Wolves Women manager Dan McNamara has paid tribute to Helen Dermody and Sophie Bramford following the departures of the duo.
After signing three years ago, Dermody has stepped back from the club to spend time with her family following the birth of her first child, Hugo, earlier this year.
Meanwhile, after completing her university studies, Bramford has taken the decision to leave the Old Gold and will step away from football to embark on a year of travelling followed by the commencement of full-time work.
During her time at Compton, Dermody’s impact saw her make 56 appearances and score eight goals, lifting a league title and two Birmingham Challenge Cups in a highly-successful spell.
Commenting on the influence of the midfielder amongst the group, manager McNamara said: “Anyone that knows football in the West Midlands and further afield knows the name Helen Dermody. When I knew she was available three years ago, I went all out to get her because I’d done my research and not only was she a fantastic footballer, but she was an even better person.
“Over the last three years, I’ve seen that first-hand - what she’s done for the football club, what she’s done for the younger players, for the older players and also for the staff and myself on a personal level. She’s an incredible person and someone that will be fondly missed from the group.
“It’s not just her talent in football, it’s the other things she brought. It was almost a motherly love that she gave around the club. It’s fantastic that she moves onto a new chapter in her life. I hope Rich and H both enjoy their time with Hugo and enjoy watching him growing up.
“What a remarkable football career she’s had and, who knows, hopefully we might see her on the pitch for one last season or two somewhere around the game in the future.”
Dermody signed for Wolves in July 2021after a stellar career at Championship side Coventry United where she made just shy of 350 appearances and following more success at Molineux, which also saw her wear the captain’s armband on a number of occasions, McNamara has said Dermody will always be welcomed back.
“Her, Amber Hughes, Beth Merrick and Maz Gauntlett were the four we brought in over that summer who really lifted Wolves to the next level,” McNamara continued. “They were the four marquee signings who came in and had a real impact both on and off the pitch. As I said, H will be remembered for a long time in a Wolves shirt and she’ll be welcomed back whenever she likes.
“Hopefully we can all keep seeing each other, watch Hugo grow up and she’ll still be at the games as a big supporter of the group.”
Bramford returned to Wolves for her second spell in Old Gold at the start of last season and made a total of 48 appearances, scoring 14 goals.
First signing in July 2019, the 21-year-old was a key figure throughout 2023/24, featuring 29 times in all competitions and contributing eight goals, including two Goal of the Season nominations against Peterborough United and Halifax.
Once again, McNamara has hailed Bramford’s impact both on and off the pitch, explaining how her character and energy around Compton Park will be hugely missed.
“I’ve had Soph since she was around 16 or 17 and this is the second time I’ve worked with her. If I was a guessing man, I’d say there is maybe more to come from Sophie Bramford - hopefully with me.
“She’s a young person who has been involved in football for a long time, even at the young age she is. It’s taken over her life for a huge portion of it. Soph came to me at the start of the year and said she’d studied really hard for the last three or four years at university and potentially wanted to look at doing a bit of travelling, seeing a bit of the world and having no regrets when she’s older.
“I can almost be certain it won’t be the last we see of her. Hopefully in a Wolves shirt, but I don’t think that will be the end of Sophie Bramford’s football chapter. I certainly hope not because she’s got a lot more to give as a player.
“I always go on about recruitment at this football club and you’ve got to be the right person and, for a different reason to H, Sophie will be massively missed in the dressing room. She brings character, a different energy to what others bring and she certainly made us smile over the last 12 months. I thank her for all of her efforts in a Wolves shirt and hopefully she takes some good memories away.”
