Jo Potter, the Lioness who is revolutionising the Rangers Women’s football team

🎵 Joooo Pottteeeerrrr (Aha)

She’s our Lionessss…..

Wears a Rangers crest….

And she’s gonna win the Leaggguuueeeee🎵

No matter where the Rangers Women ply their trade this year, the Rangers Women supporters club belt out their rendition of ABBA’s Voulez Vouz in tribute to their own Lioness, Rangers Women’s Head Coach Josanne Potter.

She’s very quickly became a fans favourite not only for her performance as manager but for her brilliant nature with the fans who sing her name.

And she’s got us all dreaming of a truly successful season for the team with an exciting brand of football that makes watching Rangers entertaining once again.

So who really is Josanne Potter?….

An English born tenacious midfielder, she played like she manages now, forward thinking and liking to attack. Originally starting out as a winger before moving inside. She had three spells with Birmingham, as well as Arsenal and Everton amongst others.

Jo played in three FA cup finals, winning on her third attempt with Birmingham in 2012. But it’s her career with England we know her best, with thirty five caps and three goals in a team which was the beginning of a Golden generation for the English national side. Culminating in a third place finish at the World cup in 2015. She also went to the Euro Finals with England in 2017.

Considering the strength of that national side there is no doubts Jo could play. Every now and then as the ball goes out of touch or is fired towards her she still has the touch, I often joke ‘still got it’ to which she’ll laugh and say ‘always’ with a wry smile.

She retired from Football in 2021, moving into coaching and ending up as Assistant at Birmingham when Rangers would come calling in the summer of 2023. Described by CEO James Bisgrove as the ‘outstanding candidate’ she was largely unknown to the supporters, after all, this was her first managerial appointment.

James said “We held an extensive recruitment process, and throughout, Jo was the outstanding candidate. She brings fantastic experience to Rangers at what is a hugely exciting time for the women’s programme at the club given the interest and the crowds the team played in front of at the end of last season”

Jo said “I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to work for this prestigious football club.

“I feel aligned with the club’s ambitions and standards to continually grow and move forward, especially in such a powerful time within women’s football. I can’t wait to get started.”

So that was that, Jo was here as new Head Coach and there was an air of intrigue as to what Rangers we would be seeing.

Mhairi McKenzie watches Rangers Women home and away, proudly part of Rangers Women Supporters Club and has helped drive a new attitude singing era at all the games.

On Jo’s appointment Mhairi said “Jo is exactly the type of progressive appointment I was looking for from the club. Someone who has played at the top level of women’s football, experience coaching women’s football and great links to the English market. We need a winner who will create that ‘must win every game’ attitude for Rangers”

We wouldn’t have to wait long to see if Jo could do that, but it would quickly become an exciting adventure….

2022-23 was a season that had petered out to a whimper with defeat at home to Glasgow City. This meant not only losing the title but finishing third and no European football, followed by a Scottish Cup Final defeat to Celtic.

The squad wasn’t quite ‘broken’ but it needed some serious TLC to breathe new life and a new enthusiasm. Too many draws and cautious play would lead Rangers to that final day and by the time the Scottish cup final came around we were simply playing on fumes.

There was very little excitement around watching the team and with key players like Hannah Davison and Jenni Danielsson declining to resign with the club, there was a lot of work to be done, but it also offered Jo a chance to structure exactly how she wanted.

What was obvious is that Rangers needed a new goal threat, with Kirsty Howat nearly always our only threat. Injury to Jane Ross really cost the team almost as much as the failure to replace her as season 2022/23 became a struggle for goals.

Jo recognised that and acted quickly adding Striker Rio Hardy to the squad, this would be a brilliant early move by the manager. Potter would then add Sarah Ewens, former prolific Celtic striker, to the group and suddenly along with Howat and the returning Ross, Rangers had that fire power to get the goals we desired.

Rachel Rowe was added to the midfield to provide that help and imagination, as a player I see some of Potter in her with her tricky attacking forward thinking play. Belgian centre back Michelle Coulson was added to the defence and Rangers were set for their assault on the 2023-24 season.

But the manager still had major decisions to make and didn’t shy away from them as she named Nicola Docherty as her new captain.

It was a big call from Jo Potter even that early.

Nic said “It is obviously a huge honour, it is something that I didn’t really expect, but I have just come into pre-season and been myself. There are so many leaders in this dressing room and this group of girls so it is not going to just take one person to lead this team this season. It is going to take all of us and there are at least four, five or six players who have got huge qualities that they bring in terms of leadership.”

On the appointment Jo said “I am delighted to be able to announce Nicola as our captain for the season ahead. She has fantastic leadership qualities and built strong relationships with myself and the staff since we have come in this summer.

“She gives everything for the club and with the support of several experienced players in the squad, we have a strong leadership group for the season ahead.”

Looking back in the change Mhairi said “I was surprised to see a change in the captaincy when Jo came in, but obviously, I don’t witness the day-to-day influence of players at the training ground. I was delighted for Nic Doc, but I also understand how disappointed Kathy Hill would have been.

There were no doubts in my mind that this wouldn’t impact Kathy’s professionalism or love for the club. In my opinion, there are easily 4 or 5 players in the squad who could captain the club, and that’s a positive”

It was an early sign that you would do it her way and in her vision, showing the thought strength she would show throughout her Rangers Journey thus far.

Rangers found early success, avenging the Scottish Cup defeat by winning the City of Glasgow trophy against Celtic, the equivalent of a charity shield tournament perhaps, by beating Queens Park 11-0 then winning the final by 2-1. The significance of that not lost as Rangers equalised then won it in injury time with two dramatic late goals from Kirsty MacLean and Kirsty Howat.

