AC
20 posts
Feb 08, 2010
9:26 AM
|
Bangor Ladies are nominated
for local Sports Awards
Following a record breaking season last year, Bangor Ladies Football Club, the official ladies section of Bangor Football Club, have received two nominations for the annual North Down Sports Advisory Council’s ‘Sports Awards’ which will be held on April 30th, 2010.
NDSAC formed by North Down Council in 1994
Most notably is the team itself being nominated in the “Team of the Year” category after their incredible summer of 2009, which saw them secure their first silverware and statistically finish the season as the most successful ladies football team in Northern Ireland. Unbeaten in 14 league games, amassing the top points total of 40, which proved the highest across all six divisions of the NIWFA.
Formed in 1996 by North Down Borough Council, the main aim of the North Down Sports Advisory Council (NDSAC) is to assist in the promotion and development of sport in the Borough of North Down. Its constitution is to foster, in the field of sports, the twinning link between communities within the borough and other communities abroad.
Since the early days of the millennium, the council continues to recognise a variety of different categories which catalogue both individual and collective sporting achievements in North Down, across a wide range of sporting fields.
Bangor Ladies have been affiliated to the Council since their formation in 2006 and have regularly attended a number of meetings and award dinners over the past few years. So one nomination, is in itself, a very commendable achievement, to have two therefore in 2010 reveals how the ladies club is progressing in both it’s chosen discipline and within the sporting local community.
Along with the nomination as the 'Team of the Year', the Seasiders' 18-year-old striker Natasha Lee has been nominated in the ‘Sportsperson of the Year‘category following her contribution to a phenomenal year for ladies football. Natasha, not only topped the goal scoring charts at Clandeboye Park with a record breaking 32 strikes, but also finished the year as the top rated striker in the 3rd Division, and remarkably the second most prolific forward in the whole of Northern Ireland.
Bangor L.F.C. 2009 - No. 1 statistically in Northern Ireland
Natasha also took the Seasiders’ Player of the Year, the youngest ever to do so, and also was adjudged by sponsors Sammy Mellon and Sons, as “MVP” (Most Valuable Player), recognising the player who had made the biggest contribution in the six month long campaign. The Hanover Glen teenager also set club records with six hat tricks in one competitive season, and also scoring in six consecutive games.
While the Clandeboye Park ladies will have to wait until the sports awards ceremony to be held on Friday, April, 30th, preparations for their fifth season in the NIWFA, will gets under way next Sunday, February 21st as the competitive challenge of playing their football in the second division, will commence in mid April.
Current ladies manager Andy Craig, along with assistant manager Leanne McGarry, have already put into place a tough six match preseason series, which will see the Seasiders play some top flight teams. Along with Cliftonville Ladies from the premier division, they will face the 2009 Division 1 winners Saint Matthews, as well as games organised against Larne, Glenavon and Blackieville.
 
With this in mind, all relevant information regarding the 2010 membership is now available on line, this details everything which both existing and possible new members should be aware of. With the kick-off scheduled for next week, is now worth checking on the status of your membership.
Bangor L.F.C. were represented at the recent league meeting by Asst. Manager Leanne McGarry
The club has already registered their intention to compete in the NIWFA in 2010, representative Rachel Bates and Leanne McGarry recently attending a NIWFA Registration league meeting where the paperwork for the fast approaching year was successfully processed. An announcement of dates and venues of the division two fixture will soon follow.
Meetings are also scheduled with the Board of Directors at Clandeboye Park who have invited the ladies section to attend their next meeting. Also a date will be arranged shortly for informal discussions with Ivan Mellon, of official sponsors Sammy Mellon & Sons, Bingham Street, Bangor.
However, things are starting to move forward – with the NIWFA already poised for the start of 2010, the ladies football club will hope to gather enough momentum through this series. Although the Seasiders’ will have to await news of what other clubs will be joining them in the second division, following the annual collapse of a number of teams from last year.
One apparent casualty is Bangor’s closest geographical rival, Newtownards side Northland Raiders. The one-time biggest club in Northern Ireland folding in their ninth year in existence, after a disappointing season, which saw them plummet to the basement of the Premier League and eventual relegation.
The Seasiders’ faced their fiercest rivals on a number of occasions in the past, the most memorable, a fantastic game at Londonderry Park, Newtownards. In this ‘classic” derby the Seasiders found themselves 3-0 after 10 minutes, but set about turning the game on its head with an avalanche of offensive football which saw the Clandeboye Road team score seven times to eventually win 7-3.
That aside, it is expected that the second division line up will remain roughly the same as last season with Derry City, Caddagh Spurs, Moyola, Limavady, Glenavon and Dungoyne along with Bangor Ladies who won promotion in 2009.
Although geographically, it seems not too favourable for the 2009 divisional champions, Bangor now facing a couple of long round trips to a number of various distant locations. Just part and parcel of being successful, the management at Bangor Ladies will use this as motivation of setting the clubs sights on Division 1 within a couple of seasons.
For more information on one of the fastest growing sports in Northern Ireland, how to get involved locally, whether for fitness, fun or competitive football over the summer, Email: andy@bangorladiesfc.co.uk
Last Edited on 13-Feb-2010 2:18 AM
|
