Natasha Dowie revealed as LSL 2024 guest speaker

Former England, LFC and EFC player and current LFC women’s ambassador, Natasha Dowie, has been revealed as guest speaker for the Liverpool Sportswoman’s Lunch (LSL) 2024.

Speaker Natasha, who announced her retirement in September 2023, will be sharing stories from her incredible career, particularly about her experience playing for Liverpool. Her accolades include finishing as the top scorer in the 2013 FA WSL with 13 goals and 14 games for Liverpool and being voted the FA Players’ Player of the Year.

Well-known for playing for England and both of the city’s local clubs, she started her footballing career at Watford. She has played for Doncaster Rovers, Boston Breakers and Linkopings FC and has also worked as a coach with Watford, the Middlesex Centre of Excellence and Stevenage Borough.

The eagerly anticipated – and already sold-out – annual event will take place on Thursday 12th September 2024 at Liverpool Football Club, hosted by Chris Kirkland, former goalkeeper, coach, and founder of the Chris Kirkland Goalkeeper Academy.

The success of the event has grown over the years, with 130 guests raising £7,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital at its inaugural event. Year two saw 170 guests and raising £11,000 for the Encephalitis Society, year three saw 300 guests at Anfield raising almost £7,000 for NSPCC. In 2022 the event raised £20,250 for Marie Curie and last year it upped its game even further to raise more than £30,000 for LFC Foundation. This year’s chosen charity is The Hive Youth Zone in Wirral.

Natalie Dye from Bathgate Business Finance said: “The Liverpool Sportswoman’s Lunch was created by Clare Brookfield of Primas Law, Marena Mondair of EMW Law LLP and me in 2017.

“All good ideas come after a couple of glasses of fizz, and this was no different. We realised that while there were plenty of ‘sportsman’ dinners and lunches, there were very few events that were focused specifically on the sporting achievements of women. Just like that, we had our event.

“The year-on-year growth of the LSL and the support and generosity demonstrated by our partners and guests has been incredible. As well as being a fantastic afternoon out, it’s also making a huge impact on the charities that we support and bringing the local business community together to do something that makes meaningful change. With Natasha as our guest speaker and Chris as our host, I am certain that the growth, enthusiasm and support will continue this year, so that we can raise plenty of money to support the fabulous work of The Hive Youth Zone.”

In addition to the three founders the Liverpool Sportswoman’s Lunch Board now comprises Natalie Dickson of Freeths LLP, Lucy Shotter of Bibby Financial Services, Lynne Pierce of Flavell Wealth Management, Ruth Kirby of NatWest, Louise Molloy of Metro Bank and Alice Gregan of Langtons.

For more information about the event, visit: https://www.liverpoolsportswomanlunch.co.uk/lsl-2024/