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23
Aug
Harrogate and Knaresborough’s women’s football teams prepare for new season
A new women’s football season is almost upon us.
On Sunday, September 7, both Harrogate Railway and Knaresborough Town will kick off their seasons with FA Cup ties in the northeast.
Knaresborough play away at Birtley Town, while Railway travel to Gateshead Leam Rangers.
The week after, both sides will kickstart their league season. Both teams will compete in the Premier Division of the West Riding County League, after Knaresborough were promoted into the top division for the first time last season.
The Stray Ferret spoke to Harrogate Railway manager Rich Burns and Knaresborough Town manager Mike Bligh this week to see how the two clubs are preparing for the new season.
Harrogate Railway Ladies manager Rich Burns. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Harrogate Railway
Harrogate Railway finished fifth in the league last season. With only the league winner getting promoted, it’s a difficult division to get out of.
Burns told us his aims for the season:
We set the same aims every year – win more than you lose and aim for progression. It’s such fine margins in the Prem and every game is so competitive, but we need to be looking upwards.
Railway have brought in five new faces this year as they look to compete with the best.
Leona Bain and Immy Willets, both 17, have been brought in to bolster the team’s attack. Eighteen-year-old Pips Waite has also joined, though she is dual-signed between the first and reserve teams.
Winger Jess Cook has also joined, alongside former Railway striker Hannah Freibach. Having played for Leeds, Bradford and Halifax in between, Freibach broke the record for the biggest ever scoring season during her last spell in Harrogate, with 70 goals in a season.
Harrogate Railway beat Forge Way 9-2 in pre season. Credit: Caught Light Photography
Burns explained why they’d only signed attackers:
Last year we drew too many games or lost them by one because we weren’t scoring enough. We’ve got an excellent squad, brilliant fullbacks and a strong midfield. If we had a striker last year, I think we would have finished second.
The manager continued that, because they’ve signed so many forwards, he has been considering altering his 433 formation to accommodate more attacking power.
In pre-season so far, Railway have lost to Silsden, beaten Forge Way, and beaten Harrogate Town’s under-23s team.
Burns said that his team has worked hard on their fitness in pre-season, stating that “mobility through the spine of your team will win you that league”.
Looking ahead to the season, the manager said that he was looking forward to the “great local derby” between Railway and Knaresborough Town, along with Leeds Medics and Dentists and Thackley.
Knaresborough Town WFC Manager Michael Bligh. Credit: Caught Light Photography
Knaresborough Town
Knaresborough Town were promoted to the Premier Division last season, after finishing second in the league below.
Mike Bligh’s side has little to fear entering the new division, having beaten several teams from the Premier Division in cup competitions in the last campaign. They even brushed past Harrogate Railway, beating them 3-0 in the County Cup last year.
The manager told us his aims for the year:
Be competitive and hopefully finish in the top half. We’ve maintained a good number of the current squad, so, using last season as a barometer, we’d be disappointed if we didn’t compete. We took it to a few teams in this league last season.
Knaresborough were handed a big blow at the end of last season, though, when star striker Ellis Baxter announced her departure. The youngster was awarded Division One player of the season after scoring 21 goals in 20 appearances last year.
Bligh said that any team would struggle to replace a prolific goal scorer like Baxter as “they’re premium”, but insisted that the club would deal with the loss.
Knaresborough have signed one player so far – defender Charlotte Knowles joins from York RI in the division above.
Knaresborough Town played Harrogate Railway in the County Cup last season. Credit: Caught Light Photography
Bligh also expressed his excitement to play in the derby against Harrogate Railway. He said that the two clubs have a very positive relationship and that it’s great that the fixture is now a permanent one.
Knaresborough’s FA Cup tie against Birtley Town is the first time the Manse Lane side has featured in the competition.
Birtley play in Division One North of the North East Regional League. This is a tier above Knaresborough on the women’s football pyramid.
The manager said:
We’re just pleased to be in the draw. It’s a tough fixture, but we’ve got nothing to lose.
Boro will also be entered into the League Cup and the County Cup again this season, along with Harrogate Railway.
Bligh said that although the cup games are just a bonus, he would love to take his team to a final.
The women’s football season will kick off on Sunday, September 7.
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