First Team
Despite finishing a disappointing 7th in the league, the ladies still finished as the top ladies club in Cheshire by finishing 8 points above Tranmere Rovers, who finished in 8th place. The highlight of the season though was reclaiming the Cheshire FA Ladies Challenge Cup after a 3-year absence of silverware by beating Chester LFC in the final, 2-0 with goals from Kayleigh Rowe-Catterall and Chloe Spencer, not forgetting an outstanding 2nd-half performance by keeper, Laura Bowater.
Manager Jonny Davies is looking forward to the new season having added 8 new players to his squad, with a mixture of new signings with FA Premiership experience alongside a number of young U18s who have progressed through from the junior ranks of the club. Although the intention is to secure automatic promotion as the champions of the Northern Combination WFL, and with it a return to the FA Women's Premier (North) following relegation in 2008, but for this season only, the runners-up will face a play-off against the 2nd-placed team from the Midland Combination WFL for the right to a promotion play-off against the 2nd-bottom team of the FA Women's Premier (North), which promises an exciting finale to the season!
The 1st visitors to Woodley Sports FC after 2 tricky away games with Bradford City (15th) and Salford (18th) will be league newcomers, Mossley Hill, on Sunday 22nd August, 2pm kick-off - FREE Admission.
Reserves
The Reserves secured the Division 2 (East) title, and with it promotion to Division 1 of the Cheshire & Manchester WFL at the 1st attempt having won 12, lost 1 drawn 1 and scoring a phenomenal 80 goals in the process with Jeneyah Webb, Cheryl Burns and Sophie Williams all hitting double-figures. They then finished off their season with a hard-fought 5-1 defeat over the team that inflicted that solitary defeat, league runners-up Fletcher Moss, in the League Cup final with goals from Sophie Williams (2), Lisa Mitchell (2) and Olivia Hockin.
The squad has been partially rebuilt due to a number of players heading off to University, notably Roseanne Emerson who has been with the club for over 10-years and is still only 18!! Another promotion challenge is again the aim for manager Ian Tune and assistant manager, Pat Power, this time to the North West Women's Regional FL as they continue to develop these young players into a formidable force.
Once again, we are indebted to Stockport Georgians FC for allowing our Reserves the use of their Flowery Fields ground for home matches, which is probably one of, if not the best grass pitch in the North-West.
Blues (3rd Team)
After 2-seasons in Division 1 of the Cheshire & Manchester WFL following a notable double in 2008, a disappointing season, marred by injuries finally ended in relegation. Apart from a 3-1 win over Chester City Ladies in September thanks to a Katie Race hat-trick, and a 4-2, 1st-round cup victory over club stable-mates, HNR a few weeks later, it was a long, hard season of back-to-back defeats.
Manager Kirsty Wilkinson and assistant manager Vicky Brown are confident that the 'Blues' fortunes will change this season with the recruitment of Paul Hancock, a Stockport County Foundation coach, assisted by Ryan Breen, who joined the club earlier this year, along with the addition of a number of U16s into the squad, there is now a healthy mix of youth with experience. Their aim is to replicate the Reserves feat and secure promotion at the 1st attempt!
HNR
Considering the average age of the team (which we are under strict orders not to divulge!), they continue to hold their own against much younger teams in Cheshire & Manchester WFL Division 1. Whilst 2009/2010 was a season of mixed fortunes, not helped by a depleted squad which meant fielding a bare 11 players some weeks, including manager Jill Godleman who has 'retired' from playing at the start of each of the past 4 seasons, in February they still managed to beat the eventual league runners-up, Middleton Colts, 1-0 and 4th-placed Manchester University, 2-1.
Whilst promotion to the 4th tier of Women's football (North West Women's Regional FL) is unlikely, it is not totally beyond their capabilities as there is a wealth of experience in the team, many of whom have played at a much higher level in their formative years!
1st and Reserves train on Tuesday evenings, 6-8pm and Blues train on Wednesdays, 7.30-9pm. All sessions take place at Woodley Sports FC, Neil Rourke Stadium, Lambeth Grove, Woodley SK6 1QX. For details contact the club secretary, Mark Lockyear on 0161 456-1177 or visit www.stockportcountyladiesfc.co.uk
