Andy Butler wants his Belles players to enjoy the Christmas break, using it to recharge the batteries before attacking the second half of the 2020-21 season.
Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leafield Athletic was the Belles’ last action for two weeks, and Butler believes his side should reflect on the first part of the season with a sense of pride and belief.
He said: “A little bit of a breather will give everyone a chance to reset themselves. We’ll tell the players to go and enjoy Christmas then come back refreshed in their bodies and minds.
“That’s those matches done now, we look forward to the next few games and see where we can go. I’m pleased overall because there have been some really good performances, and it’s a credit to the girls as it’s them who are doing it - Nick Buxton and myself just come in and give them pointers, but it’s them who go out there and do it.”
The Belles should resume their FAWNL Division One Midlands campaign on January 10, and Butler says his players are ready for the challenge.
He added: “There are some good organised sides in this division, so it’ll be tough. Ideally we want to push Wolves and when we come back we’ll train hard and keep improving. I’m looking forward to it and hope the players are.”
“If they keep believing they are good players they will improve, but if you want to sit back a little bit you’ll get overtaken - which is why I keep saying to them they have to demand each other and keep pushing each other.
“It’s tough to come and train in the evenings and play games on Sundays, but credit to them they have a desire to keep doing it. We’re second in the league so you look at that as a positive, although we’ve dropped a few points of late so we could be further up. When you reflect on where we were a year ago and the progression since you have to believe we are on the right track.”