North East Women’s Football North East Women’s Football

The women’s football scene, right here in the north-east, has never been so vibrant and competitive, so full of both clubs, and the characters that come with them, from as high as Durham and Sunderland in the Barclay Women’s Championship, down to the likes of Sunderland University, Wear United et al, in the Durham County FA League Two.

Now, with cup draws having been made, league fixtures also announced, and the comingsand-goings of pre-season in full swing, trust us, the words ‘silly season’ do spring to mind, so we took the opportunity to catch up with a few clubs for a chat.

At Alnwick we speak to Peter Hately, Bedlington Belles is Lau - ra Hepple, Bishop Auckland is Emma Sewell, Chester-le-Street is Mark Kelly and a long-overdue chat with the legendary, Brogan Prudhoe, and at Spennymoor we catch up with Billy Shackleton.

ALNWICK TOWN LADIES (NE Regional League Premier Division) Interview with manager Peter Hately, who effectively is on his fourth stint in charge at St. James’ Park, but it’s been a summer to contend with for him after numerous players headed to newly-formed Berwick Rangers.

“I took over after Stephen Gibbard left at the end of last season; he did a fantastic job last term with the team finishing second in the NERWFL Premier Division. The players were terrific after a tough season in the FAWNL. Although it was a tough year they all came out of it as better players, even if some don’t perhaps realise it fully and this was reflected in their performances last season.”

“A summer of chance no doubt. We knew we would lose one or two to Berwick. One or two came as a surprise as well but we wish all our departing players well.”

“It may well be a transitional season but one that had to come at some point. We will be putting faith in some talented youngsters, some from outside the club and some brought through the ranks. Even though I expect the division to be strong this season I’m really looking excited by the squad we are pulling together and looking forward to getting the season underway on the 20th August when we entertain Gateshead in the League Cup.” (Images, Michael Cook)

BEDLINGTON BELLES (Northumberland League Division One)

Interview with captain Laura Hepple, who, having started playing football at school, helped form Tynedale Ladies when she was 18-years-old. After a dozen years, and some success, that team folded with Laura, along with her twin sister, eventually moving to Bedlington after some time away.

“I joined Bedlington around three years ago as myself, and my twin sister, missed playing football so we came to watch our friends playing at Bedlington and ended up signing for them. We liked the idea of playing for a new team and meeting new people, there’s less pressure as Bedlington and we’re playing at a lower level so we just wanted to get fit and enjoy a kick around really.”

“Bringing new players in, of different abilities, and learning to gel with them would be a challenge; however, we’ve attracted some great people who are all willing to learn and give it their all for the Belles. We’ve strengthened our team over the past few years and managed to keep a hold of some valuable players, with new players coming in, they’ve all stepped up and worked hard on and off the field to improve themselves.”

“The manager and coaches, and especially Rowan (Edwards) are fantastic at this club. They’re very caring and understanding and they go above and beyond for this team, Tom and Dicka have a lot of knowledge and experience and Rowan is an all-rounder who will literally do anything for this club it means a lot to him.”

“The whole team know this season is going to be challenging as we’ve joined a higher league and there’s some tough competition. We were fairly comfortable in the lower league and managed some big victories, this season will be different though but we’re confident we can work together as a team and, like previous seasons, stick together and give it our all - that’s all we can do. We’ve brought in some new faces at training so we’re hoping to have a big squad ready for the season starting and who knows what’ll happen; I think we should always be ambitious and always back ourselves as long as everyone’s enjoying the football, that’s the main thing.

“I think it’s great that we’ve been accepted for the FA Cup, it’s a fantastic competition that we’ve always wanted to compete in. Myself and a few others have been lucky enough to play in it with Tynedale, and even managed to reach the First Round Proper, which was a huge achievement. The players here will absolutely love the experience, the build up to the game, waiting for the draws to take place, is all very exciting. As a team though, we’re really looking forward to this and buzzing that Bedlington will be in the draw, so bring it on.” (Images, Belles Socials)

Bishop Auckland Ladies

(NE Regional Division One North) interview with joint-manager Emma Sewell, who recently completed her UEFA C Coaching certificate, and has been a qualified football coach since the 2018-19 season. In the League Cup, Bishops have drawn Ponteland United, the winner of which faces the winner of the Gateshead vs. Alnwick Town, ties to be played later this month.

“I’ve actually been with Bishops since playing here, then moving into managing the reserves side, so I’ve worked my way up, which is great. I stopped playing because of injury, so the club has been really supportive.”

“There’s been a rhythm within the squad, and some really good talent through from Bishop Auckland Girls, then the Reserves, and into the Firsts – yes it’s tough, which we’ve found out, but it shows that it works and there’s a consistency.”

