Katie Rowson has been appointed as Everton’s WSL Academy Technical Lead.

An experienced coach on the field and technical leader off it, Rowson brings a wealth of experience from the women’s game over the past decade.

She joins from Coventry United where she was Assistant Manager, helping the Midlands club avoid relegation from the FA Championship last season despite a 10-point deduction with nine matches remaining.

Rowson has also had significant roles with the likes of Chesterfield FC Women, Doncaster Rovers Belles FC and the British Virgin Islands FA.

Now working with one of the Women’s Super League founding members, Rowson is excited to play a prominent role in developing talent at Everton, with the aim of providing a pathway to the Women’s Senior Team.

“I'm super happy to be here,” she told evertonfc.com.

“Everton already feels like being a part of the family and I can only thank everybody I've met for being so welcoming.

“I’m happy to be here and excited to work hard and make this Academy the best it can possibly be.

“The history of the Club is absolutely huge. That was a big factor in in my decision to come here.

“Everton Women have had a crucial role in the development of the women's game in England.

“It has a rich history as a club, not only at performance level but also from an Academy level and bringing players through.

“That was a huge part of my decision to come here and also to ensure the pathway is accessible for our Academy players to progress into the professional game.”

Brian Sorensen’s Everton side are enjoying an impressive season to date, currently sitting sixth in the WSL table.

On average, the Blues have the youngest starting line-up in the English top-flight this campaign, highlighting the importance of the Club’s Academy in providing talent for the Senior Team.

“As a club we already have evidence from this season of that pathway being visible,” said Rowson.

“We've got players like Abby Clarke, Annie Wilding, Taylor Howarth and Kenzie Weir, who have all come through and who are getting not only minutes at training but also getting the opportunity to experience a matchday and play.

“That is absolutely brilliant. It shows the pathway is already there.

“We’re doing a lot of work with Brian and understanding the game model - making sure his philosophy is cascaded down through our Academy so that when a player is invited along for a senior training session or to be part of the squad, it's not a huge jump.

“You’re still part of the Everton family. It's just the next level up.”

While Sorensen is in his maiden season as Everton manager, the Dane aims to lay the foundations for years to come for the next generation of young talent.

Rowson hopes she can bring his vision to life.

“It’s great to see the senior team kick on this season,” she added.

“Working with Brian and his staff, we are looking to cascade his ideas down into our Under-21s and then differentiate that at our Under-16s and Under-14s level.

“We want to make sure the pathway is not only there for the players to move up, but the environment is there as well.”

Ready for round two of the Merseyside derby?

Get down to Goodison Park on Friday 24 March (7.30pm GMT) for a historic evening of Women’s Super League action.

Tickets are on sale priced at £8 for adults, £4 for under-18s and £4 for over-65s.

Purchase Everton v Liverpool tickets here