September 2016 Issue 01 Pre-season has seen big changes player-wise, some that we decided, and some unexpected. After the decision to discontinue the reserve side, we had to trim the squad and so made the difficult decision to release 14 players, including 7 players from our Liverpool County Championship winning squad. We wish them all the very best. Shortly before the season ended Sarah Cunningham also decided it was time to leave and Sami Fretwell was asked to join the backroom team. This will be a big learning curve for Sami as she initially observes the coaching, whilst also acting as the important link between the ladies and Reg, Lee, and myself. We headed back to pre-season in June with 18 players from last season, and a clear intention to improve the squad. We had some interest from players who have seen the set-up and ambition of the club and we were optimistic we could sign two or three that would improve the squad significantly. It has since been a whirlwind! Job offers abroad, university placements and other personal reasons have resulted in us saying goodbye to Devon Riley, Tessa Littler, Ellisha Busby, Meghan Westerside and Rachel Miranda. I would like to thank these players for all of their efforts at the club, we will miss all your characters around the place! We also have a long-term injury to Danielle Flynn. So we were left with 12 players from last season’s squad. We have strengthened this group significantly through the capture of Jade Thomas from Liverpool Feds; Stacey McMahon, Sheree Thompson, Holly Parkinson, Kaisha Sohl, Sophie Perry, and Paige Whitehead all from Mossley Hill. The players that have come will provide a fresh impetus on what we want to achieve. With the experience they bring coming from as high as the Women’s Premier League, we have seen the bar raised for all the players. The effort and focus of the squad pre-season has highlighted just how far on this team has come. I know the view is often that preseason games do not mean anything, but watching the work on the training ground taken out onto the pitch in games against really tough opposition, and it working, makes everything that we do that more satisfying. And seeing the results, with wins against Southport Shoreline (5-0), Crewe Alexandra Res (8-2), Silsden AFC (5-1), Blackburn Community (6-2), Blackpool Ladies (2-1), Everton Res (3-2) - I write this before Wallasey Wanderers and Llandudno Ladies - makes pre-season look even more impressive. I am really looking forward to the season and I want to especially thank Reg Standish and Lee Austin for all the hard work they have put in, getting the team ready for Stockport County on 4th September. The teamwork that we have behind the scenes with the management team here is second to none in my time in football. Wins breed confidence and if we can start the way we would like, and continue our pre-season form, then I am hopeful of a successful season. I hope to see you all over the course of the season supporting us, I promise you will not be disappointed with the football on display! Thanks Dave Miley Reserves Player's Player Danielle Flynn Fan’s Player Jessie Hindley First Team Player's Player Tessa Littler Golden Boot Jessie Hindley (23 goals) Player of the Season Jess Muirhead Club Woman Ruth Thomas The team have been preparing for the new 2016/2017 season for just over two months now. It has been an intense programme, including a team building weekend away to Skipton which was a great success, and culminated with a match against local side Silsden. A great run of results left the team unbeaten and included some very notable scalps, with a win over the Everton development squad being the highlight. Friendlies are not the same as competitive matches, but the spirit, skill and tactics shown by the team has generated a lot of confidence ahead of the league kick off. Pre-season Friendly Results Merseyrail Bootle 5 - 0 Southport Athletic Crewe Alexandra 2 - 8 Merseyrail Bootle Silsden 1 - 5 Merseyrail Bootle Merseyrail Bootle 6 - 2 Blackburn Community Merseyrail Bootle 3 - 2 Everton Ladies Development Merseyrail Bootle 8 - 1 Wallasey Merseyrail Bootle 3 - 3 Llandudno It is always sad to see player leave and with amateur football, where the sport is secondary to the day job and other aspects of life, it is all too frequent. Also, as a club progresses through the league, as we have, unfortunately not all players can make the step up required. Last season we released several players and others chose to end their Merseyrail Bootle ‘career’. Notably, several player who had been with us from the start moved on, and we should mark their contribution with a huge thank-you. We could not have done it without them! Thank-you to those who have moved on, your efforts and contribution are appreciated! *List below shows players who left at the end of or during the 2014/15 campaign who made more than 10 appearances for the first team. Danielle Flynn Emily Swindells Georgia Mills (long term injury) (released) (released) App Goals Leanne Cunningham 45 22 Emily Swindells 45 22 Georgia Mills 43 17 Danielle Flynn 43 - Danielle Riley 41 - Amanda Parker 38 - Kathryn Bradley 35 3 Olivia Patterson 18 6 Ellisha Adams 17 - Rachel Miranda 11 6 We bid good-bye to two players who have been first team regulars right from the beginning. Devon Riley joined us at the very first training session, and brought several of her team mates from the recently disbanded Bleak Hill with her. Without Devon we may have struggled to field a strong team in those first few fixture of the 2013 / 14 season, and we owe her a debt of gratitude for giving us that kick start. An explosive full back, Devon was often seen on mazy runs, taking the ball down the wing, skipping past several defenders. On occasions, she provided great attacking opportunities for the team and scored 2 goals herself in her 57 appearances. Defensively, Devon’s pace often told as she got back to clear or to make a last ditch tackle – a trademark she shared with her twin sister Danielle. All at the club are delighted that Devon has a great opportunity to teach for a year in an ex-pat school in exotic Tashkent. We wish her all the best in this adventure and the career that spans from it. Perhaps we may see Devon back at the club once the placement is over. Another foundation of the club has also chosen to take a break. Tessa Littler has hung up her boots, at least for the time being. Tessa was appointed club captain ahead of the 2014 / 15 season and led throughout that league winning campaign, earning promotion from the County League. With 66 appearances she has played more matches for the team than any other player and her tough tackling and energy will be missed in the centre of midfield. Both on and off the pitch she was the perfect role model, contributing through the Committee and occasionally representing the club at awards and networking events. Last season Tessa won the most prestigious of the annual awards, Players’ Player, which was testament to her huge popularity within the squad. All the best to all the ladies leaving us! Thank-you for playing your part and we sincerely hope your futures are bright and full of happiness. 2015 / 2016 Season Appearances: Top Goalscorers: Most Assists: Tessa Littler 22 Jessie Hindley 23 Siobhan Cliff 11 Lauren Williams 22 Alice Whorton 20 Alice Whorton 6 Alice Whorton 21 Rachel Atherton 9 Tessa Littler 4 Jessie Hindley 21 Alicia Hardacre 9 Gemma Lancaster 4 Rachel Atherton 20 Tessa Littler 7 Jess Muirhead 20 Player of Match Awards: Discipline: Tessa Littler 5 Yellow Cards Jessie Hindley 3 Lauren Williams 3 Gemma Lancaster 2 Jessie Hindley 2 Jade Collins 2 Jess Muirhead 1 Jess Muirhead 2 Alice Whorton 1 All Time Appearances: Top Goalscorers: Most Assists: Tessa Littler 66 Alice Whorton 46 Siobhan Cliff 29 Lauren Williams 65 Siobhan Cliff 38 Tessa Littler 19 Rachel Atherton 64 Tessa Littler 31 Rachel Atherton 17 Siobhan Cliff 62 Rachel Atherton 30 Leanne Cunningham 15 Devon Riley 57 Alicia Hardacre 25 Alice Whorton 13 Jessie Hindley 23 Player of Match Awards: Discipline: Tessa Littler 11 Red Rachel Atherton 9 Lauren Williams 1 Alicia Hardacre 6 Yellow Siobhan Cliff 4 Lauren Williams 10 Lauren Williams 4 Leanne Cunningham 4 Jessie Hindley 2 Photo: Alice Whorton v FC United Alice has scored an incredible 46 goals in 41 matches. After a close run 2015/16 season, the North West League One (South) is expected to be equally tight. Obviously, promoted Woolton will not be around, but the teams that finished a close second and third, FC United and Warrington Wolves, will be there to provide an equally tough test for fourth place Merseyrail Bootle. Bootle have strengthened pre-season, and we can expect the same from these rivals, with FC United in particular parading new signings over their Twitter account during the summer. Northwich Vixens and Curzon Ashton were relegated from the higher Premier league last season after managing only three win in forty-four league campaign matches between them. We are sure both will be looking to bounce straight back, but how big is the difference between the two leagues in reality? This will surely be a factor in how successful each is this season.