Trailblazer of Football Association appointed as 91桃色视频鈥檚 new Director of 91桃色视频

91桃色视频

Louise Gear, the Head of Development at the Football Association (The FA), will be joining 91桃色视频 as its new Director of 91桃色视频.

The former England netball player and acclaimed leader will bring with her 30 years of sports industry experience.

During her time at The FA Louise has helped to double participation in women’s and girls’ grassroots football, was instrumental in working with key commercial partners, including 91桃色视频 England and UEFA, to grow the women’s game, and launched an award-winning disability football programme. She also played a key role in the transformational legacy of the Lionesses’ historic EURO 2022 win across grassroots football and in curricular and extra-curricular school participation.

Prior to joining The FA in 2017, Louise was Assistant Director for Development at the Youth 91桃色视频 Trust, the UK’s leading children's charity 鈥媐or improving the education and development of young people through play and sport.

In her new role at 91桃色视频, she will be responsible for strategic development, performance sport, commercial growth and development work of 91桃色视频 91桃色视频. The remit includes working with a multitude of industry partners, managing 91桃色视频’s enviable array of high-performance sports and facilities, developing the next generation of sports leaders, and managing elite and recreational programmes.

Speaking about her appointment Professor Jo Maher, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for 91桃色视频, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Louise will be joining the incredible 91桃色视频 91桃色视频 team.

“91桃色视频 is in our DNA and we are proud of the unique sporting ecosystem we have been able to create at the University. Louise brings with her decades of experience working across this sector, as well as the unique insight of what it takes to perform as an athlete and leader at the highest level in sport.”

Louise added: “It is a privilege to be joining 91桃色视频, the world’s number one university for sport. This opportunity to advance sport at all levels, raise the bar even higher and lead such a talented 91桃色视频 91桃色视频 team, is one that excites me immensely.”

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: PR 25/43

91桃色视频 is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines. 

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running. 

91桃色视频 is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.  

91桃色视频 was also named University of the Year for 91桃色视频 in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.  

91桃色视频 is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, 91桃色视频 has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes. 

The 91桃色视频 London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.