It was on this day in 2023 that Rehanne Skinner was appointed West Ham United women’s team manager.
Becoming our first female manager of the side, the 45-year-old has overseen a period of growth and development since her arrival in east London, setting new Club records and creating a strong bond between the squad, staff and supporters alike.
In her first campaign in the dugout of the Hammers, Skinner and her side created an unforgettable memory for West Ham supporters, defeating Arsenal in the Barclays Women’s Super League for the first time in the Club’s history thanks to a 2-1 success at Chigwell Construction Stadium in February 2024.
The following summer, eight players arrived through the doors of Chadwell Heath as Skinner crafted her squad for 2024/25. A lot of the players who signed joined with international pedigree and later in the campaign, a record 18 West Ham players represented their respective countries during the February international break.
While Skinner’s new-look squad took time to gel, once they got their first three points on the board against Leicester City in November, there was no looking back. Resounding wins over London City Lionesses (4-1), Crystal Palace (5-2) and Southampton (3-0) would follow before the Christmas break, ahead of a memorable victory at Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals of the Subway® Women’s League Cup in January.
The Hammers’ home form continued to hold strong in 2025, with Skinner’s side running out winners against Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur. The win over Spurs was sandwiched in between games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United, and the east Londoners went unbeaten in the four-game period.
The dramatic, late point at Kingsmeadow was one of Skinner’s highlights of the season. Shekiera Martinez’s brace, which included a header in second-half stoppage time, helped the women’s team come from two goals down to become the only team to take a point away at Chelsea last term.
Germany U23 international Martinez would prove to be the star of the show once more before the end of the season. She netted four times as the women’s team recorded their biggest-ever win in the WSL with a 7-1 hammering of Crystal Palace at VBS Community Stadium in April. Other new records set last term were most WSL goals scored and most home WSL points accumulated in a single season.
Following the resounding victory over Palace, Skinner penned a new contract at the Club and is now preparing to welcome her side back to Chadwell Heath and begin preparations for next season.
Help Skinner and her team break more records and keep Chigwell Construction Stadium a fortress next term. Click HERE to buy your 2025/26 Season Ticket!
