New London City Lionesses first team assistant coach Cori Daniels has hailed the special environment which she has witnessed around the club since her arrival last week.
The former Gillingham and Margate coach has been brought in to assist head coach Melissa Phillips and the pair worked together on the touchline for the first time yesterday as London City Lionesses drew 0-0 with neighbours Crystal Palace at Princes Park.
FA Women’s Super League Full-Time had the opportunity to speak with Daniels following her appointment and she told us that the environment at London City Lionesses ranks higher than any other witnessed in her career including during her spell with former club Arsenal.
“This squad and environment is like one that I’ve never been involved with” said Daniels. “I’ve been fortunate to play with some top professionals at top clubs but as soon as I walked in here the togetherness, the positive environment, it just hits you as soon as you walk in the door.
“I’ve never experienced that at any other club where I have been and played so it was massive for me when I came here, everyone was so welcoming.”
Daniels is beginning her assistant coach role on the back of previously working with young players and clubs further down the footballing pyramid. She admitted that her move to London City Lionesses could act as a good springboard to eventually move into a head coach role.
“I want to take it one step at a time” said Daniels. “I am not naive, I’m at the beginning of my journey but that is probably the long-term picture.
“At the moment, I’m just so grateful to these guys for putting their trust in me, my methods, my theories and bringing me onboard.
“That’s the long-term plan (to be a head coach) but I am just happy to be here and to get my feet under the table and learn on the job.”
After working in roles with Gillingham, Margate and the Kent Girls Football Academy, Daniels has built up a knowledge of football in the local area that is second to none and she is hoping to use that to her advantage during her time with The Pride.
The UEFA B Licence holder said “I have been fortunate enough to work with the cream of the crop in Kent so I suppose that I have a good knowledge of a pool of players that I can potentially highlight to Mel and we can look at them.
“The talent is phenomenal in this area of Kent in particular and if we can draw on some of those players that maybe I have coached in the past or I have seen play in the past then that’d be absolutely brilliant because I think youth is the future.”
Daniels will be hoping to help London City Lionesses return to winning ways when they travel to London Bees for their next FA Women’s Championship fixture on Sunday.