It was an early boost in the manager’s reign but a sign of what was to come.

What was apparent quickly was the 4-5-1 approach of the previous management was gone and in some style.

Rangers led with an expansive 3-4-1-2 with plenty of width and attacking in not only the line up but the style also. The back three, instead of three normal centre backs, consist of a centre half with two full backs either side who will push on depending on the attack progression. With two wide players the middle three all play progressively with two out and out forwards to get the ball too.

It’s a very aggressive attacking system with a possession based mentality but it isn’t passive or with passing for the sake of it, everything has a purpose and designed to entertain.

Three opening wins, including a 5-1 home victory over Aberdeen which Jo Potter wasn’t overly happy with, telling me afterwards she wanted ‘more’, took the team to Champions Glasgow City fixture. This is the only game Rangers haven’t won so far across all competitions as the game ended 1-1. A game Rangers dominated and had clearly had the best opportunities.

I could sense early on the manager was Irked at the dropped points.

But everything was positive, the football was good and played in a ‘risk reward style’. Through time the players have learned when to have less risk and more reward but it was great for the support even this early on.

Seven straight wins in the league brought the first Old Firm at Excelsior which Rangers won 1-2 coming from behind once more. Kirsty MacLean and Rio Hardy scoring the winners but that match was significant for another reason not well documented.

A first team player telling me the message from the boss was clear, “Keep passing the ball and attacking and we will win this, they won’t get near you if you play”.

And she was right.

After that huge win Mhairi said “At half time we were 0-0 showing some familar patterns of games against them. But unlike previous season’s there was always belief in the team and we made a really positive substitution.

We could all feel that we were playing the better football and the atmosphere from our side got ramped up massively. Jo was at the side constantly pushing the team on and it paid off spectacularly with two second half goals from great football”

A shining light in the middle of this run was the emergence of young Scottish Talent, specifically Mia McAulay. The young exciting winger was a breath of fresh air but just a baby at 16 she was playing like an adult.

The progress of Jodi McLeary also gone from a bit part player in previous seasons to a dependable first team player, showing fight and a little bit of sass as she ‘Shhhsssdddd’ the Celtic bench as Hardy put Rangers ahead in that Excelsior win.

Then there is Kirsty MacLean, ‘mini Ini’ as she is nicknamed, excelling in the centre of midfield with big goals and big performances. She’s destined for bigger things in football and is a tremendous talent.

Then there is the performances of Chelsea Cornett in midfield who is beginning to dominate and dictate the team as she has threatened to do so for years. With the ever consistent Hill, Docherty and McLaughlin Rangers are built for success and this system suits the team.

A huge 2-0 victory at Champions Glasgow City took Rangers eight clear of the defending Champions. That is in the middle of an eight game winning run since that Celtic win, taking Rangers three clear of their old firm opponents at the top of the league.

But it was in the middle of a recent ten nil victory over Dundee Utd that Jo Potter once again demonstrated just how much she gets it. At half time she told her squad, “Celtic have won nine nil, don’t come back in unless you score ten”.

The players delivered

That takes us nicely to the Old Firm cup semi final last Friday evening with Rangers looking for their third victory in a row over Celtic.

And they didn’t disappoint.

Rangers came from one behind and then a late equaliser to grab a dramatic 2-3 victory, the second at the home of their rivals this season to storm through to the SWPL League cup final.

A goal for Kathy Hill then Kirsty MacLean popped up again with another Old Firm goal followed by a dramatic winner from striking sensation Rio Hardy.

Mhairi summed up her thoughts on Rangers and Jo’s progress

“We’re unbeaten in all competitions, in the Sky Sports Cup final, have close to a full squad available to us and a manager that’s driving everyone to continue improving. Even for us in the stands, we know when the team need a boost and happy to play our part. The standard of football has been impressive and we have strikers scoring for fun.

Jo’s impact has been significant and the signings we’ve introduced make the squad competitive. Every position is competitive and we have the capability to rotate when required.

Jo has inspired the players on the pitch and the fans in the stands. There’s a lot of football still to be played but we have to be optimistic that the Ibrox trophy cabinet will be a lot busier come May”

It was another high for Head Coach Jo Potter who has Rangers hunting a domestic treble with football that not only entertains but is enjoyable also. The players are responding, the fans are flocking in their numbers to watch them and the Lioness is revolutionising everything about the Rangers Women’s set up.

Jo’s a winner and she’s turned this team into a very exciting and enjoyable side to watch. Away from the field she’s a very friendly and inviting person, in fact you forget she is head coach as she asks how things are and you chat away like friends. She’s the boss, she carries herself like that at all times but she recognises the support and understands the demands of Rangers.

Jo Potter gets it and she’s on the way to creating history, but she’ll be the first to rein me in and remind me nothing is won and it’s one game at a time. But that is Josanne Potter, or Jo as she is affectionately known, she’s a winner.

The Rangers Women Supporters Club are going to have to edit their own song very soon.

🎵 Jooooo Potterrrrrr (Aha)

She’s our lioness…..

Wears the Rangers crest….

AND SHES GONNA WIN THE LOT… 🎵

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With special thanks to Rangers Football Club for quotes after Jo’s appointment from the club’s official site. Also Thanks to Mhairi McKenzie of Rangers Women Supporters Club, you can find them on all socials including X/Twitter by searching Rangers Women Supporters Club or #RangersWSC

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