Two new players will bolster Accies
Coach Watson relishing new season ahead
Hamilton Accies Women coach Bobby Watson was delighted to welcome two new signings as they prepare for the SWPL 2018 season.
Midfielder Nina Fitzsimmons joins from Celtic while Katie Rice joins from Rangers to bolster the attack.
Watson is excited about the campaign ahead and said: “Katie and Nina are both players we have admired for a while and players we spoke about last year.
“Nina is really tidy on the ball and great at keeping things simple which is essential for ball retention in this league.
“Katie is capable of special things going forward. It’s really exciting to have them both on board.
“This has been our first week back in training and it has been good. We all needed the break after the pressure of staying up last season.
“It has only been a week back but we have already had some good preparation.”
Accies get their season underway at home to newlypromoted Forfar Farmington on February 11, a side which, like Accies last season, is motivated to start well.
Watson said: “It’s a tough start again. Last season we had Celtic as our opener.
“Nobody expected anything from us and teams will look at us as the team who finished seventh and they will fancy their chances.
“I know Forfar well. They will be a strong side with good players, coached really well.
“It’s up to us to impose our game on them and start as positively as we can.”
As for the season ahead, the Accies coach thinks the squad at his disposal, along with the experience gained from last season, stands his side in good stead to improve their points tally in the new campaign.
He said: “Last season there were games we should have taken more from. Maybe it came down to experience at times.
“Our target has to be to get more wins. We have good attacking talent here and improved a lot defensively last season.
“We’ll still be realistic about this season overall. Hibs, City and Celtic are going to be very strong, you know that from our matches last season.
“I don’t think there’s a massive amount between all the other teams.
“There are a lot of strong squads and a lot will come down to tactics and who is more up for the games on the day.”
Katie and Nina are both players we have admired for a while