Women's Team Manager Luke Podmore looking forward to competitive opener
Coming off the back of nine pre-season wins out of nine, confidence in the FC United Women camp couldn’t be higher ahead of the season opener against Altrincham FC Ladies on Sunday. Luke Podmore’s side face local rivals Altrincham in the 1st Qualifying Round of the SSE Women’s FA Cup at Broadhurst Park (3G) with anticipation brewing after a perfect pre-season campaign.
A 100% record for the Reds throughout pre-season has seen them overcome four Women’s Premier League sides in the form of Crewe Alexandra LFC (twice), Burton Albion LFC, Leeds United LFC and Brighouse Town LFC along with victories over Welsh Women’s Premier League side Rhyl LFC as well as a 16-0 win over Nelson Ladies.
But it was the WSL side Doncaster Belles’ development squad that was the Reds latest scalp on Sunday after a strike from the skipper Kirsty Chambers was enough to give FC a narrow 1-0 win. And Podmore admits that the Belles side were a difficult opponent for the Reds to face "It was a really, really tough test. Obviously, it was a young side from Doncaster and it was clear to see the energy was there from them and it gave us a little bit to think about".
Nine from nine in pre-season has meant that the Reds have had to show a lot of character over the course of the pre-season games and Podmore was quick to praise that attribute in the squad after Sunday’s win "Overall, really pleased that we managed to come away with a 1-0 win and a clean sheet! It’s quite phenomenal that some of those players will be aspiring to play in the Super League and therefore we’ve shown again that we have the quality we needed. We had our backs up against the wall for a little bit of time but we managed to get through that and it shows that our players have come a long way this year".
Obviously a good pre-season is key for any side heading into a new campaign but going into the new season, Podmore stressed that it was key to face a variety of quality in different sides, just as we will over the coming months in the regular season "We’ve played first teams, development squads and overall a large variety of levels which is what is going to happen over the course of the season".
And despite picking up three double-figure wins in the pre-season campaign, the Women’s Team manager picked up on the importance of having a result his squad have had to grind out just before the start of the season "We wanted to finish on a high against a really tough team ahead of a really important game next week. So it was good to blow off all the cobwebs and have a really good go".
Paramount to Sunday’s win was another solid showing from FC’s back three. Chelsea Patient, Francesca Davies and Abbie Carrington all played key roles in producing a sixth and final clean sheet of pre-season for the Reds on Sunday and Podmore highlighted how important they will be to the side as a whole having a successful year "I say it all the time to my players, you only need one goal to win a game and if you keep a clean sheet at the other end with the quality we’ve got going forward it all bodes well for results".
"A lot of work has been done with our defence and our defensive responsibilities, you can see again today another clean sheet against a really talented side so we’re doing our bit at the bottom end and the attackers are doing their bit at the other end which is good to see", he added.
Nine pre-season games has allowed the Reds more than enough time to prepare for the new season and Podmore believes he has got everything he wished for over the summer months "We’ve had a really lengthy pre-season, some of the other teams in our league have had one or two games. It’s important we had a really defined fixture schedule, nine weeks, nine games. It’s something to look forward to as well, with pre-season you can try out new things".
"I think I’ve got everything I wanted out of it; the season will only tell us if that’s the case. But like I say, the variety of tests we’ve had, the different age groups and the different styles of teams we’ve played, I think we’re prepared for anything and that was the ultimate goal", Podmore stated.
Despite the entire squad which has featured for the Reds throughout pre-season putting in consistently strong performances, one player that had particularly impressed was striker Jess Battle. Having signed from AFC Fylde Ladies in January last season, Battle impressed throughout the second half of the 2016-17 campaign and was key to FC’s double success last year. Taking on the previously vacant no.9 shirt in pre-season, Battle has been key to the Reds’ wins in the preparation months and is a player that Podmore believes is only getting better and is key to the plans here at FC "I’ve said to Jess on a number of occasions that she’s one of our most important players. She’s the spearhead of our attack, she’s clever, and she scores goals. We’re building a team around Jess, she’s really important for the plans we’ve got going forward not just this season but for the years to come!"
He added "Jess has bought into the plans here, she’s playing differently now particularly more physically and I think that’s been more apparent over pre-season. I can’t wait to see what we’ll get out of a full season out of Jess!"
As for the new signings, they have been a key part of the strong showings from the Reds throughout the pre-season campaign. Two that have featured regularly are Rebecca Foster having signed from Urmston Medocide and Fran Sullivan from Sheffield FC Ladies. Luke Podmore has praised how both have come in and strengthened the side...
"Obviously, I knew what Becca’s quality was like; I knew what Fran Sullivan’s quality was like. We’ve bedded them in and we’ve made a really strong midfield unit and as a result we’re dominating games against all level teams as well as creating chances out of nothing and I think that’s an area we struggled in last season. We’re at a level now where we have stepped up so I’m very impressed with how the new signings have fit in".
With pre-season now done and dusted, Podmore and his side are now looking towards their competitive opener against Altrincham on Sunday. He hopes the Reds will stamp their authority on the game and set a marker down for the season from the first minute "It’s a massive game on Sunday. We want to start with a win and I’m sure Altrincham will want to do the same. I’d like to think that our preparation has been a bit better than theirs and I’d like to think that we’re in a bit better shape than they are. We did the double over them last year, albeit two close games but we’re a completely different animal now!"
"I hope we really set the marker down in that game on the 3rd [September], we’ll be taking the game to them and going all out, all guns blazing and hopefully we’ll come out with a win at the end!"
