AndyC Guest 0 post 13-Feb-2008 3:18 PM

Northern Ireland in action on Saturday Seasiders under starters' orders Bangor Ladies Football Club are launching their 2008 season this weekend (17th), when the club will be reporting back to training in preparation for only their second summer long campaign of competitive football in the sports governing body, the Northern Ireland Womens Football Association (NIWFA). Womens football continues to grow in popularity, as the planets fastest growing sport, with more and more young females having the opportunity to get involved in football through the ever increasing network of ladies clubs. Last year, there were no fewer than six divisions which catered for over 52 teams’ spread geographically all over the Province, with Glentoran Belfast United eventually emerging with the Northern Ireland Championship, winning with the narrowest of victories over runners-up Newtownabbey Strikers. This season promises to be equally as compelling, in the top flight with the two giants of ladies football clubs set to slug it out again this summer in the Premier Division. With the growth in numbers locally competing in the beautiful game, it would be safe to assume that success will follow with young footballers now coming through the education system at Primary and Secondary Schools, as well as Youth Clubs, and who are now eager to join their local ladies team. Top goalscorer for two years straight Dee Savage The Seasiders will be able to provide a suitable platform, as the young side will again benefit from the vital support and status of being involved with a local Irish League side Bangor F.C., where Chairman Trevor Best has recognised the potential of bringing ladies football to Clandeboye Park, thus providing a showcase for young talent in the Borough of North Down. Indeed it was through this connection with a bona fide Irish League side that Bangor were able to set up the first scholarship of it’s kind for local footballer Ashley Hutton, who went out to Reykjavik last May, by invitation of Steinn Halldorsson of the Icelandic Football Association for trials. The teenager impressed her hosts with a formidable performance in midfield and was promptly signed up for top Landsbanki Kvenna side Fylkir, where Ashley maintained her starting spot for the remainder of the season. Following the Bangor players contribution and subsequent success, which concluded with Fylkir finishing in their highest ever league position, Ashley’s talent was duly endorsed and she has recently secured a second season with the top Icelandic side Fylkir, travelling out again this May as one of Northern Ireland’s few professional women footballers. Miss Hutton, a league cup medal winner with Arsenal Ladies, is currently studying at Leeds Met., where she has helped her side secure their first ever League Championship, when last Wednesday they triumphed over their closest rivals, the previously undefeated Loughborough University to clinch the title. On the domestic front, Ashley is training twice a week with Leeds United Ladies and is on course to secure more success as they continue to press up the premiership table, although the English season has been one of constant disruption due primarily the Womens World Cup, which took place in China, and more recently a prolonged spell of damp weather. It’s a busy week for the young Bangor international, as she’ll start for Northern Ireland who are in action next weekend (16th) in a Euro 09 Qualifier, when they travel to Madrid to take on Spain, on Saturday. Group leaders and World Cup Quarterfinalists England, then host the dangerous Cech Republic side on March 20th in Doncaster for what will prove a crucial decider, as both sides are unbeaten going into this fixture. Primary & Secondary Schools football grows in popularity Although abroad, competing on the continent with the national side, Ashley will take a keen interest in the launch of the NIWFA ‘08 and in particular her local team Bangor Ladies, where she has featured in the record books, and who were able to offer her the chance of playing professionally in Iceland. The Seasiders’ after knuckling down to a few weeks graft, will then whet their appetite with a couple of competitive fixtures, starting with a tough away game under lights at Inver Park as the club travel to Larne (March 1st) before welcoming Abbey Villa Ladies at Clandeboye Park, two nights later on the 3rd. These games have been lined up mainly for the crop of new members of the local ladies football club, with manager Andy Craig seeing it as an ideal way in which to gauge their progress and also give the rookies an opportunity to sample both the standard of the football and pace of the local game. The club will also hope to be getting involved in one of the 200 Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile events when they will line up for the Bangor Mile at Castle Park on Sunday 16th March, one of a number of events pencilled in for the Irish League side. For more information on how to join a ladies football team or for the results, line-ups and stats of Northern Ireland’s up and coming fixtures just download the form on this website at www.ndlfc.com Or alternatively, the club will be in training every Sunday in preparation for the 2008 season at the Valentines Playing Field (Cineplex end) from 1.45 - 3.30 every Sunday afternoon, where all new players (over 15) will be very welcome. Training takes place outdoors, so all that is required is boots, shinguards and a positive attitude; registration for the 2008 season only cost £10 and training gets underway at 2 p.m. sharp. The Northern Ireland Squad, leaving the IFA on the way to Spain Last Edited on 17-Feb-2008 9:38 AM