Kit Shepard
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Kit Shepard
@kitshepard.bsky.social
470 followers 110 following 160 posts
Women’s football reporter for The Times
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kitshepard.bsky.social
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Hannah Hampton, the new #Lionesses No 1, spoke candidly to the media on several tricky topics this week:

👀 Navigating the spotlight after Mary Earps's retirement
💪Battling through a dark period
😲 Overcoming vision issues to become a GK

www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Hannah Hampton: England No1 who defied doctors then ousted Mary Earps
Hannah Hampton, who had three eye surgeries before age of three and came through at Villarreal, on text she sent Mary Earps and ‘whirlwind’ season with Chelsea
www.thetimes.com
June 20, 2025 at 11:10 AM
kitshepard.bsky.social
After the Blackburn/Reading/Wolves episodes, how can women's teams control their financial fate?

🧠 Change mindset towards men's team
💰 Attract investment
🔝 Learn from leaders

With insight from Rachel Dugdale, Maggie Murphy and @cphilippou.bsky.social‬ www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
How women’s teams can learn from Chelsea and Arsenal to reach next level
From attracting female-specific sponsors to finding outside investment, Kit Shepard looks at options clubs have to take control of their economic fate and avoid reliance on men’s teams
www.thetimes.com
June 15, 2025 at 7:37 AM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Made my debut on The Game podcast to discuss the recent #Lionesses madness and where they stand as Euro 2025 approaches. Has Sarina Wiegman ridden out the storm of retirements/withdrawals?

The team also covered England Men's travails and the Club World Cup.

Listen here! podfollow.com/the-game
The Game Podcast
The Game Football Podcast is the thinking fan's podcast for the debate, the tactics, the personalities, injuries, goals and analysis. From The Times and Sunday Times, it's the place for nuanced discus...
podfollow.com
June 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Proven winners, world-class talents, and some hugely exciting young players.

Your guide to the 23 players in England's Euro 2025 squad @TimesSport #Lionesses www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Who’s in England’s Euro 2025 squad? Meet Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses
Lauren James, Lotte Wubben-Moy and teenager Michelle Agyemang among 23 players who will lead defending champions’ title defence in Switzerland
www.thetimes.com
June 5, 2025 at 1:03 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
England have as many as seven options up front, but the first-choice front three still feels obvious. So how does Wiegman make the most of the depth?

🎨 Use ABJ's versatility
🧪 Create the complete winger
🃏 Gamble on the wildcard

#Lionesses www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
How Lionesses can make most of talent at Euros: attack, attack, attack
The 6-0 win against Portugal was reminder of where England’s strengths lie after drama of Mary Earps’s retirement and recent defensive issues
www.thetimes.com
June 1, 2025 at 7:20 AM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Sarina Wiegman and Leah Williamson's hotly-anticipated press conference today proved an unusually emotional one.

The prevailing message? That they needed Mary Earps to stick around #Lionesses www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
May 29, 2025 at 5:20 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
What's up with the #Lionesses?

We know about Mary Earps, but there's also Millie Bright's exhaustion, fitness fears, and questions over morale.

Sarina Wiegman needs some off-field certainty before she can solve England's on-pitch problems @timessport.bsky.social
Players pulling out and fears over morale — are Lionesses in crisis?
With Mary Earps retired, Millie Bright exhausted and fitness concerns over star players, England’s preparation for Euro 2025 is looking shaky
www.thetimes.com
May 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Slegers's strategy, Blackstenius's winner and Kelly's s***housery give Arsenal an incredible Champions League final victory over Barcelona. A stunning end to a whirlwind season.

