Tanya Helen Oxtoby is an Australian soccer coach. In February 2012 she signed as a player for English FA WSL team Doncaster Rovers Belles and Everton LFC, after four seasons playing for Perth Glory in the Australian W-League. In July 2012 she agreed to manage Nottingham Forest Ladies, in addition to her playing duties with Doncaster. After moving from Doncaster Belles to Everton FC, Tanya finished her playing career to work full-time as a coach with Notts County Ladies FC, as their Development Team Manager. After returning home to Australia in 2015 to the club she captained, Tanya become the assistant coach for Perth Glory Women, helping guide the Glory to their only Premiers Plate, winning the league, as well as their first ever grand final appearance. During this period she also set up Tanya Oxtoby Football Coaching, her own coaching and mentoring business for female footballers and coaches. She also spent 18 months working with the Australian Women's National Youth Under 20s, the Young Matilda's, as an assistant coach and video analyst, helping shape the next generation of Matilda's. Following a successful stint back in Australia, Tanya was offered an exceptional role as Head Coach and Director of Development at Notts County Ladies in early 2016 a role coupled with first team assistant coach duties. Tanya became the Head of Women's Football and Futsal at the University of Nottingham, to oversee the entire development pathway for Notts County Ladies. In 2016, Tanya was recruited by Birmingham City Ladies FC to become an assistant coach with the first team in the Women's Super League.
Playing career
Born in Wickham, Western Australia, Oxtoby began playing as an eight-year-old in the Pilbara town of Wickham, initially playing in a team coached by her father. Between 1995 and 1999 she attended the Soccer Excellence Program at John Curtin College of the Arts. In 1999 Oxtoby was selected for the Australian Under–19 Schoolgirls team but did not make the touring squad to England. In 2005 Oxtoby was appointed captain of the Western Waves in the Australian Women's National Soccer League. In 2008, she was appointed captain of Perth Glory's women's team in the W-League. She was one of only a few players of Indigenous descent to play in the W-League, and the first indigenous player to captain her side. In February 2009 she was named best player for the Glory, winning the Most Glorious Women's Player award, and award she won for a second time in 2012. Oxtoby collected the same award for her performances in the 2011 season. Overall, she played 40 matches for the Glory between 2008 and 2012. Oxtoby, who has dual English–Australian citizenship, joined Glory teammate Katie Holtham at Doncaster Rovers Belles for the 2012 FA WSL season.
Coaching career
In 2007 Oxtoby was appointed assistant coach of the Football West National Training Centre. During 2008 she was appointed Western Australia women's Under-15 coach. In July 2012 Oxtoby was appointed manager and head coach of English FA Women's Premier League Northern Division club Nottingham Forest, a role she combined with playing for Doncaster in the FA WSL. In August 2013, Oxtoby accepted a coaching role with the reserve team of WSL club Lincoln Ladies before she returned to Australia in 2014 and set up her own coaching business. After returning home to Australia in 2014 to the club she captained, Tanya become the assistant coach for Perth Glory Women. She helped guide the Glory to the Premiers plate winning the league, and their first ever grand final appearance. During this period she also set up Tanya Oxtoby Football Coaching, her own coaching and mentoring business for female footballers. She also spent 18 months working with the Australian Women's National Youth Under 20s, the Young Matilda's, as an assistant coach and video analyst. Following a successful stint with back in Australia, she then moved back to Notts County Ladies in early 2016 as their Director of Development and first team assistant coach, and become Head of Women's Football and Futsal at the University of Nottingham. In 2017 Tanya was recruited by Birmingham City Ladies FC to become and assistant coach with a focus on out of possession with the first team in the Women's Super League. Tanya was then recruited at the Talent Identification and Transition Manager for English Colleges Women's National Team, a position she currently occupies along with being a lifestyle advisor for Team GBGoal Ball, a Paralympic sport. The TOFC franchise is now also operating in both Australia and the UK, and Tanya completing her Masters in Sports Psychology. In July 2018, Bristol City Women named Tanya Oxtoby its new manager.