“Last season, the rhythm we had was upset early on, but luckily Zak (Hutchinson) and John (Payne) came in and they stabilised things; we had a tough end to the season so now, hopefully, with all of us pushing in the same direction, the changes are beneficial.”

“Pre-season, it’s gone well, and the fitness levels I can say, was a surprise, but players have embraces my arrival into the first team set-up. This season, we want some stability, and to see where we are after what, five games.”

“We do have a couple of younger players coming through, but we’re open to anybody really, and, if you’re good enough, you’re good enough and, although we’re a good squad, it’s the fundamentals, stability, and pushing on throughout the season.” (Images, Joe Gorman)

CHESTER-LE-STREET TOWN

LADIES (FA Women’s National League Division One North) interview with manager Mark Kelly, and captain/long-serving player, Brogan Prudhoe; Mark had joined the club mid-way through the previous season as the Cestrians suffered relegation and, with all that went with it, bounced back at the first attempt, as league champions, and cup finalists.

Mark Kelly: “It’s not a team here, it’s a family, and they’re really connected outside of football as well; myself, and Phil (Hubbard) agree that, you need to create an environment first and the rest follows.”

“We were delighted that the girls stayed on (following relegation), we just needed to create some stability, set standards as to what we’re trying to achieve and, if we can do that, it becomes a knock-on effect, hence why we’ve bridged the gap with the Development side, because we don’t want them left out of the equation – we’re all part of the same club.”

“Although I’ve been here since pre-covid, at one point there was just myself; relegation was a horrid time for then but, to be fair, the girls rallied around each other – Phil, he’s been a massive help for me, and with Michael, and now Mo here as well.”

“Following relegation, we needed to rebuild confidence, which picked up the more we won games and, when we beat (South) Shields, we knew we’d hit the turning point and could win the league; the season was a fantastic one (bar the Alnwick result) and we got back to where we belong, need to be.”

“Losing Dom (Dominyka Podziute), when that happened, the girls were devastated. It took a lot for them to even go back out there and play again; it was a difficult period, some dark times and training was pretty much non-existent – last pre-season (2022) was needed in order for the team to pick themselves back up again.”

“We start the new season against Durham Cestria, who we also faced pre-season, and we think that we can go out there and compete. We’ll be alright if we do what we say we can; survival, pushing mid-table, that would be great, and anything more is a bonus.”

“Facing (Notts) County in the League Cup, here, will be great, and is a game that we can win, but we’ll see where we are after the opening league games for there’s a tough season ahead, but we’re looking forward to it.” Brogan Prudhoe meanwhile, she’s been around for an age and, barring a spell away at university, is a Cestrian throughand-through having joined the club in her early, teenage years.

“It’s certainly getting harder now, especially over the past 18 months and I’ve noticed that I’m getting slower.”

“The standard at our level has shot up since covid, it’s improved massively whether better coaching, younger players. On the field, before the past few seasons, things were alright, but they could have been much better as well, we weren’t there tactically and, although we did well, with a good, footballing team, it was harder more with the team.”

“The season before last, that was a horrible one for us and, although we didn’t lose every game, it was still horrible to go through – nobody expected us to do as badly as we did, and we continued to play in an attacking manner so Mark (Kelly) bless him, he was thrown in at the deep end, a baptism of fire.”

“After relegation, we lost a couple of players (moving on), but, in keeping players here, the core group, keeping them together instead of falling apart, we just had to take it one game at a time. Personally though, I had no idea how things were going to go and we ended up having a good enough season, only dropping points after we’d won the league – taking nothing away from Alnwick, but our mind-set just wasn’t in it.”

“It’s hard to say what my best season has been, as they’ve all been really similar in a way, although it’s been a while since we won the County Cup. If we’d won that last season, as well as the league, I’d have said that, but, overall, I’ve really enjoyed the time I’ve had at the club.”

“In tier four though, it’s a lot harder now so we have to have a lot of quality players, like an Anna Winter before she left for Durham, because the other teams have quality in depth at this level, and above. For us, I’d say survival has to be the main aim, although we’ve kept the majority of the squad that was relegated playing in local derbies though, they’re always hard and, with us coming in as the promoted side, will be harder.”

“Facing (Notts) County, in the League Cup, I’m looking forward to it, and it’ll see what the standard of football in the Midlands is like. We’re happy it’s at home though, and whatever happens, happens – it’s a challenge, and we’ll take it all one game at a time.” (Images, Chester-Le-Street Ladies socials)

SPENNYMOOR TOWN LADIES (NE Regional League Premier Division) interview with manager Billy Shackleton, who saw his side promoted as runnersup in his first season in charge, and led them on an 18-match, unbeaten run.

“Last season was pretty much all-systems go what with coming in, changing the culture, the structure, and that’s something which has really helped us this summer; the players we have here, they’re good, we just needed to make things more professional.

