Archive for April, 2007

"Midland Combination Womens' League Champions,that's got a nice ring to it” says Paul Durrands, Manager of the triumphant Rotherham United Ladies F.C. who were promoted to the National League of womens' football after a scintillating display yesterday against Loughborough Students.

The young Millers entered the field of play, knowing that a home draw would have been enough to see them get the promotion that they have been striving for all of the season.

After a stirring pre-match team talk from the Manager, the home side began the game on the front foot and made Loughborough defend from their early sorties.

Suzanne Davies always looked a danger and with Helen Lynskey and Kerry Longstone pulling all the strings from midfield, it wasn't long before Rotherham opened the scoring and Davies obliged with a thunderous drive after 15 minutes that gave the Loughborough keeper no chance.

This tremendous goal galvanised the young Millers into tearing into the opposition and for a 25 minute period, the visitors were treated to a football lesson in how to “take apart” a visiting team.

Suzanne Davies emerged the hero of the half by scoring three more goals, to take her first half tally to four, with the latter of her four being a “breathtaking individual” effort.

The half time whistle came with Loughborough “shell shocked” after what Rotherham had “served up” for the visitors and for a large crowd of admirers.

The half time talk was to calm the home side down, and get them to realise that there was 45 more minutes left in this game and they hadn't finished their job yet.

The second half was going to be an “anti-climax” after the first and it took the Millers 10-15 minutes before they again settled down into their flowing football.

Kerry Longstone scored the individual goal of the game after running 45 yards, beating 5 players before cleverly placing her shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Rotherham never gave up in their exploits to entertain the crowd and with “Woody” terrorising the Loughborough defence from the left flank, it was a privilege to watch the “Champions Elect” at work.

Loughborough never let themselves, or their Manager down,but it was Rotherham who were ready to claim their crown and no one was going to stand in their way.

Managers' comments:

 “Well what can I say, we are the Champions and we thoroughly deserve it.

We have set a new record for The Midland Combination League as no team has ever won the title and gone through the whole season unbeaten. What an achievement it itself.

I took the job at the beginning of the season knowing that I could take these girls to the top level of football and I succeeded, of this I am very proud of myself and the girls.

The girls have been magnificent as you must be aware that they have had a new manager, and in that I have changed their playing system completely and changed also certain individuals own positions. When you take all this into consideration they have reacted to all the pressure that I have put on them, probably a lot better than maybe even I thought that they would react.

My main aim was always promotion in my first season and I never wavered in any way from what I wanted to achieve.

The road to success was not all a “bed of roses” as “tears” were shed along the way, but hard work, application, understanding, ability, commitment and the understanding of football was some of the many reasons why we managed to get our “goal”for the season.

I could list you certain players that have ”stood out” in the season, but as the girls know better, it has been a “team effort” from everyone in the football squad and my management team.

I have been very proud to have been the manager of this squad of players and lets all hope that this seasons experience will keep with you for the rest of your lives, as remember, this was a “special one” that must not be forgotten, even by “The special One”???

"Midland Combination Womens' League Champions,that's got a nice ring to it” says Paul Durrands, Manager of the triumphant Rotherham United Ladies F.C. who were promoted to the National League of womens' football after a scintillating display yesterday against Loughborough Students.

The young Millers entered the field of play, knowing that a home draw would have been enough to see them get the promotion that they have been striving for all of the season.

After a stirring pre-match team talk from the Manager, the home side began the game on the front foot and made Loughborough defend from their early sorties.

Suzanne Davies always looked a danger and with Helen Lynskey and Kerry Longstone pulling all the strings from midfield, it wasn't long before Rotherham opened the scoring and Davies obliged with a thunderous drive after 15 minutes that gave the Loughborough keeper no chance.

This tremendous goal galvanised the young Millers into tearing into the opposition and for a 25 minute period, the visitors were treated to a football lesson in how to “take apart” a visiting team.

Suzanne Davies emerged the hero of the half by scoring three more goals, to take her first half tally to four, with the latter of her four being a “breathtaking individual” effort.

The half time whistle came with Loughborough “shell shocked” after what Rotherham had “served up” for the visitors and for a large crowd of admirers.

The half time talk was to calm the home side down, and get them to realise that there was 45 more minutes left in this game and they hadn't finished their job yet.

The second half was going to be an “anti-climax” after the first and it took the Millers 10-15 minutes before they again settled down into their flowing football.

Kerry Longstone scored the individual goal of the game after running 45 yards, beating 5 players before cleverly placing her shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Rotherham never gave up in their exploits to entertain the crowd and with “Woody” terrorising the Loughborough defence from the left flank, it was a privilege to watch the “Champions Elect” at work.

Loughborough never let themselves, or their Manager down,but it was Rotherham who were ready to claim their crown and no one was going to stand in their way.

Managers' comments:

“Well what can I say, we are the Champions and we thoroughly deserve it.

We have set a new record for The Midland Combination League as no team has ever won the title and gone through the whole season unbeaten. What an achievement it itself.

I took the job at the beginning of the season knowing that I could take these girls to the top level of football and I succeeded, of this I am very proud of myself and the girls.

The girls have been magnificent as you must be aware that they have had a new manager, and in that I have changed their playing system completely and changed also certain individuals own positions. When you take all this into consideration they have reacted to all the pressure that I have put on them, probably a lot better than maybe even I thought that they would react.

My main aim was always promotion in my first season and I never wavered in any way from what I wanted to achieve.

The road to success was not all a “bed of roses” as “tears” were shed along the way, but hard work, application, understanding, ability, commitment and the understanding of football was some of the many reasons why we managed to get our “goal”for the season.

I could list you certain players that have ”stood out” in the season, but as the girls know better, it has been a “team effort” from everyone in the football squad and my management team.

I have been very proud to have been the manager of this squad of players and lets all hope that this seasons experience will keep with you for the rest of your lives, as remember, this was a “special one” that must not be forgotten, even by “The special One”???