EXCITEMENT is building as the thriving Redditch United Ladies continue preparations for their 2017/18 campaign.
The latest development was this week’s announcement of a home friendly against FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division outfit West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, August 6 (2pm).
As ever, there will be free admission for the encounter against the Birmingham County Cup holders.
Whilst the Reds will be looking to build on the successes of last season which saw them finish runners-up in West Midlands Division One South and win the League Cup, boss Gary Barrell and Co also have firm beliefs in building a stronger infrastructure.
To this end, Reds Ladies now have four international partner clubs in place – Barry Town United Ladies FC (Wales), Leixlip United (County Kildare, Ireland) and French sides Paris FC Feminines and Puc-Football Section Feminine.
Barrell said: “This builds on our first international trip which took place last season when, as a women’s and girls’ section, we took our 1st, U15s, U13s and U10s to Wales for a set of fixtures which gave the girls a fantastic experience of playing at Barry’s Jenner Park, an iconic ground which has hosted European giants such as Porto and Dynamo Kiev in the past.
“We will host Barry Town United in pre-season with fixtures for senior and youth teams.”
On the pitch, Redditch benefited from the talents of numerous American players during the last campaign – most notably Mckenzie Karas – and the club’s commitment to providing footballing, coaching and social opportunities for overseas talent is again evident.
Hot on the heels of the capture of striker Mayme Conroy, Barrell has swooped to sign her fellow American Courtney Claassen.
Barrell added: “Courtney has just come off a fantastic season at the University of Nebraska where she started all 22 games in a successful Nebraska side which finished their season ranked 22nd out of 334 Division One universities in the nation, also making the invitational NCCA National Tournament for the first time since 2013.
“Courtney impressed both on and off the pitch with her playing ability and leadership skills. She was a star player at the University of Nebraska who was recruited on a full scholarship for the duration of her four seasons in the ultra-competitive Big Ten Conference and she will make a big impact as a box-to-box midfielder for Redditch United Ladies.”
Claassen added: “I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to play overseas and also to be involved in the community by coaching and officiating some youth games.
“I’m looking forward to a new soccer environment, meeting my team-mates, coaching staff and contributing to the success of the club.”
Barrell, who has made the influential Ellie Gerhold a third club captain alongside Kirsty Grigg and Sofi Liperis, is also thrilled to be taking his side on a pre-season tour to Dublin in August.
The Reds will face Shelbourne Ladies who play in Ireland’s top division and also Leixlip United.
Barrell added: “This is a prestigious trip for the club and a first to be having a pre-season tour of this magnitude. In addition, we will be making our FA Cup debut in the coming season, which is another real positive.”
The Reds Ladies will also have a Development/Reserve team playing in the Midwest Counties League and an U18s side in action in the Central Warwickshire Premier Division.
Barrell will run the U18s side, whilst a trio of new faces will spearhead the Development/Reserve team. They will be goalkeeping coach Terry Laing, Alena Moulton who joins from Derby County’s Regional Talent Club with a UEFA B licence and Daniel Bellamy from Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College who arrives FA Level 2-qualified.
“To be able to hand starting places to 33 players in Redditch United Ladies teams on a consistent basis is a brilliant achievement for the club,” said Barrell.
