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Planning for the future

Tameside United are preparing for a new intake of players over the coming months.

Following the success of last season, in which the Ladies team won the League Cup and the Under 18s won the County Cup, officials are now on the hunt for new players ahead of next season.

Club coach James Caldwell believes the foundations have been laid for an exciting future and hopes to see a great turnout from local girls of all abilities at the open day in June. Reflecting on the Under 18s success, James told Reporter Sport: “I suppose it’s the culmination of a lot of hard work, not just form the players but from the coaches as well. 

“The Under 18s was a brand new division that was set up with the Manchester FA and several leagues, so it was very much an unknown quantity going into that age group. 

“We formed a team at the last minute with a lot of players who had been out of the game for quite a while. The backbone of the squad was formed from the successful under 16 side the year before, who had won four trophies.”

The game took place just a few days after the passing of club official Mark Worthington, who sadly died in April aged 52 from a suspected heart attack.

Mark played a major role in the club’s success on and off the pitch, and was even credited with forming the girls’ section at Ewen Fields.

James was delighted with his players’ performance and felt the girls honoured Mark’s memory. “We learned of the passing of Mark just a few days before the County Cup final” he said.

“There were a lot of emotions and nerves going into the game. Some of the girls had never been in a County Cup final before, and as a coaching team we were trying to build on the legacy of the County Cup final. As a trophy, at this age group, it’s the top award you can win. For us it was about the experience of the final and one we won’t forget any time soon.”

Such was the standard of performance on the evening, James received calls from a number of coaching asking about the availability of his girls. In his eyes, such enquiries mean he’s doing his job properly. “That’s what we want to do; create success on the pitch with these long-term awards and help girls play at the highest level, perhaps even professionally. 

“We now have a challenge going into next year as to how we replicate that success.”

The club’s burgeoning Academy has played a major role the girls’ success in recent years. Headed up by Gareth Prendergast and Brett Issett, the Academy provides boys and girls with an opportunity to improve their football ability while achieving a Level 3 Technical Qualification at the same time. “Going back to the success that we had on the pitch, with the Under 18s County Cup final and the League Cup final success for the Ladies team, all eight goals were scored by Academy players” said James.

“The players who were being trialled by the likes of Manchester United have been on this course for two years. Their success on the pitch has been down to a lot of work they’ve done at the Academy. It’s one of the few full time courses in the north west for girls and boys. 

“It aims to provide them with the grades and needs to get into university, but it also provides them with an opportunity to experience the life of a semi-professional and professional footballer. 

“It also gives them an indication as to the demands and expectations of such a job. It creates a full time football programme for players who are on the edge and perhaps not ready to go into full-time professional football just yet.”

One player to have benefitted from the Academy is Rebecca Lilley.

The hot prospect played a major role in the Under 18s County Cup victory and now hopes her experience in the Academy will guide her to a professional career in the game. “It felt great to get the winner as the squad didn’t have the greatest of seasons, so to be able to go out and get the win, especially when we were 3-1 down at half-time, was fantastic

“In primary school I played for the girls and boys team, and then I went on to play for Uppermill, which was my first proper club. We started out as a really poor team but then went on to win the treble for three or four years straight. I then heard about the Academy when I was leaving high school and decided football was going to be part of my future.

“It’s been a great two years and this is my last year. When I first joined it was a little bit daunting as there were older girls, but I took to it really well and it’s been a great environment to play in ever since.”

Rebecca credits Mark (Worthington) with her success, citing him as a ‘massive figure’ who had a real passion for the women’s game.  “Personally, he gave me a lot of opportunities within football and was looking forward to the final.

“I have a few options now, one of which is an American scholarship, but the end goal is to be professional.”

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