Sam whyte

OFF THE LINE England’s Newest Women’s Football Magazine..

It’s about to start all over again...

A team-by-team preview for all teams in WSL 1 + WSL 2 for 2015 inside!

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CONTENTS

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5-65-6

3-4 PAGES:

7-8

9-10

3. Editor’s Column 4-5. Ashlea Hargreaves Interview 6-7. Interview with Katrin Omarsdittor 8-9. Women’s Super League Divison One Preview 10-11. Women’s Super League Divison Two Preview

Editor’s Corner

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Hello readers, Welcome to this month’s edition of Off The Line!

I’ll be honest with you, before I became editor of this magazine, I knew little of women’s football.

However, nowadays I have developed a massive interest in a sport that I believe to be one of the biggest growing sports.

More and more female footballers, such as Toni Duggan (right), are becoming house hold names, and that epitmises how big the sport can grow.

The Women’s FA Cup final has always been televised but now the Women’s Super League is being shown on TV’s all over the country and it can only be a good thing.

Don’t get me wrong, it has a long way to go

before it can be considered to be a big sport in this country, but I feel it has the potential to, and I am now the sport’s biggest fan!

In this month’s edition, we have sat down with a winner of the inauguaral Women’s Super League.

Katrin Ómarsdóttir has took time out of her busy prepation before the start of the Women’s Super League and sat down with Off The Line to give us a brilliant interview.

Our local story in this month’s edition is a tribute to the late Carolyn Leach through a woman who spent a lot of time with her at Wigan Athletic ladies, Ashlea Hargreaves.

And lastly, we’ve previews of every team from both Women’s Super League divisions and our predicitions for each team Hope you all enjoy the magazine,

Sam Whyte

An in-depth talk with

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Carolyn in her early days, showing sher early interest in football

Ashlea in action for her university team in Birmingham

Our local story this month is surrounding Wigan Athletic Ladies and in particular Ashlea Hargreaves (right). Sam Whyte sits down and speaks with Ashlea about a number of topics, such as the legacy left behind by well known Carolyn Leach (left), who has sadly passed away. Ashlea discusses work done in Carolyn’s name, as well as what it has inspired her to do with her career path.

“Carolyn taught me all I know about football from a very young age, she was by far one of the nicest people I have ever met.”

The above line told me instantly of the regard that Carolyn Leach was held in by not only Ashlea Hargreaves, but by everyone in Wigan. Ashlea goes into this further.

“She literally had time for everyone,” “She was more than just a football coach but a mentor, she harvested my development not just as a player but as a person,” she said.

In a sport that is ever-growing, women’s football is still quite small in Wigan in comparison with other areas, but Ashlea tells me how that never discouraged Carolyn from putting the

hard work in to get women’s football in the area off the ground.

“Carolyn was very well known in Wigan, especially within ladies football. She played for Wigan athletic ladies from such a young age, and then went into coaching the younger age groups,” “She set the foundations for something quite special. Her work and drive is expressed through other members of the Wigan Athletic LFC community such as Flo Mather, who goes above and beyond what is required, all in aid to progress the women’s game and to give opportunity to future women’s football players,” she said.

Carolyn died from cancer, but as

Ashlea has already said, she leaves behind foundations for others to continue. However, Ashlea herself has gone to extreme lengths to ensure Carolyn Leach isn’t forgotten anytime soon.

“I recently ran the Birmingham half marathon,” “But literally I owed this to Carolyn, she had been through so much more and I used this drive to push me through the end. Despite being a keen Bolton fan aswell, I ran it in a Wigan kit as a tribute, I’m not sure which was harder, the run or wearing that kit,” she said with a wry smile.

Other events such as a charity match with FC United have taken place in aid of Carolyn.

Ashlea Hargreaves The team that took part in the Carolyn Leach charity match against FC United Ashlea has Carolyn to thank for aiding her development to football, but says it’s someone closer to home that made her football mad.

“I always had a keen interest in it and my Dad was a big Bolton Wanderers fan,” “I was brought up in a football orientated family so it would have been against the norm to not play football,” she said.

Although playing football, especially for Ashlea and girls in general, has not always been an easy ride.

“I remember the parents of the lads who I played with didn’t like me playing, I’m not sure why,” “I was more strong and physical with them as I felt I needed to be with the boys. Maybe because they were embarrassed because a girl was better than them? I don’t know,” she said.

