Note that this page is from our Gresley Rovers archive. It may not be related to the new Gresley Rovers (formerly Gresley FC until 2020).
Gresley Rovers Ladies
Story courtesy of The Season so far - a Personal Perspective
Our first league season has gone better then anyone could have imagined. We are currently sitting comfortably at the top of our league with games in hand and through to the semi finals of our League Cup. At the start of the season I expected us to ruffle a few feathers, but we have far exceeded our best expectations.
In all the teams that I have managed I have tried to recruit and improve the players throughout the season, this we have achieved at Gresley and any manager would agree this is a must for success.Just before our first pre-season friendly Jemma Connor joined us from Aston Villa. She has been a great asset in the centre of midfield and has scored some spectacular long range goals. We were disappointed at the start of the season when England trialist Holly Boddell chose to play for Coalville instead of Gresley but thankfully joined us a month into the season.
With these two in our squad along with Nikki Holmes, who when fully fit, I believe could comfortable play for England; Julie Martin, best defender in the division; Lindsey Hopton, an unknown quantity at first, but developing into a fine centre forward; Gemma Stafford, Kirsty Jarratt and Karen Moss, we were always going to have a strong team.
Success breeds success, and because of our efforts today we have recently recruited two further Aston Villa players, Vicki Mydzyn and Hannah Smith and also an ex-Coventry City defender Kelly Mullhall.
Who would of thought last year that Gresley Rovers would be starting 2001 with a ladies team of this pedigree, taking four players from Aston Villa, two from Derby, one from Coventry City and two from Coalville.
We are striving to bring silver wear to the Moat Ground and hopefully with good fortune may get a League and Cup double from a team having an average age of only 19.
I hope those of you that have not yet had the opportunity to see us play, come along to the Moat Ground for an entertaining Sunday afternoon's game of football.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish John McGinlay the very best and hope that he feels as welcome as I have at the Moat Ground.
Paul Martin
Ladies Team Manager
