Page 15 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.20 2022-23

WSS: After narrowly missing out on a place in the Championship last year, is it
driving the team on to go one better this time around?
KJ: It was difficult for everyone I think at the start of this season to come with a fresh mind, but we
have all worked hard for each other and are aiming in the same direction. Of course we want to go
one better and win it, that’s the main goal.
Our thanks to Katie! Photo: Jack Thomas - WWFC/Getty Images

Gemma Grainger’s Wales will face Northern Ireland on Thursday 6th April (7.15pm kick off) at the
Cardiff City Stadium in an international challenge match.
The match will be part of preparations for the new UEFA Nations League campaign that will
get underway in September 2023.
Wales last faced Northern Ireland in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 qualifying campaign,
with the sides drawing on both occasions and Northern Ireland reaching the Finals. The first meeting
between the two teams finished 2-2 at Newport, after Northern Ireland grabbed an injury time
equaliser, and the return match in Belfast ended goalless. The two matches turned out to be highly
significant ones as the two countries also finished level on points at the conclusion of the group, but
it was Northern Ireland who advanced to the play-offs on away goals after the head-to-head matches
were taken into consideration.
Northern Ireland Director of Women’s Football, Angela Platt, told irishfa.com: “This is a good
test for the team against high quality opposition as we begin preparations for our next qualifying
campaign. I know the players will be raring to go and really looking forward to this opportunity.
“The recruitment process has started for our new senior women’s manager for what will be an
exciting new phase for the team.
“In addition, a lot of work is taking place behind the scenes to ensure we continue to build on
our recent success. We are enlisting additional staff to work on our girl’s international pathway,
furthering the work in our strategic plan around women and girls’ football and working hard to
upskill more women who want to work off the pitch in administrative roles in football.”
Tickets for the match are on sale now on the FAW ticketing website (£8 adults, £6 senior citizens
65+, £4 juniors 16 and under). Discounted Red Wall priority and group bookings for clubs, schools
and fan groups (£6 adults, £4 senior citizens, £2 juniors) are also available until 12:00 Friday 17th
March. The group booking form is available as a PDF or Doc file.

Tel: (0117) 9694544 Julian Barker
E-Mail: news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk Will Cheshire
Website: Colin Poultney (CollargeImages.co.uk)
www.WomensSoccerScene.co.uk GrifftersWorld Photography
Twitter:
@wssmagnews Winners of the 2006
FA National Media Award
Editors:
Neil Brown Views expressed in articles in this magazine
Mark Brown are those of the subject and not necessarily
those of Women’s Soccer Scene and its staff.
Contributors:
James Prickett (www.jamesprickett.co.uk) Issue no. 859
Patrick Higgins
Front cover photo: Amy Pipe clears for Abingdon Utd, watched by Dom Carrington of
Ascot Utd during their Southern Region League clash (www.jamesprickett.co.uk).
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk