2012 review

Well that's another year gone. It's been nearly 6 years now since we started girls football at AFC Waverton and the current u16s have got to know each other pretty well. 2012 has been a great year. Here's some of the highlights:

January

We started with a home game against Irby and short on numbers due to illness, we borrowed Hannah from Irby to play for us. All our other games in January were called off to waterlogged pitches and we trained every Tuesday at Northgate. The Irby game was also Ellie Mageean's last ever game for us. Such a talented player, it's a shame her injuries and illness forced her to quit.

February

With bad weather again, we didn't play any games until the end of the month when we went to Irby for a friendly. We got beat, but played well, Lucie being awesome in goal. Annaliese made her debut after training with us for a few weeks beforehand.

March

In March we lost in a tough game against Birkenhead Ladies at the Delph. Emma got a smack in the face from the ball. "Emma, I think I can see ADIDAS written backwards across your face" to which Emma says " Oh no, really?"

Two weeks later we went back up to the Delph and beat them 6-5 in one of the best matches of last season. Sophie was player of the match, but Ellie Riste scored a wonder goal right at the end to take the points back to Waverton. This was our last League game of the season.

April

Due to the small number of teams, our league season had ended and we didn't have any games in April but we moved our training from the warmth of Northgate Arena to outside at Waverton

May

We were only one player short of putting out a team for the Blackpool tournament which disappointed those girls who had planned a weekend,  but we did manage to get a game organised against Bolton Wanderers Academy side in deepest Bolton. We joined up with Irby to put out an 11 a side team, and although thoroughly beaten by a class u17 side, it was a great introduction to higher level football. Lily, Laura, Cara, Emma, Sophie and Ellie all played. We played a friendly at Upton where we introduced some of the younger girls from the u14s, well Rebecca, to the u16s action.

June

In June we started skills sessions at Waverton and were joined by coaches from Chester FC as we started to build a partnership with the Deva Divas. Ellie, Sophie, Kiera, and Lily went to watch England women take on Holland and Kiera and Lily went to watch England men take on Belgium at Wembley. A tube full of Belgian fans sang "We love you Lily, we do".


July

We played a Girls v Parents game on a lovely evening, the parents winning marginally.  Kiera's brother Joe scored for the parents and interfamily squabbles also ensued in the Parkinson and Croft households given brother/father/sister participation. We then concluded the season with the annual night out and presentations at the Ring of Bells. Ellie Riste won Goal of the Season for the wonder strike at The Delph. We said goodbye to Sophie who was moving to Chester FC and Olivia who was leaving football for weekend employment and as u16 League players Cara and Laura. Laura continued to train with us this season and is looking to return if we can get an u18 side going. Cara went on a self imposed football exile until Christmas 2012.  Kate and Lauren decided to hang up their boots, but we thank them for their valued contribution to the team and they are welcome down to training anytime.

August

We watched the Olympics, a few of the girls went to some events, and then we started pre season training at Waverton in the heat!

September

Our first game was called off as Irby had folded, sad to see but later to have a silver lining for Waverton.  We then went up to the Delph to play Birkenhead and lost heavily against a much improved side. We only had 5 players out for the visit of Upton, with illness decimating our ranks. Sophie made her debut for Chester FC first team. It poured down for our last training session at Waverton and with most of the players calling in with 'rainfear', it was left to Ellie and Emma to show the spirit and come on a run down the canal and dodege the huge puddles in Christleton and Waverton.

October

Amy rejoined us and we moved our training base to Old Hall. We lost to Wirral Hawks and then drew 4-4 with Birkenhead in a fantastic game which infamously sparked Caitlingate and a full league investigation.

November

We lost at the Delph in a tough game with Birkenhead. Rebecca was outstanding and was one of the stars of 2012. Emma injured her shoulder again and was sidelined for a few weeks. There was an incident involving a deep heat spray, the application of which, the watching League Secretary informed us was against the league rules. We are still waiting to hear which rule.

December

We played the best all year in a game at Greenleas, winning 10-3. Mackenzie and Meg made their debuts for us in a muddy game at top of the table Wirral Hawks. The year ended with a quiet night out at the newly extended Ring of Bells.

Happy New Year and may 2013 bring us lots of goals and laughs.