Although that’s a view Ashlea does think is evolving.

“I think that the stigma is changing dramatically,” “There is still a long way to go, but the development of role models and professional women’s clubs is only benefitting the game and producing opportunity,” she said.

Ashlea points to one women who has been a massive influence on the view of women in football changing.

“Sian Massey has been a brilliant role model for women in football,” “She is solid evidence that gender is not an issue. The few games that I’ve seen her officiate in, she has got some very complex and vital decisions correct – a true credit to the game and the evolution of women in sport,” This ever-changing view is evident to

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Ashlea everyday due to her interenship with Birmingham City in the medical department, something that may not have happened a few years ago.

“I get on well with the male staff, they’re so friendly and don’t treat me any different,” “Which is definitely the way it should be. I think the fact I play football myself and have a good awareness of the game shows common interest and allows me to gain that extra respect.”

Carolyn in one of her last photos “Like I say gender shouldn’t be an issue or a barrier, its hard work, determination and character that express your attitude and impression,” she said.

It’s a refreshing attitude for a young women in a male dominated environment to have, and from someone I believe has a massive future ahead of herself.

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FOCUS: A talk with Katrin Ómarsdóttir

Women’s football is an ever growing sport in today’s society, and a competition none more so than the Women’s Super League. Women such as Kelly Smith are household names in this country and the longer the sport is expanding, the more well-known names are going to be coming from this sport.

The current champions, Liverpool Ladies, are busy in preparation for a defence of their title in 2015 but Sam Whyte manages to sit down with midfielder Katrin Ómarsdóttir to discuss the effect of an ever growing sport plus all things Liverpool.

When you are younger, you often get asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For most, it’s the usual stereotypes. However, for Katrin, there was only ever one option.

“It was always football, my older brother played and once I started playing I couldn’t stop,” she said.

However, the path to playing football hasn’t always been easy for Ómarsdóttir and even took measures such as moving homes just to pursue this career path.

“In my town in Iceland, there were no girls’ teams so I started training with the boys,” “However, I had to move to different town that had a girls team but I was training with much older girls because there were not many girls my age training,” she said.

Moving for the sake of her career has always been a constant part of Katrin’s life, with moves across the world to Sweden and the USA before finally moving to England, a place where Katrin loves the way of life.

“It’s great here, I’m settled and I’m enjoying life at the moment,” she said.

It’s showing on the field too, as Katrin’s performances helped her team to a Women’s Super League title, something which she holds as one of her greater experiences.

“It was simply one of the best days of my life,” “But it was also one of the most emotional days in my life as well, it was simply just brilliant right from the start up until the finish,” she said.

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Katrin looks back on this with a smile beaming across her face, with anecdotal stories of the celebrations that followed the title victory, But conversation quickly turns to the Women’s Super League, and Katrin truly believes the sport is on the rise.

“It seems to be growing all the time, but I think most of this comes down to the marketing of the sport,” she said.

Katrin goes on to reference the recent friendly that took place at Wembley between England and Germany, where over 50,000 people attended the game.

“One of the main reasons that a lot of people came was because the promoted the game really well,” “The interest is there, it’s just a

Katrin in action for LFC. Courtesy of Liverpool Echo

TWEETS OF THE MONTH

50,000 turned up at Wembley for a women’s football friendly.

matter of getting people to the game and that comes with media attention and marketing. If you look to the US they have done it so well for many years. They make massive ad campaigns and really promote the women’s national team,” she said.

With this, Katrin looks ahead to the upcoming season and how new signings, such as Asisat Oshoala, have settled into the squad.

“Yes, they have all bedded in very well,” “The new signings have been outstanding, both in training, and within the squad. They’re a real good fit and we feel confident for next season,” she said.

As for the teams aim for next season.

“The Champions League doesn’t start until the end of the season so we’re not thinking about that right now, but we want to do better in that,” “But we have yet to win an FA Cup so that’s definitely an aim, and then be as high as possible in the league. This will be the toughest year so far,” she said.

Katrin Ómarsdóttir Facts

Date of Birth: 27/06/1987

Height: 5’8/1.73m

Born: Hamburg, Germany

Nationality: Icelandic

Position: Midfielder

Squad Number: 8

Clubs: KR, Kristianstads, Orange County Waves, Liverpool Ladies.

@toni_duggan: The girls heading out for kick off....

