BANGOR LADIES LOOK TOWARDS 2010

Annual General Meeting first steps to new season

The Annual General Meeting of Bangor Ladies, the official ladies section of Irish League club Bangor Football Club, took place recently at The Groomsport Inn. Looking back, and on paper at least, the most successful club in Northern Ireland in 2009 are turning their attentions to the 2010 Season in the Northern Ireland Women’s Football Association.

Coming in to steer the club forward following their promotion in 2009 will be Manager and First Team Coach Andy Craig; Assistant Manager and Assistant Coach Leanne McGarry; Paula Dougherty, Treasurer; Rachel Bates, Secretary; Cathy Duncan, Club Captain, and Patricia Webb, who will be looking after the fund raising aspects in 2010.

With Andy Craig, Manager and Leanne McGarry, Assistant Manager re-installed at the helm of the club, this team, who enjoyed a quite unprecedented successful year of football over the summer of 2009, are determined to keep the Seasiders' on track.

Under this management partnership, the Sammy Mellon sponsored side, lifted the Coca-Cola Third Division Championship trophy, completing an unbeaten league run of 14 matches. In the progress Bangor Ladies recorded the biggest points total in the country, the highest goal tally and largest goal difference deficit – making it a record-breaking year for ladies football in North Down.

The teams leading goalscorer in 2009, Natasha Lee, who went on to lift the Player of the Year Shield. The 18-year-old finished the season as the most prolific striker in the Third Division as well as runner up overall in the whole of Northern Ireland. The young striker scoring incredible 34 goals – which included 6 league hat tricks and a strike against every defence in their division.

Natasha Lee - unstoppable in 2009

The League Champions will however look to strengthen their squad for the new divisional challenge of playing in the Second Division next April. Already I have had an approach and there will be more new faces in the squad in February.

“I am always looking to strengthen and expand the current squad. While I had 24 players registered last season, we struggled with injuries and really didn’t have enough cover towards the end of the season.

“Obviously I look forward to the return of some of our long term injures, back in April, but it’s the third season in a row we have started very strongly in terms of numbers and saw that luxury be depleted as the games come thick and fast.

“We paid the price in August, unable to field a full compliment in an important league cup semi final and arguably that might have cost us a clean sweep in our division. Both Leanne and I have the number of players we will need to have signed and ready in our minds, and when we get all quota, the books will close until 2/11.

“Although there is certainly the potential with the current squad to go on and give a good account of ourselves in the higher division, but if we can add just a bit more quality then we have a very good chance of advancing further up the league structures with confidence.

“We have set a realistic target of being able to compete at the top level of ladies football within a couple more seasons – we need to just continue to advance and continue to show the work ethic and consistency that brought the league championship to Clandeboye Park in September.”

With a winning team and the new committee in place there are areas where we will be looking to develop over the close season – hopefully galvanise our existing association within Irish League club Bangor F.C. The club will be looking to build on their close relationship with Chairman Trevor Best and the rest of the Board at Clandeboye Park.

New faces could add the quality and drive the club forwards

Financially the club will also be looking to move on, thankfully now attracting sponsorship of local business Sammy Mellon, there are plans to improve the overall image of the club next season – with tracksuits and training kits now a priority.

Overall things are already moving – with the NIWFA AGM coming up, also the North Down Sports Advisory Committee AGM is on the horizon, and although thoughts of a hot summer evening of football are not exactly immediately apparent – it wont be that long before the clocks are back on the turn.

Last Edited on 6-Nov-2009 8:09 AM