Belles head coach Zoey Shaw says she is looking forward to getting the ball rolling for the 2019/20 season as her side head into their first pre-season friendly on Sunday.
Shaw’s new-look side travel to last season’s FAWNL Division One Midlands champions West Bromwich Albion Women, and the head coach believes it will provide her team with the opportunity to set a good marker early on.
“I’m really looking forward to it, we’re really keen to get the girls on the grass, we’ve been in training for a while now, but there’s nothing better than a game scenario, whether that be a friendly game or not,” she said.
“They’re an ideal team to play for us really, we played them in a friendly last year and did really well to compete with them, we have a lot of respect for them, they’re a very well organised team who really play well as a unit.
“They have a lot of good technical players too, but it’s just one of those little tests we’ll have to face in order to get ready for the start of the season, and it’s a great way to get the ball rolling.”
Sunday’s trip to the West Midlands provides Shaw with the chance to look at some of her new recruits in game action for the first time, and the Belles head coach feels new experienced heads can really help her team this season.
“Pre-season has gone really well for us so far, I’m excited to see the new players involved and see how they get on in the side, we have a lot more experience in the team, not just age wise, but appearance wise, ability wise, so I think that’ll stand us in good stead,” she added.
“Last season we probably just missed out on having that experience there, that’s why our season too so long to develop, this time we can hit the ground running because we don’t have to work on the aspects of game management for example.
“It’ll be good for us just to see where we’re at as a squad, there’s a lot of new players that have come in, but I’m excited and ready to go on Sunday, we’re very much focused on what we have to do as a team.”
Belles season tickets are available to purchase now direct from the Club Doncaster Box Office, either by visiting in-store at the Keepmoat Stadium, calling on 01302 762576, or online at tickets.clubdoncaster.co.uk.