Page 7 - Women's Soccer Scene No.11 2020-21

There are mixed emotions in the Wolves Women camp
this week with players and staff delighted to be back in
training after their long lay-off and really looking forward
to Sunday’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup Second Round tie
with Nottingham Forest, but it doesn’t take away from the
disappointment of missing out on possible promotion for
a second season running.
Wolves were sitting top of the FAWNL Division
One Midlands, having won all of their six matches when
the season was curtailed. It was a bitter blow after last
season when they led the title race with 14 wins from their
15 games and a goal difference of +73 as the season was
null and voided.
This time Wolves do have the opportunity for
upward movement via application and will be making
their case to the FA, but manager Dan McNamara says the players and staff would have
much preferred to play football.
“Forget about tier three and ambitions and wanting to get up the pyramid,” he said,
“competitive sport is about moments and creating moments together, and that has been
taken away from the players for the second year running. I’m not saying we’d got it in the
bag, but we were looking strong, and the girls were excited about sharing that moment
together.”
Sunday’s FA Cup tie will certainly be a memorable moment as the game will be live
streamed via Wolves TV in a first for the women’s side. With the game due to be played
behind closed doors, fans will be able to tune in to live coverage including commentary from
club reporter Mikey Burrows and legendary Wolves Women defender Claire Hakeman.
McNamara says it’s special for the women’s side: “Live streaming the game around
the globe is a fantastic show of intent from the football club, and for me just further shows
how much support and backing the club are giving us. Over the last two years we have come
on a superb journey and everyone associated with the club wants to thank Wolves for all the
support.
“Normally FA Cup ties are all about winning and I would be lying if I said we wouldn’t
be doing all we can to beat a very strong opposition. But I feel like there is more to it this time
round. We should all reflect on what has been a terrible 12 months for the whole world and
hope that today marks the start of the return of the game we all love for good.”
Wolves Women defender Kelly Darby (pictured) knows Nottingham Forest well,
having captained them for two seasons. She says: “It’s always nice to play against one of your
old clubs, and I’ve been looking forward to this match ever since the Second Round draw
was made.
“There’s a number of girls still at Forest from when I was there, but they’ve also
signed some brilliant new players. I think they would have been be pushing for a top two or
three place in their division if the season had continued, so we know what a difficult game
we’re in for against them.
“But although I’ve got total respect for Forest, I do think we can beat them and that’s
obviously the aim – and we’d love to have a good FA Cup run.”
The live stream coverage of Sunday’s game is available from 1.45pm before the
2.00pm kick off on wolves.co.uk, the Wolves YouTube channel or by the Wolves App, which
can be downloaded now on iOS and on Android.
Photo by Simon Faulkner
Issue no. 11 - 1 April 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk