Southampton Women’s FC are delighted to announce the appointment of Aym’e Melham as First Team Coach, further strengthening the club’s on-pitch leadership and long-term vision.

Aym’e brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience from both Australia and the UK. Her football journey began in Australia, where she played semi-professionally at Tier 4 level between 2013 and 2015 for Apia Leichhardt and St George Saints.

Transitioning into coaching, Aym’e completed her Level 1 qualification before progressing through the coaching pathway, earning her UEFA C Licence and completing part of her UEFA B.

After moving to the UK in 2020, Aym’e gained valuable experience across the men’s and women’s game. She undertook a three-month work placement with Dan Brownlie at Basingstoke, before spending two seasons coaching with Hungerford Town Men’s First Team, followed by a season with Hartley Wintney Men’s First Team.

More recently, Aym’e played a key role at Aldershot Town, where she became Head of the Girls’ Pathway and led the setup of the club’s women’s team. Managing the side for their opening seven fixtures, she oversaw an outstanding start where her team scored 43 goals, conceding just four, and remaining undefeated.

Aym’e’s appointment marks a major milestone for Southampton Women’s FC, meaning every team across the club, from youth to senior level, now has a female coach as part of its set-up, underlining the club’s commitment to representation, development and long-term sustainability within the women’s game.

Chairman Aaron Smith said:
“We’re incredibly proud that every team at Southampton Women’s FC is now supported by a female coach. This is something we’ve been working towards for a long time as part of our one-club mentality. Our aim is to keep girls in the game for as long as possible by providing visible role models at every age group. Whether they go on to play at a high level or explore other pathways such as refereeing or coaching, we want to ensure they feel empowered and that those opportunities are available to them. Many of our coaches are either current or former players at the club, or have played the game at a high level, and that lived experience is invaluable in inspiring the next generation.”

We’re thrilled to welcome Aym’e to Southampton Women’s FC and look forward to the impact she will have both on and off the pitch as the club continues to grow and inspire future generations.