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Women's Team captain Kirsty Chambers happy with team's "positive" mindset ahead of season

FCUMW closed their 2017-18 unbeaten home league campaign with a 10-0 win over Crewe Alexandra LFC Development Squad, back in April. Four goals from captain Kirsty Chambers on that day helped United clinch the Division One South title. Four-and-a-half months later, Chambers and her United teammates are gearing up to start life in the Premier Division of the North West Women’s Regional League, also at Broadhurst Park, tomorrow afternoon.

Like that Sunday in April, United will be in-front of the home faithful tomorrow as they welcome Fleetwood Town Wrens to Moston. From Broadhurst Fields to Broadhurst Park, the Reds are set to play their first ever league game inside the stadium this weekend and it’s an opportunity that Chambers is massively thankful for after being a central part of the transition over the years. "I’m so excited for the new challenges and stepping into the unknown. I think it’s going to be a great test for us and a great opportunity to show everyone how far we’ve come and how far we are going. Going into the stadium is a massive boost for us because it just adds to the high standards that we are setting. I would like to thank the club for giving us the amazing opportunity of us playing in the stadium, it’s a big thing for us as players!"

As enthralling as it is for Chambers and the Reds, moving into the stadium is also an exciting time for the fans. The skipper believes the FC supporters will play a big role in the Reds’ journey this season, a journey that the team want to start by putting on a statement showing, tomorrow. "The fans have been and always will play a massive part in our success. It’s not just what happens on the pitch that makes us successful, it’s everything that comes with it, team events, training, paperwork, time and the fans. Without the fans this club wouldn’t be as special as what it is, they will play a massive role in our potential success this year and I hope Sunday will be the start of us showing them how high our standard of football is."

Now that pre-season is a thing of the past, Chambers looks back on it as a positive experience that has set the side up well for the season. "We’ve gained a lot from this pre-season, we’ve had a few new signings which has again strengthened the squad even more. This pre-season we’ve been focusing on coming together as a team and just picking up from where we left off; keeping the high tempo, high intensity and setting the standards ready for the start of the season."

The captain insisted the importance of a close bond off the pitch in order to be a better team on it and she believes that the pre-season campaign was perfect for this. "As a team we’ve been working on becoming a tight unit on and off the pitch because I believe the key to a successful squad isn’t just what happens on the pitch but how you are as a team off the pitch too. So team events such as meals, footgolf, they’re only a positive because everybody gets involved and it helps us prepare for the games ahead of us because there’s always good vibes flying around the group."

Chambers herself has been rather limited in pre-season, having not played as many minutes as she perhaps would have hoped due to a number of reasons. Despite only being able to start two games, the skipper insists that both herself and the team are ready for the season. "I’ve had a tricky time over the past few weeks relating to health more than injury but yeah I’m good to go. I feel strong and positive and ready to get going with the team. Personally, I am more than ready and as a team we are more than ready to get started on Sunday."

Having been promoted to the Premier Division for the 2018/19 season, the Reds will face plenty of new teams and challenges over the course of the season. Chambers admits that it will be tough but is more than excited for the season ahead. "I’m really excited about the unknown abilities of the other teams that we’re going to face. It’s a great new challenge for us and it’s definitely one that we are more than ready for - it’s the challenge we’ve been waiting for."

Chambers has captained the Reds to five trophies in the last two seasons, she admits that United are motivated to add to that number and put up another successful season, at Broadhurst Park. "We have the silverware that we have won so far and this year we are hoping to add to it. The key will be staying focused, not being complacent, having the right mentality in training, games and just playing the football we play. I am confident we will have a very successful season."

You can see Chambers and the Reds start their league campaign at Broadhurst Park, tomorrow afternoon, against Fleetwood Town Wrens - 2pm KO.

We hope to see you there!

By Mikey Partington



First Posted ~ 20:14 Sat 15 Sep 2018
News ID ~ 8042
Last Updated ~ 22:45 Thu 4 Feb 2021