"On a tour around Liverpool's revamped women's training site at Melwood in 2024, of all the grand improvements to the building that Matt Beard could have pointed out with pride, one specific addition meant more to him than any other. It was a painting of his late father, done by a close friend, attached to the wall in his corner office, and his affection for that gift summed up his deep love for family, which is just one reason why"
"The Beard family's loss is being felt all across the sport on a deeply sad weekend for the women's game, as he is remembered for both his ability to make people laugh and his ability to win football matches. Straight-talking in press conferences, but then charming off the microphone, he made time for fans, for fundraising events and for the pub. Some saw him as the Del Boy of women's football, good at finding a bargain in the transfer market"
Matt Beard died aged 47, leaving a bereaved wife, children and wide circle of loved ones. He displayed deep affection for family, exemplified by a painting of his late father in his office. He combined straight-talking press-conference candour with off-microphone charm, fan engagement, fundraising and pub visits. He championed women's football well before mainstream recognition and delivered tangible successes: Millwall Lionesses promotion in 2009, Chelsea's first FA Cup final in 2012, Liverpool's back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014, a spell coaching Boston Breakers in the United States, and taking another club to their first FA Cup final in 2019. He is Liverpool's most successful women's-team coach and a leading figure of the WSL era.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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