Report from Lisbon for @timessport.bsky.social #UWCL www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Arsenal stun Barcelona to win Women’s Champions League
Arsenal 1 Barcelona 0: Stina Blackstenius combines with Beth Mead to score winning goal and secure first Women’s Champions League title in 18 years in Lisbon
www.thetimes.com
May 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
🔴 Mariona Caldentey interview @timessport.bsky.social

Arsenal’s ex-Barcelona star on:

🏆 Facing her old club in the #UWCL final
🤔 Knowing ‘nothing’ about Renée Slegers when signing
✍️ Why others could follow her out of Barca
👀 Her family’s conflicting loyalties www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Mariona Caldentey: The Arsenal player who’d walk into Barcelona’s team
Spaniard on swapping Catalonia for north London, facing her former club in the Champions League final and why her brother must switch allegiance for one night
www.thetimes.com
May 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
🔴 Vic Akers interview @timessport.bsky.social

Pleasure talking to Arsenal's only Champions League-winning manager (for now):

🏆 Memories of '07
🗣️ Thierry Henry on Kelly Smith
📽️ Rom-coms with Bergkamp
⚖️ Vieira v Rice
👕 Flamini's error
❓ How to beat Barca #UWCL www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Vic Akers: Thierry Henry said Kelly Smith could have played for men’s team
Arsenal icon juggled job as kitman for men’s team with managing the women’s side to Champions League glory and watching rom-coms with Dennis Bergkamp
www.thetimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Marc Skinner unsure why Sir Jim Ratcliffe missed Women’s FA Cup final

...before Sonia Bompastor extols the power of having owners watching in the flesh

#AdobeWomensFACup @timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Marc Skinner unsure why Sir Jim Ratcliffe missed Women’s FA Cup final
Head coach left puzzled by latest Wembley no-show, which fuels accusations that the Manchester United co-owner is neglecting women’s side
www.thetimes.com
May 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Game, set and match as Serena Williams watches Chelsea seal treble. One of the great domestic seasons.

Manchester United? A day defined by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's no-show and Ella Toone's omission.

Report from Wembley @timessport.bsky.social #AdobeWomensFACup www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Sandy Baltimore strikes twice as Chelsea complete domestic treble
Chelsea 3 Man United 0: A Sandy Baltimore double and goal from Catarina Macario in front of tennis great Serena Williams rounds off perfect season at home for Sonia Bompastor’s team
www.thetimes.com
May 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
As they end a brutally binary season at today's FA Cup final, how can this incredible Chelsea side ensure there is no Barcelona-induced poignancy this time next year?

🤕 Address injury issues
🫸 Hold back against Barca
🇺🇸 Capitalise in USA

@timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Dominant at home, falling short in Europe: how do Chelsea take next step?
Sonia Bompastor’s side can complete a domestic treble in the FA Cup final on Sunday but must make adjustments to challenge for elusive Champions League title
www.thetimes.com
May 18, 2025 at 8:12 AM
kitshepard.bsky.social
After a chaotic summer, Manchester United Women's season has been very solid and may end with #AdobeWomensFACup glory.

Yet will their success, likeability and potential be enough to answer the ultimate question: is Sir Jim Ratcliffe bothered? @timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
A rare success for Man United — but is Sir Jim Ratcliffe bothered?
Women’s FA Cup final win over Chelsea would cap promising campaign for likeable team, but coming weeks in boardroom will determine whether season is launchpad or false dawn
www.thetimes.com
May 16, 2025 at 1:29 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Stanway, Hemp and Greenwood in. James out. Ful story on the #Lionesses squad for @timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Lionesses squad: Georgia Stanway included but injured Lauren James absent
Bayern Munich star’s inclusion gives Sarina Wiegman huge boost with Euro 2025 on the horizon while Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood are also back in the squad
www.thetimes.com
May 13, 2025 at 10:22 AM
kitshepard.bsky.social
🏆 The @timessport.bsky.social WSL awards:

⚽️ The classics (best goal, best player)
👎 The bad (biggest disappointment, worst gaffe)
🤷‍♂️ The quirky (best "**** it" moment, outstanding commitment to English exceptionalism)

And much more... #BarclaysWSL www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Our WSL awards: best goal, worst gaffe and ‘sod it’ moment
Chelsea may have run away with league title again but there was much more to season than great play and superb matches. In fact, some of our ‘winners’ probably won’t want their gongs…
www.thetimes.com
May 12, 2025 at 10:39 AM
kitshepard.bsky.social
📉 WSL down
📈 Championship up
🔋 Power of Arsenal, Newcastle and LCL
❓ What if there's no Lionesses "bump" this summer?

An end-of-season look at #BarclaysWSL and #BarclaysWC attendances. With thanks to the great @mattcutler.bsky.social.

@timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Low crowds and no Lionesses bump — has bubble burst for WSL?
Women’s Super League attendances are down and the England team’s galvanising power is waning. But look below the surface and the situation is more complicated
www.thetimes.com
May 11, 2025 at 7:18 AM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Relegation won't be removed from the #BarclaysWSL in 2026 (h/t to @tomjgarry.bsky.social) but this case isn't quite closed.

The long-term format is undecided and there's no guarantee the relegation debate won't reignite after next year @timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Women’s Super League scraps plans to remove relegation after fan anger
Fan fury forces a U-turn on plans to axe relegation — and a potential league expansion — from Women’s Super League from 2026 but matter could later be revisited
www.thetimes.com
May 9, 2025 at 4:25 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Michele Kang’s trophy lift was a bizarre conclusion to a nerve-shredding climax.

But this is London City Lionesses. The WSL’s first women’s-only club aren’t bothered about satisfying tradition #BarclaysWC @timessport.bsky.social

www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Michele Kang steals show as London City Lionesses seal WSL spot
Birmingham City 2 London City Lionesses 2: Draw enough to secure promotion to Women’s Super League for capital side before owner Michele Kang takes centre stage
www.thetimes.com
May 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
😲 Winner-takes-all for promotion
🇺🇸 Ambitious US owners
☯️ Contrasting identities
❓ Symbolising a sport at a crossroads

In Birmingham v London City Lionesses, the Women's Championship could not have dreamt of a better finale #BarclaysWC @timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Battle of the billionaires trying to shake up women’s elite
Birmingham City and London City Lionesses both have ambitious American owners but contrast in their outlook as they go head to head for promotion to the WSL on Sunday
www.thetimes.com
May 3, 2025 at 1:16 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Players furious as Wolves fail to apply for promotion (and don't tell the squad until after the season)

@timessport.bsky.social

www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Players furious as Wolves fail to apply for promotion
Women’s team ‘absolutely devastated’ that club did not submit application to go into second tier, with squad finding out only after final day of the season
www.thetimes.com
April 29, 2025 at 7:47 AM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Even for a club with as esteemed a women’s football history as Arsenal, this must go down as one of their greatest days

Their crazy season needs one more surprise for immortality (but my word did Barcelona look frightening today)

@timessport.bsky.social #UWCL www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Arsenal stun Lyon to reach Women’s Champions League final
Lyon 1 Arsenal 4 (Arsenal win 5-3 on aggregate): Renée Slegers’s side overturn first-leg deficit against eight-time champions — but Chelsea humiliated by Barcelona in other semi-final
www.thetimes.com
April 27, 2025 at 8:35 PM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Lovely to chat with Kayleigh McDonald after it was revealed Ian Wright has been paying for her ACL rehab.

🗣️ "I don't think people give him enough credit for what he does.”

(H/t to @kathrynbatte.bsky.social for uncovering this on Wednesday)

@timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Ian Wright pays for female player’s £1,700-a-month ACL recovery
Kayleigh McDonald, formerly of Stoke City, says ‘Uncle Ian’ is fully committed to women’s game having secretly stepped in to fund her rehab after major injury
www.thetimes.com
April 25, 2025 at 9:33 AM
kitshepard.bsky.social
🚨 Lotte Wubben-Moy has signed a new contract with Arsenal.

Understand it is a three-year deal for the Arsenal academy product, who is set to be available for this Sunday's #UWCL second leg vs Lyon after missing the first with an injury
April 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
kitshepard.bsky.social
Chelsea were brave, but that doesn't cut it against this lot.

Bronze was neutralised, Putellas made Girma look average, and even Bompastor was outmanoeuvred.

Whoever's at Chelsea, they cannot seem to find a way past Barcelona @timessport.bsky.social #UWCL #FCBCHE www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Chelsea outclassed by old foes Barcelona and have mountain to climb
Sonia Bompastor’s side suffer collapse at the Johan Cruyff Stadium leaving a mammoth task at Stamford Bridge if they are to break Barcelona Champions League hoodoo
www.thetimes.com
April 20, 2025 at 7:54 PM