Let’s go team!!!! @england #CyprusCup @stephhoughton2: Showing our

Support for @ rednoseday and @comicrelief relief in training today with @ Lady__V

@EniAlu (Eniola Aluko): Mission accomplished. Cyprus Cup winners 2015!! Great squad effort. Buzzing for @liannesanderson on the winning goal #Onwards @karenjcarney (Karen Carney): Wow can’t believe I am the front cover of the Blues MEN’S match day program!

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Women’s Super Leagu

Arsenal Ladies Transfers IN: Lianne Sanderson (Boston Breakers), Jemma Rose (Bristol), Natalia Sanchon (Bristol), Vicky Losada (FC Barcelona)

Birmingham City Ladies Transfers IN: Alex Windell (Bristol Academy), Freda Ayisi (Arsenal) Transfers OUT: Katie Wilkinson (Aston Villa), Hannah George (Aston Vila – loan), Hannah Keryakoplis

Transfers OUT: Niamh Fahey (Chelsea Ladies), Last Season: 3rd Yukari Kinga (INAC Kobe), Shinobu Ohno (INAC Kobe), Christie Murray (Bristol), Freda Ayisi 2015 Verdict: 5th. A very good season from Birming(Birmingham) ham in 2014 and they will be looking to progress even Last Season: 4th

further this year. However, the quality added to other teams may make them slide into midtable in 2015.

FA Cup Winners 2015 Verdict: 4th. Have brought Lianne Sanderson back to the club who adds much needed firepower for them. May have to look to the FA Cup for silverware in 2015, though.

Bristol Academy Transfers IN: Hayley Ladd (Coventry City), Sharla Passiarello ( South Florida), Nadia Lawrence (Vestmannaeyjar), Lauren Townsend (Cardiff), Christie Murray (Arsenal) Transfers OUT: Natasha Harding, Jemma Rose (Arsenal), Natalia Sanchon (Arsenal), Laura Del Rio (Washington Spirit), Alex Windell (Birmingham), Corinne Yorston (Yeovil Town), Judith Fernandez (CE Sant Gabriel) Last Season: 7th 2015 Verdict: 8th. Dave Edmondson had it tough in 2014 and the transfers in the off-season give the look of another troubling season for Bristol Academy.

Chelsea Ladies

Transfers IN: Gemma Davison (Liverpool Ladies), Millie Bright (Doncaster Belles), Niamh Fahey (Arsenal Ladies), Hedvig Lindhal (Kristianstads DFF) Transfers OUT: Yuki Ogimi (Wolfsburg), Rachel Williams (Notts County), Laura Bassett (Notts County), Danielle Buet (Notts County) Last Season: 2nd 2015 Verdict: 1st, Champions. The additions of Davison and Fahey make an already talented squad even better, and they have the goals in Ene Aluko to take them to the WSL title.

ue 1 Preview Liverpool Ladies

Transfers IN: Line Smørsgård (Klepp), Ingrid Ryland (Arna-Bjørnar), Satara Murray (UNC), Asisat Oshoala (River Angels) Transfer OUT: Amanda Da Costa (Washington Spirit), Lucy Bronze (Man City), Gemma Davison (Chelsea Ladies), Ellie Stewart ( Everton), Nina Pedersen Frausing (Turbine Potsdam), Megan Alexander (Everton Ladies) Last Season: 1st, Champions 2015 Verdict: 2nd. The title winners will be hoping for a similar story to 2014, with trophes in the cabinet, and will look to the likes of Natasha Dowie to fire them to glory.

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Man City Ladies Transfers IN: Lucy Bronze (Liverpool), Jennifer Beattie (Montpellier), Demi Stokes (South Florida), Sarah Wiltshire (Yeovil Town), Nikita Parris (Everton – loan) Transfers OUT: Betsy Hassett, Andrea Worrall, Stephanie Marsh, Kim Turner, Danielle Lea, Danielle Young (Everton Ladies) Last Season: 5th FA WSL Cup winners 2015 Verdict: 3rd. With more solid recruitment in the off season, Nick Cushing’s side will be hoping to improve on their league position from last season to get into the coveted Champions League.

