Knaresborough Town Women - Year in Review 2023

FOREWORD From building up to league champions, building on the foundations, early season frustrations and anticipation of the exciting challenges that lay ahead…

This time last year, the women’s side were already planning for season two in a higher, more competitive league. With most of our league games completed, the side were purring like a Shelby GT500 (Eleanor) with only Bradford City U21’s who stood between us and a league clean sweep.

As the remaining fixtures fell and the points racked up, the final game day came, away against Bradford City at Woodhouse Grove. The sun was shining, the grass was green, and the scene was set; a perfect day for football and the game did not disappoint, living up to expectations and then some.

In a tight game, chance came and went but neither team were able to capitalise in the early exchanges. In the end, a piece of brilliance from Polly Asquith-Brown out on the left, cutting in on her right foot (wand) Polly whipped in a very dangerous ball that was contested in the Bradford penalty area. The ball flicked off the head of a Bradford City defender on its way into the net and the celebrations prematurely started.

With 30 seconds left on the clock, Bradford City had a direct free kick on the edge of our penalty area. Time seemed to stand still or at least slow down. The wall stood strong. Ella, our keeper, was set and the ref blew the whistle for the free kick to be taken.

Bradford’s number nine struck the ball over the wall, the wall turned and watched the ball fly over their heads like a low flying aircraft, Ella Ritchie shuffled her feet to her right and made a comfortable save.

The final whistle blew, and the team celebrated and congratulated each other, were applauded by the young Bradford side, and were cheered on by the visiting Field contingent who had made the short journey to support (a nice, and much appreciated touch).

A fitting way to end a flawless season, spent with a fantastic young side and more importantly, good people.

All of this could not have been achieved without the support and drive of the founders, our media team, match day support, our sponsors and of course, the football club.

Mix all of these ingredients together and you have one hell of an award-winning cake the leaves you just wanting more.

With promotion achieved and the league being reshuffled, we were rewarded with a double promotion into league two of the West Yorkshire League.

The challenge was set, the club fully committed, all staff and players fully committed (with the exception of a couple who moved on to university and a life journey) and the plans laid down for the forth coming season and beyond now in full swing.

KNARESBOROUGH TOWN AFC

The coaching team additions are also very welcome, the support and added value they have brought to the first half of the season has been immeasurable and will only become fully clear at the end of the season.

The foundations are now set, balancing of the books achieved, stability well within our sights and ensuring a firstclass footballing experience is consistently being achieved, constantly revisited and the bar moving higher as we look to keep moving forward.

Local relationships have been forged and are starting to be integrated through our busy pre-season schedule with many of the young Knaresborough Celtic U16’s side making promising debuts against some very testing opposition.

Seeing the young players making that step up and showing maturity beyond their years was an absolute pleasure and is testament to the work done by the Knaresborough Celtic Girls management team. The footpath has now been forged as we look to work in collaboration to provide football after the U16’s league finishes in 2024.

The future is very exciting.

The start of our season in league two has so far been frustrating, to date we have played six games over the course of 15 weeks which has impacted how the team have performed. This is not to say the team have performed poorly but is a measure of the side for knowing we can do so much better than we currently are.

Player injuries have also played a part in the early weeks of

the season which has led to a lack of cohesion on the pitch and lower numbers at training, this is just one of the several bumps in the road that we did not experience last season which further compounds the frustration being felt through the side.

We also lost our first league game in 16 months, loosing narrowly to Atletico by two goals to one, how we lost the game is another story for another day. The positive of the defeat, is the side bounced straight back and the rest of character and mental toughness was put to rest.

One thing remains, we are firmly in this together, focused solely on the year ahead which is going to be hectic. Looking after the players through this time is going to be key with games coming thick and fast, the momentum we could generate will be priceless.

We have also added a couple of new faces to the side which will provide that much needed squad depth and competition for places, I for one am really looking forward to getting going again and I know the players are itching to get more game time together under their belts which is guaranteed.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

h g i l B e Mik

What follows is our journey through 2023 in pictures...we hope that you like the photos of the games, and the views behind the scenes at training!

Bilton CC 2XI v Rodley CC 2XI

MOMENTS A FEW MORE

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

2023 Year in Review Looking back on a calendar year is rather strange when it is for a football team. That’s because it includes two seasons.

positive as the ones already penned.

The club has been an integral part of the local community and the women’s team is proud to join the men’s team in supporting local The end of Knaresborough Town charities and working with local Women’s first ever season was businesses to promote and show all such a high; winning promotion; becoming champions of their league; that is good about the local area. and going through a whole season All I’d like to add, as the year unbeaten. comes to an end and the memories of a successful twelve months That can only be described as swirl in our heads, is that this is a astonishing. remarkable group of people. They are simply outstanding players The new season has been equally coached by a dedicated and remarkable, albeit that they have knowledgeable management team, suffered their first ever league loss. nutured by our parent club, followed It has however, been one of real success despite the weather putting by a brilliant fanbase, and supported by our sponsors. paid to half of the fixtures since the summer.

It has been a privilege to work alongside each and every one of Much has been written about this them, and I wish this special team team, and many more words will be written before the end of 2024… every success in 2024. we’re hoping that they will be as Media Team