Foxes set for the challenges of the National League
LOUGHBOROUGH FOXES are targeting a mid-table place in the Women’s National League Southern Division which gets underway this weekend (Sunday, August 19).
Last season the Foxes completed an unbeaten league campaign as they won the FAWPL Midlands Division One title to earn promotion to the National League for the second time in their history.
The club’s previous season at tier three of the women’s pyramid in 2015/16 saw them relegated from the Northern Division and the club had expected to be playing in the Northern Division in 2018/19 but a major restructure of the women’s game meant some reorganisation by the FA resulting in Loughborough Foxes being allocated a place in the Southern Division.
It means instead of derby clashes with Nottingham Forest and Derby County as well as fixtures against one of the most famous women’s teams in Doncaster Rovers Belles, the Foxes face trips as far afield as Cardiff, Plymouth and Portsmouth.
Foxes director of football Steve Wilkinson said it was far from ideal,
but out of their hands.
“It has massively increased our costs for the new season as we are going to have to travel down and stay overnight for at least four fixtures so if any local coach firms and other busi- nesses can help the club with sponsorship please let me know.”
The club has managed to retain the squad from last season and has signed three new players to strengthen its spine, with striker Kate Lowder and centre half Kate McLoughlin joining the team alongside Carly Perry a midfielder from America who arrived in the country last week to do a masters degree at Loughborough University.
Wilkinson said the team, again managed by Jenny Sugarman, has had a good pre-season and he is confident that it can hold its own at the higher level.
“Last time the team played at this level, the team was a bit older, but now it is younger, full of confidence after last season and the squad has got strength in depth so we are targeting a mid-table position which would be a great achievement for a club of our size.”
The team kicks off its campaign on Sunday (August 19) against QPR at Holywell Park stadium at Loughborough University at 2pm.
• If any local businesses are interested in providing extra sponsorship for the club this season, please contact Steve Wilkinson at steve. wilkinson10@gmail.com