This Sunday will see our ladies first team kick off their 2018/19 league campaign where they will travel to face newly promoted Merthyr Town FC for an evening kick off (18:30).
Following a summer of many changes within the playing and coaching staff, the squad will be looking forward to finally getting competitive matches underway having completed their pre-season schedule.
There has been a host of new arrivals at Jenner Park over the summer with 10 new signings in total. Holly Vowles, Alex Allen, Taylor Page, Courtney Martin-Luce, Sophie Thomas, Chelsea Deacon, Erin Brennan, Alicia Cox, Daisy Evan-Watkins and Laura Saliba have arrived with former players, Tracey White and Megan Bailey returning to the club. Chloe Clarke, Emma Cannon, Charlotte Preen, Emma Thompson and Ellen Phillips remain from last year’s squad whilst youngsters Olivia Townsend and Sian Rees have made the step into senior football for the new season.
On the season ahead, new Ladies Manager, Luke Williams commented; “We are really looking forward to getting underway at the weekend in what will be a testing opening match away at Merthyr. We have been going through a big transitional period during the summer with a lot of new signings arriving and naturally it will take time for everything to settle down and build new partnerships but overall I am really pleased with the squad we have been able to assemble.”
“The squad is going to be competing for places all season which is healthy and what we needed moving forwards. We have a good balance with some very exciting young prospects in the squad that have represented Wales at U17 or U19 and mixed with experienced players that have played at Premier League level or within the English pyramid which should bode well for the different challenges we will face.”
Barry’s opponents at the weekend will be looking forward to testing themselves in the second tier of women’s football in Wales this season following promotion from the South Wales Women’s League and they too have been going through a transitional period with many new arrivals during the summer.
On facing Merthyr, Williams commented; “Merthyr will be a challenging opening game for us as they will be looking to make a good first impression in the league and they have also strengthened their squad over the summer. Dan Delahay and Isaac Barry will have them well organised and it will be down to us to impose our game plan and hopefully come back with three points.”
The Welsh Women’s League will this season consist of 11 teams making for a larger fixture programme with several new teams in the league. Splott Albion and Willows have been promoted alongside Merthyr from South Wales with West Wales teams, Dafen Welfare and Rhos joining existing teams Barry, Caldicot, Cascade, Aberystwyth, Penybont, and Llangyfelach.
Following this weekend’s fixtures, Barry will host Cascade on Sunday 9th September at Jenner Park Stadium before travelling to Aberystwyth on 16th September.
Best wishes to our players and coaching staff for the season ahead.