Stronger Souths Looms In 2016
Words: Michael Flynn
Souths United Women kick-off their pre-season this weekend and new coach Gary French believes they will prove significantly more competitive in 2016.
The Brisbane-based club struggled in the inaugural season of PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues Women’s football – earning just one win from their twenty matches.
French joined the club after guiding Palm Beach SC Women to last year's Grand Final and a raft of off-season recruits – including several players from his former club – are set to raise the bar this season.
He said the team, who commence their pre-season against defending Champions The Gap FC Women, is setting their sights on finals football come season's end.
“It will be a really strong team this year and we’ve already talked that our goal is to be in the final four. That would be really good achievement considering where the club finished last year,” French said.
Amongst the former Palm Beach players that have joined Souths are striker and last year’s Golden Boot winner Deanna Thompson, New Zealand international Terri Amber-Carlson, former Sharks captain Tayler Stevens, goalkeeper Bianca Warrener, Rita Marshall and Brisbane Roar Women train-on player Meaghan McElligott.
French explained he didn’t set out to plunder the stocks of his previous club but was pleased so many of his former charges has opted to join him at Souths.
“I never asked any of the girls to come over but I just knew that they would - that's really the best way I can explain it,” he stated.
However, despite the early optimism, French eagerly stressed this weekend’s match remains very much a pre-season run.
“We’ve got a few injuries actually, and it’s still early stages, so it’s more or less about getting the team together,” he explained.
“We’re still a long way off where we want to be and only started training at the start of the year and we're also still looking at a few players as well.”
“So more than anything it will be an experimental team," he concluded.
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday, January 23
Souths United FC Women v The Gap FC Women
Wakerley Park, Brisbane
Kick-off at 5:00PM
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