City hopes are high

The Busselton City women’s team resumed training this week, kicking off their quest for a trophy-winning season.

After a positive off-season recruiting drive helped land several opposing teams’ star players and former City stars, coach Therese Charlton is bullish about her side’s potential.

“We really hope the season goes ahead because we think we can beat anyone,” she said.

“We are coming off a 6-0 Pioneer Cup victory against our nemeses in Dynamos. We were unable to beat them last year, so our first game before the restrictions really gave us confidence.”

Bunbury powerhouse Hay Park convincingly won the South West Soccer Association women’s premiership last season, but Charlton said her group of talented girls did not fear any side.

“We’ve recruited really well this year so we should have two strong sides and a lot of depth,” she said.

“The likes of young Asha McClurg who had been playing with South West Phoenix, Chelsea Bram and Siobhan Longmore who came back from playing college in the States for a few years, they are really versatile strong players.”

Charlton said although she preferred an attacking style of play, the team had a formidable defence and strong strikers with a young midfield that would become one of the strongest inside units in the league.

“We have a good young keeper in Ash and a strong defence with Hannah Armstrong, Maddy Rice and Keely Milner,” she said.

The playing coach was a late bloomer and only starting playing at the age of 24, but she fell in love with it immediately.

The passionate striker said she loved the pace and team spirit of the game and hoped she could inspire the younger generation of City’s female players.

“I’d like to be a role model for women and showing their daughters they can do this,” she said.

“We have the grounds for achieving something this year.

“Everybody has the drive and the passion — it’s just whether we can work together.”

Keep an eye on Busselton City as they chase Hay Park United for that coveted top spot on the SWSA ladder.