A change in formation, tactics, and an all-new ethos will be at the forefront in the make-up of a new look Bishop Auckland Ladies this season in the Durham County FA League 1 as the Ladies new manager, Barry Procter, ably supported by a strong backroom, ready themselves for what lies ahead.
Procter, backed by secretary Jackie Cleminson, assistant (& goalkeeper coach) James Howarth, and fellow coaches Zak Hutchinson, Emma Sewell and Paula Wake start their season in earnest away to Penrith Ladies in the FA Women’s Cup Preliminary Round on Sunday 1 September (KO 2PM).
In implementing changes throughout pre-season, Bishop Ladies facing tough opposition in Workington Reds Ladies, Wallsend Ladies, and Alnwick Town Ladies among others, his girls have shone through, quite impressively.
With smiles on their faces, and a spring in their step, Barry has been just as impressed with them as they with him, saying: “The Ladies are loving it right now, training and playing with smiles on their faces.
“They’re getting stuck in and there’s a massive buzz around the club, a belief in themselves that I’ve not seen anywhere before, a strong bonding among them.
“I changed the system they’ve played previously to a more attacking, 3-5-2 formation, and they’re trusting that which is great, it means the reshuffling is easier as well.”
That bond, the new ethos instilled, means that the Ladies, who’ll be challenging on a number of fronts on the field this season, DCFA League 1, Women’s FA Cup, League Cup and County Cup have come through pre-season and are ready for not only Penrith, but their League opener at Chester-le-Street Amazon Women two weeks later.
“I was pleased with what Jackie (Cleminson, Club Secretary) put together, although I did ask for more,” continued Barry.
“A few of those games were against opposition a division or two higher with the game against Wallsend being, for me, the toughest we had although the Workington game, that could have been a different outcome (Sophie Wood netted a brace in the 2-2 draw at Heritage Park against Workington).”
Leading by two at the break Procter re-shuffled in the second period which saw the visitors pull two back to earn a draw, however, the Two Blues manager knows that, if he wasn’t using pre-season guidelines and giving more of the squad a run-out, the outcome would have been much different.
Now though, all that is to one side and it’s all eyes on Penrith at the Frenchfields Stadium, and the season ahead.
“We’ll need to be focussed (as Penrith are from a division above) but we’re looking forward to both the FA Cup match, and the season ahead.
“There’s some pacy players at this club which I love meaning we can get forward quickly and, with Wood, and the returning Natasha Napier, we’ve got plenty of goals in us.
“I’ve been in the women’s game for the past five years now so I’m not new to it, I’ve won numerous trophies whilst playing this attacking game and what we have here, I can see we’re getting the best out of them.”
Bishop Auckland Ladies kick-off their new season in the Women’s FA Cup away to Penrith Ladies, Frenchfields Stadium on Sunday 1 September, KO 2PM.
OPENING FIXTURES
BISHOP AUCKLAND LADIES (subject to change)
Sept 1 Penrith Ladies (A) Women’s FA Cup Preliminary Round; Sept 15 Chester-le-Street Amazon Women (A) DCFA League 1; Sept 22 Hartlepool United Ladies (H) DCFA League 1
Oct 6 Darlington Spraire Ladies (A) DCFA League 1; Oct 13 Consett Belles (A) DCFA League 1; Oct 30 Gateshead Leam Rangers Ladies (H) DCFA League 1; Oct 27 South Shields Ladies Reserves (A) DCFA League Cup Quarter-Final
BISHOP AUCKLAND DEVELOPMENT (subject to change)
Sept 5 Spennymoor Town Ladies (H) Development Division; Sept 8 Newton Aycliffe Ladies (H) Development Division; Sept 15 Stockton Town Ladies (H) Development Division; Sept 22 Chester-le-Street Women’s Amazines (A) Development Division; Sept 29 Washington AFC Development Ladies (H) Development Division
Oct 6 Craghead Ladies (H) Development Division; Oct 13 Lumley Ladies Development (H) Development Division; Oct 20 Chester-le-Street Waldridge Park (A) Development Division; Oct 27 Spennymoor Town Ladies (A) Development Division Cup Quarter-Final