Reading FC Women announce Jackson-Norris as first team manager

Ed Jackson-Norris after last season's Berks & Bucks Senior Cup victory. Photo: Darren Woolley

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Reading FC Women last week announced the appointment of former Maidenhead United Women’s boss Ed Jackson-Norris as first team manager.

Jackson-Norris joins the Royals after guiding the Magpies to their highest ever finish in the FA Women’s National League Division 1 South West having also helped the club lift silverware in successive seasons.

He’s joining the Royals Women’s section on a full-time basis.

Speaking to the Advertiser last week, Jackson-Norris said it had been a tough decision to leave York Road and said he would be leaving with ‘mixed emotions’.

However, the opportunity to lead the Royals Women’s team proved ‘appetising’ to turn down.

The team play in the Southern Region WFL Premier Division having recently withdrawn from the Women’s Championship for financial reasons.

On June 24, Reading announced that women’s manager Pedro Bruno and assistant manager Shelley Strange would be leaving the club with Jackson-Norris officially announced as the new manager on Friday (July 4).

Reading posted on social media: “Reading FC Women are thrilled to announce the appointment of Ed Jackson-Norris as First Team Manager.

“He joins the Royals on a full-time basis from Tier 4 outfit Maidenhead United Women where he guided the FAWNL side to their highest ever Division One South West finish alongside back-to-back cup silverware over the last two seasons.”

Reacting to the news on X, Jackson-Norris said: “Absolutely buzzing! To leave Maidenhead, the project had to be special and that’s exactly what Reading is - special.

“The scope for growth and desire to move forward at an already huge club with a rich history is a challenge I can’t wait to sink my teeth into. Up the Ding!”

During his three seasons at York Road, Jackson-Norris felt he helped change the club’s ethos towards its women’s section from something that was a ‘nice to have’ side project, to an integral part of the club.

During his time there he helped the women’s team record its highest ever points total in a season, reach the second round of the FA Cup ( the first senior Maidenhead club to achieve this in more than 135 years), win the Combined Counties League Cup - after a penalty shootout win over Fulham Women in 2024 - and lift the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup last season following a 3-1 win over Newport Pagnell Town.

The club’s development team were also trophy winners this season, lifting the county cup after a 14-0 win over Burghfield in the final.

Maidenhead United have moved on swiftly since Jackson-Norris stood down from his role, appointing former Reading FC front man Dave Kitson as women’s first team manager.

He led the team in pre-season training for the first time last week.

The 45-year-old’s appointment follows Jackson-Norris’s successful three-year spell, and the hope is Kitson can build on the groundwork that has been put in place by Jackson-Norris and his coaching team.

Overall, Kitson made 420 appearances in the Premier League and Football League, including 145 for Reading.

The club have also appointed Kitson's assistant manager Sean Hillier.

Hillier arrives at York Road having held a similar role over a successful six-year spell with Brentford Women FC.

The 39-year-old was instrumental in the Bees' promotion from the sixth tier to the fifth tier, while Brentford have also had great success in the cup competitions in recent seasons.