After securing safety in their BUCS league last year, Lancaster University Women’s Football team decided to toughen training regulations and promote the importance of team spirit to push for better results and an overall better experience for everyone involved. An inclusive club, trials in Week 1 merely aimed to unite new and old players and assess the ability of enthusiastic Fresher’s. What became evident from the start, however, was that the standard of football had vastly improved, as had the feel of the club as a whole.
Nervously travelling to tough opponents Liverpool Hope in the first game of the season, the girls came away with an incredible 2-1 victory over a strong and physical Liverpool side, carrying this momentum to beat Manchester 2-0 at home, and thrash local rivals Cumbria 8-0 away. With successive strong victories came belief and confidence, and with belief and confidence came yet more wins. MMU Cheshire suffered twice at the hands of the girls, as, yet again, did Liverpool and Manchester. Defeat to UCLAN seemed to only spur a team insistent that nothing but the league title would suffice.
The 13th March, the last game of the season, saw the team needing all three points at home to Cumbria to secure the league title from chasers Liverpool. Spectators galore, champagne ready and waiting, a nervous start due to what was at stake saw questions being asked. Then, once the first goal hit the back of the net, the pressure subsided and the girls revelled in thrashing their opposition 9-0 to secure the championship. The celebrations afterwards rivalled that of a Champions League final win, yet not a care was given. The league had been won, they had worked amazingly hard, and they fully deserved to enjoy their success.
Now, with Roses just around the corner, intensive training has replaced the relaxation proceeding title winning. 3 teams will compete at York: two indoor 5 a side teams on the Saturday, and an 11 a side squad on the Sunday. The winning mentality has not disappeared. As with the league, second is not good enough and every player believes that they are more than capable of beating their fiercest rivals. However, York Women’s football have themselves been crowned champions of their prospective league, creating a Roses battle of epic proportions. Fully aiming to top off an already brilliant season, Roses is LUWFC’s chance to have the perfect year, and strongly encourage as much support as possible at Roses 2013.
