Workington Reds Ladies will start their 2023/24 pre-season fixtures tomorrow (July 23, 2pm kick-off) at the Fibrus Community Stadium as they host cross-border visitors Annan Ladies.
Before tomorrow’s game, and in the club’s continual desire to promote the strength of ladies football locally, the ladies are pleased to welcome both Xtreme Fitness Ladies and Abbeytown Ladies.
Both teams play in the Andrea Buggy summer league and will play a 9 vs 9 friendly game kicking off at 11.30am.
The match with Annan will be the first of three home friendlies scheduled for the Reds Ladies as they face Morecambe Development next week-end at Borough Park before returning to the Fibrus Community Stadium to face a tough test against Queen of the South, with both games kicking off at 2pm.
The Ladies started training a little over three weeks ago and have trained really well with very good numbers attending. As well as the majority of last season’s players returning, the Reds have also added to their numbers and welcome back some absentee’s from last season.
Hayley Bracken returns from a long time spent on the sidelines recovering from an ACL injury and Jess Reid rejoins having giving birth to twin girls earlier this year.
New recruits Bea Barber, Rowan Williams, Kayce Whinery and Lauren Campbell will all feature tomorrow in their first outing for the club at the Fibrus Community Stadium, whilst others will be unavailable due to personal commitments away from football.
Unfortunately, Holly Redmond and Chloe Henderson are unavailable through injury but it’s pleasing to note that they both have been increasing their training over the last couple of weeks with the squad as well as working hard in their own individual training programs.
Coach Rebecca Scott said: “Players have been working very hard over the break and I am delighted to say that this has paid off with regards to them returning to training with a really good base to start from.
“Holly and Chloe remain frustrated with their injuries but they are both making solid progress and we are hoping to have them both back in action in the early stages of the season.”
Manager Paul Mackenzie added: “Pre-season training has gone really well and we are exactly where we aimed to be with the squad. The desire and commitment from the ladies has been superb and with three testing friendlies coming up preparation is definitely on the right track.
“We had a squad training match on Thursday evening and there was lots of encouraging signs from the performance.”
The Ladies will get their 2023/24 North West Women’s Regional Division One North campaign started on the 20th August but are unaware of where, and whom, they’ll be facing as the fixtures have not been released as yet.
Squad for Sunday: Bea Barber, Liv Bennett, Sophie Birkett, Lauren Campbell, Linzi Donaldson, Sophie Douglas, Naomi Foster, Keeley Holliday, Natalie Hooper, Laura Ivison, Alice Kemp, Eleanor McDonald, Morgan McGrady, Laura Miller, Jess Reid, Kacey Rodgers, Helen Wagstaff, Kayce Whinery, Rowan Williams.