And you can see Luke Podmore and his FC United side take on Altrincham FC Ladies on Sunday 3rd September, in the 1st Qualifying Round of the SSE Women’s FA Cup at Broadhurst Park (3G) - 2pm KO!
We hope to see you there!
By Mikey Partington
A 100% record for the Reds throughout pre-season has seen them overcome four Women’s Premier League sides in the form of Crewe Alexandra LFC (twice), Burton Albion LFC, Leeds United LFC and Brighouse Town LFC along with victories over Welsh Women’s Premier League side Rhyl LFC as well as a 16-0 win over Nelson Ladies.
But it was the WSL side Doncaster Belles’ development squad that was the Reds latest scalp on Sunday after a strike from the skipper Kirsty Chambers was enough to give FC a narrow 1-0 win. And Podmore admits that the Belles side were a difficult opponent for the Reds to face "It was a really, really tough test. Obviously, it was a young side from Doncaster and it was clear to see the energy was there from them and it gave us a little bit to think about".
Nine from nine in pre-season has meant that the Reds have had to show a lot of character over the course of the pre-season games and Podmore was quick to praise that attribute in the squad after Sunday’s win "Overall, really pleased that we managed to come away with a 1-0 win and a clean sheet! It’s quite phenomenal that some of those players will be aspiring to play in the Super League and therefore we’ve shown again that we have the quality we needed. We had our backs up against the wall for a little bit of time but we managed to get through that and it shows that our players have come a long way this year".
Obviously a good pre-season is key for any side heading into a new campaign but going into the new season, Podmore stressed that it was key to face a variety of quality in different sides, just as we will over the coming months in the regular season "We’ve played first teams, development squads and overall a large variety of levels which is what is going to happen over the course of the season".
And despite picking up three double-figure wins in the pre-season campaign, the Women’s Team manager picked up on the importance of having a result his squad have had to grind out just before the start of the season "We wanted to finish on a high against a really tough team ahead of a really important game next week. So it was good to blow off all the cobwebs and have a really good go".
Paramount to Sunday’s win was another solid showing from FC’s back three. Chelsea Patient, Francesca Davies and Abbie Carrington all played key roles in producing a sixth and final clean sheet of pre-season for the Reds on Sunday and Podmore highlighted how important they will be to the side as a whole having a successful year "I say it all the time to my players, you only need one goal to win a game and if you keep a clean sheet at the other end with the quality we’ve got going forward it all bodes well for results".
"A lot of work has been done with our defence and our defensive responsibilities, you can see again today another clean sheet against a really talented side so we’re doing our bit at the bottom end and the attackers are doing their bit at the other end which is good to see", he added.
Nine pre-season games has allowed the Reds more than enough time to prepare for the new season and Podmore believes he has got everything he wished for over the summer months "We’ve had a really lengthy pre-season, some of the other teams in our league have had one or two games. It’s important we had a really defined fixture schedule, nine weeks, nine games. It’s something to look forward to as well, with pre-season you can try out new things".
"I think I’ve got everything I wanted out of it; the season will only tell us if that’s the case. But like I say, the variety of tests we’ve had, the different age groups and the different styles of teams we’ve played, I think we’re prepared for anything and that was the ultimate goal", Podmore stated.
Despite the entire squad which has featured for the Reds throughout pre-season putting in consistently strong performances, one player that had particularly impressed was striker Jess Battle. Having signed from AFC Fylde Ladies in January last season, Battle impressed throughout the second half of the 2016-17 campaign and was key to FC’s double success last year. Taking on the previously vacant no.9 shirt in pre-season, Battle has been key to the Reds’ wins in the preparation months and is a player that Podmore believes is only getting better and is key to the plans here at FC "I’ve said to Jess on a number of occasions that she’s one of our most important players. She’s the spearhead of our attack, she’s clever, and she scores goals. We’re building a team around Jess, she’s really important for the plans we’ve got going forward not just this season but for the years to come!"
He added "Jess has bought into the plans here, she’s playing differently now particularly more physically and I think that’s been more apparent over pre-season. I can’t wait to see what we’ll get out of a full season out of Jess!"
As for the new signings, they have been a key part of the strong showings from the Reds throughout the pre-season campaign. Two that have featured regularly are Rebecca Foster having signed from Urmston Medocide and Fran Sullivan from Sheffield FC Ladies. Luke Podmore has praised how both have come in and strengthened the side...
"Obviously, I knew what Becca’s quality was like; I knew what Fran Sullivan’s quality was like. We’ve bedded them in and we’ve made a really strong midfield unit and as a result we’re dominating games against all level teams as well as creating chances out of nothing and I think that’s an area we struggled in last season. We’re at a level now where we have stepped up so I’m very impressed with how the new signings have fit in".
With pre-season now done and dusted, Podmore and his side are now looking towards their competitive opener against Altrincham on Sunday. He hopes the Reds will stamp their authority on the game and set a marker down for the season from the first minute "It’s a massive game on Sunday. We want to start with a win and I’m sure Altrincham will want to do the same. I’d like to think that our preparation has been a bit better than theirs and I’d like to think that we’re in a bit better shape than they are. We did the double over them last year, albeit two close games but we’re a completely different animal now!"
"I hope we really set the marker down in that game on the 3rd [September], we’ll be taking the game to them and going all out, all guns blazing and hopefully we’ll come out with a win at the end!"
And you can see Luke Podmore and his FC United side take on Altrincham FC Ladies on Sunday 3rd September, in the 1st Qualifying Round of the SSE Women’s FA Cup at Broadhurst Park (3G) - 2pm KO!
We hope to see you there!
By Mikey Partington
First Posted ~ 15:25 Sat 2 Sep 2017
News ID ~ 7570
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021