom they share the facilities.
The National League club have been open and supportive of the women’s side, even to the point where their fans have attended Bees games.
McKimm said his goal was first stabilising the team to get the London Bees back to tier three, knowing that the standard through the women’s game pyramid is getting higher and higher each season.
The rising financial investment in women’s football can be seen with the club’s facilities.
London Bees have a kit room, physio room and training room all for themselves as a women’s team, with a smart TV for strategy meetings, showers and sanitary bins – often overlooked in lower league women’s teams who might share changing rooms with the men’s side.
McKimm said: “The club has realistic expectations about the position right now but is confident from the plans and conversation with the staff, CEO and partner Barnet that there will be sustainability surrounding the future of the Bees.”
The manager would like to see medical care and welfare support for all elite level athletes in hopes to make women’s football sustainable, but understands it needs to be financially sustainable.
McKimm said: “Money does not grow on trees, one would like the FA to provide funding for lower tier clubs but where does that money come from?”
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