“I would have been happy with a top four finish, having finished sixth the season before, but, by Xmas, we knew that we wanted to finish top. The run we had though, that was incredible, and we didn’t know what was happening until we were a dozen unbeaten. Ourselves, like Wallsend BC (who finished top), we just went about our business.”

“This summer has gone as well as, if not better, than it could have, and I’ve got the signings in we wanted. It’s just unfortunate that some players have had to move on. As for the new season, we won’t be focussing on what other clubs are doing and will aim to finish as high as we possibly can. I’d like a top five, if not higher, but we’ll just embrace it, enjoy it, and see what happens.” (Images, Dave Nelson)

“I do have history with Hartlepool though and they, along with Alnwick Town and Bradford, are the ones to watch.”

It’s quite easy not to see the number of football clubs there are, in any region of the British Isles, really, but here, in the north-east, so long a hotbed of football, and where women’s football is flourishing, clubs are aplenty.

Between Levels Two and Six of the women’s footballing pyramid, there’s around thirty clubs or so, across six, different divisions. They are –

LEVEL TWO Barclays Women’s Championship, the established duo of Durham and Sunderland, managed by lee Sanders and Melanie Reay respectively, and who finished seventh and eleventh in the league standings last time around.

LEVEL THREE FA Women’s National League Northern Premier, newly-promoted Newcastle United, managed by Becky Langley, and heading into their biggest ever season.

LEVEL FOUR FA Women’s National League Division One North, Chester-le-Street Town return to the National League and will play against fellow, north-east clubs Durham Cestria, Middlesbrough, Norton &

Stockton Ancients, and York City (other clubs in the division are Barnsley, Chorley, Doncaster Rovers Belles, FC United of Manchester, Hull City, Leeds United, and Stockport County).

LEVEL FOUR North-East Regional League Premier Division, local clubs beginning to stack up the lower down the pyramid you go. In here we’ve Alnwick Town, Hartlepool United, Redcar Town, South Shields, Spennymoor Town, Sunderland West End (managed by ex-Sunderland legend, Gary Bennett), Wallsend BC (other clubs are Barnsley, Bradford City, Harrogate Town, Hull United, and Wakefield).

LEVEL FIVE North-East Regional League Division One North, Blyth Town, Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street United, Consett, Gateshead, Hartlepool Youths, Norton & Stockton Ancients Reserves, Ponteland United, Sunderland U23s, Thornaby, Wallsend BC Reserves, Washington.

LEVEL SIX North-East Regional League Division One South, Ripon City, York City Development, York City Railway Institute.

Whilst beneath level six of the pyramid there’s that of the regional feeders, going as deep as level ten, and taking in Durham County, Northumberland, East Riding, and North Riding FAs; in addition, clubs at levels one through five are primarily eligible for entry into the Vitality Women’s FA Cup competition. Speaking of the national cup competition, only two northeast sides have made the showpiece final – Cleveland Spartans (now Middlesbrough) lost 2-0 against Lowestoft Ladies back in 1982, the Teessiders were managed by Frank McMorrow and included long-serving Marrie Wieczorek, who’d spend more than 35 years at the club as both a player (1976-1996), and manager (1996-2012); whilst the other club, Sunderland, were runners-up as recently as 2009, losing 2-1 to record winners, Arsenal, Kelly McDougall netting for the Wearsiders and were managed by Mick Mulhern. Included in that Sunderland squad of ’09, some big names of the women’s game in Siobhan Chamberlain (50+ caps, England), Lucy Bronze (100+ caps, England), Jordan Nobbs (70+ caps, England), Jess Fishlock (130+ caps, Wales), and Demi Stokes (70+ caps, England). Fixtures, they’re now all out (check with respective clubs, or via the FA Full-time website), cup draws meanwhile have seen both Durham and Sunderland, drawn into the same Conti (League) Cup group….

GROUP A: - Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Durham, Sheffield United, Sunderland

Whilst the opening round of the Vitality FA Cup (10 September; First Qualifying Round), north- east clubs have been drawn as follows…..

Guisborough Town vs. Chesterle-Street United; Prudhoe Town vs. Bishop Auckland; Chester-leStreet Amazons vs. Ripon City; Bedlington Belles vs. Darlington; Cramlington United vs. Hebburn Town; Gateshead Rutherford vs. Thornaby; Carlisle United vs. Hartlepool Youths; Horden Colliery Welfare vs. West Allotment Celtic; Northallerton Town vs. Washington; Gateshead Leam Rangers vs. Birtley Town; Lower Hopton vs. York Railway Institute

The second qualifying round has also been drawn, and scheduled to be played on 1 October 2023; as for the FA Women’s National League Cup sees, on 27 August 2023, Chester-le-Street Town host another newly-promoted side in Notts County, and Newcastle United welcome Burnley.