Notts County Ladies

Sunderland Ladies

Transfers IN: Victoria Williams (Doncaster Belles), Suzanne Mulvey (Glasgow Rangers) Transfers OUT: Helen Alderson (Durham) Last Season: 1st, Champions (WSL 2)

Transfers IN: Rachel Williams (Chelsea Ladies), Laura Bassett (Chelsea Ladies), Alex Greenwood (Everton Ladies), Jessica Sigsworth (Doncaster Belles), Fern Whelan (Everton Ladies), Danielle Buet (Chelsea Ladies), Leanne Crichton (Glasgow City) Transfers OUT: Danielle Brogan (Adelaide United) , Caitlin Friend (Melbourne Victory), Katie Hoyle( FC Zurich Frauen) Rachel Corsie (Seattle Reign) Emily Roberts (Doncaster Belles – loan) Last Season: 6th

2015 Verdict: 6th. WSL 2’s title winners will look to fin- 2015 Verdict: 7th. An off-season of change for ish above the dotted relegation line for 2015, and the Rick Passmoor’s side and they will look to imsquad is more than good enough to do so. prove both in the league and the semi’s of the

FA Cup, but sadly they may find it tough going.

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Women’s Super Leagu Aston Villa Ladies

Doncaster Rovers Belles

Transfers IN: Katie Wilkinson (Birmingham City), Abbi Cottam (TNS), Hannah George (Birmingham – loan)

Transfers IN: Amber Lawrence (Burton Albion), Sophie Barker (Sheffield FC), Emily Roberts (Notts County – loan), Jody Handley (Everton Ladies), Danielle Hill (Durham Women)

Transfers OUT: Chloe Jones (Aland United), Carly Davies, Emma Follis (Reading)

Transfers OUT: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Jessica Sigsworth (Notts County), Victoria Williams (Sunderland)

Last Season: 4th

Last Season: 2nd

Durham Ladies Transfers IN: Amelia Pereira (Hartford Hawks), Becky Beech (Hull City), Julie Nelson (Glasgow City), Helen Alderson (Sunderland) Transfers OUT: Rebecca Hanratty (Middlesborough), Zoe Ness (Mallbackens IF), Danielle Hill ( Doncaster Belles) Last Season: 6th

Everton Ladies Transfers IN: Ellie Stewart (Liverpool Ladies), Danielle Lea (Man City), Megan Alexander (Liverpool), Danielle Young (Man City), Jess King (Trinity Western University Spartans)

London Bees Transfers IN: Jemma Connor-Iommi (Oxford), Louise Fellows (Oxford), Leigh Nicol (Reading), Samantha Miller (West Ham), Ashleigh Goddard (Reading)

Transfers OUT: Brooke Chaplen, Amy Kane, Rachel Brown- Finnis (retirement), Alex Greenwood (Notts Transfers OUT: Cherie Rowlands, Anneka Nuttall (Watford), County), Fern Whelan ( Notts County) , Nikita ParDawn Mallett (Cambridge WFC), Megan Goss (Millwall ris ( Man City -loan), Jody Handley (Doncaster) Last Season: 8th (Relegated from WSL 1)

Lionesses)

Last Season: 10th

ue 2 Preview

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Millwall Lionesses

Oxford United Ladies

Transfers IN: Liz Berkeley (Chelsea development), Rinsola Babajide (Crystal Palace), Megan Goss (London Bees)

Transfers IN: None

Transfers OUT: Kylie Davies (Reading) Last season: 8th

Transfers OUT: Louise Fellows (London Bees) Jemma Connor-Iommi (London Bees) Last Season: 9th

Reading Ladies Transfers IN: Charlie Estcourt (Chelsea Dev), Kylie Davies (Millwall), Emma Follis (Aston Villa), Rachel Rowe ( Swansea City) Transfers OUT: Ashleigh Goddard ( London Bees), Alexandra Keown ( Spurs Ladies), Leigh Nicol ( London Bees) Last Season: 3rd

Watford Ladies Yeovil Town Ladies Transfers IN: Annie Heatherson ( retirement), Corinne Yorston ( Bristol Academy), Alys Hinchliffe, Stephanie Williams ( Cardiff City)

Transfers IN: Rebecca Bull (Chelsea Dev), Cherie Rowlands (London Bees), Dawn Mallett (Cambridge WFC) Anneka Nuttall (London Bees), Yasmin Poole (Lewes)

Transfers OUT: Rachael Edwards ( retirement), Sarah Wiltshire ( Man City), Jemma Tewkesbury ( Southampton Saints)

Transfers OUT: Lauren Davey ( retirement), Emma Beckett, Jo Wilson ( QPR)

Last Season: 5th

Last Season: 7th