Wilson eyes promotion joy
Promotion - that’s the sole aim for Durham Women FC this season, writes Mark Donnelly.
Or at least it is according to their captain, Sarah Wilson, who wants to see her side push all the way to earn their place in the elite of women’s football alongside the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.
Having only been founded a decade ago, the Wildcats have enjoyed a rapid rise up the leagues that was recognised in 2014 when the club were awarded a place in the second tier of the FA Women’s Super League.
Since then, the club achieved a top four finish in 2016 followed by fifth place in the mini Spring Series.
And now, with the first ever winter edition of the FA WSL on the horizon, Wilson is keen to see her team-mates go even further and claim the title and promotion.
“We want to go and win it, we are going for promotion,” she said. “We now we have a really good group.”
Having retained the core of their side from 2016, the Wildcats have added four new faces over the summer.
Abigail Cottam arrives having netted 40 goals over the last two seasons for West Bromwich Albion, while Kathryn Hill is a Scottish international, most recently with Rangers.
The pair are joined by attacking midfielder Nicola Worthington and young prospect Ellis Dalgliesh - but it’s Hill that Wilson is backing to have a big impact this year.
“We have brought in four signings and Kathryn is going to make a big difference,” the captain added.
“She comes with lots of experience and is solid across the back four so she is one to look out for.
“We have also brought in Ellis Dalgleish, Abi Cottam and Nicola Worthington and some of the girls have also had spells out in America, playing with university teams so they bring a wealth of experience.”
First up for the Wildcats after a gruelling are newly-promoted Tottenham Hotspur - a side keen to prove themselves at the top level having won the FA Women’s Premier League last season.
Spurs visit New Ferens Park on Sunday, (noon kick-off ) and Wilson says her side will be motivated by a dramatic end to the Spring Series.
The Wildcats could have won the FA WSL 2 title on the final day of the mini-series but, despite leading 4-1 at Aston Villa, lost out 5-4 after a dramatic final ten minutes and ended up in fifth place.
“It was a really difficult end for us in the Spring Series,” she admitted. “We don’t want to ever feel like that again and it has lit the fire for pre-season. It has motivated us this season.”