Television pundit and former professional football star Natasha Dowie has been officially unveiled as the headline guest speaker for the prestigious Merseyside Women of the Year (MWOTY) awards 2026 later this month.
The highly anticipated annual celebration, which honours the most inspirational and selfless women across the Liverpool City Region, is now operating under a strict capacity limit, with entry tickets almost completely sold out.
The legendary striker will take to the stage on Friday, 26th June 2026, for an intimate, in-depth interview exploring the realities of her trailblazing career, hosted by Rae Brooke, Chief Executive Officer of the Community Foundation for Merseyside.
Dowie’s storied sporting journey began on the international stage, representing the England women’s national football team at the youth level, before she graduated to make her senior international debut in 2009.
Her early career saw her represent prominent London sides Watford, Fulham, and Charlton Athletic, before she moved to the North West to dedicate five successful years to Everton.
Celebrating Liverpool FC’s All-Time Top Goalscorer and First Female Legends Player
In November 2012, the prolific striker made a high-profile transfer to FA WSL giants Liverpool Ladies, before moving to Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2016.
Her immense sporting talents subsequently took her across the globe, enjoying successful stints in the Australian W-League and the American National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Her international club career further included spells at Sweden’s Linköpings FC, Oslo’s Vålerenga, and Italian heavyweights Milan, alongside a period at Reading FC, before she made a triumphant return to Liverpool in 2023.
Upon announcing her formal retirement from professional play on 21 September 2023, she departed the pitch holding the title of Liverpool FC Women’s all-time top goalscorer, a historic club record she still proudly retains today.
Breaking further boundaries in her retirement, she was appointed as the first official women’s ambassador for Liverpool FC, leading to her becoming the very first female player to line up in the high-profile Liverpool Legends matches.
In her ambassadorial capacity, she works closely with the girls’ ProGame Academy, the boys’ Academy, and the LFC Foundation girls’ programmes, whilst additionally working as an advanced A-licence football coach with the FA and serving as an Ambassador for the Owen McVeigh Foundation.
Natasha said:
“I can’t wait to talk at the MWOTY awards and I know a few of the finalists which makes it extra special. Since retiring three years ago from playing football, I have had more mentors and role models than I did during my playing career.
“I take immense pride in the way I live my life and the opportunities I have been given. My aim is to continue to be a role model, keep trying to open doors for others and inspire as many people as I can along the way.”
Inspiring the Next Generation of Female Trailblazers with Lifelong Mentorship
Ellie Kerr, MWOTY founding director, said:
“We are so thrilled to welcome Natasha to the MWOTY stage on Friday 26th June to talk about her achievements throughout her exceptional career, the challenges and how she navigated that as a sportsperson and as a woman.
“Since retiring, she has used her knowledge and experience to help raise the next generation of young football stars, to inspire confidence, ambition and resilience amongst young women and make them believe that they can achieve their dreams.
“Creating legacy is at the heart of everything that MWOTY does, learning and growing together and building a better future for the women of our city region.
“The work Natasha does aligns perfectly with our values, and we can’t wait for us to join us!”
Final event updates and further organisational background can be found by visiting the official website here.
