AFC Rushden & Diamonds ladies team finds itself celebrating its 4th year of success. The team has over 20 members who have joined to play football, get fit, socialise and have fun. The team is made up from Mums, Sisters, Aunties and friends of players of the 17 teams within the youth side of the club. The team trains every Wednesday and is coached by the clubs’ chairman, Mark Cullen.
The team has gone from strength to strength over the past 4 years. In particular this year when the ladies decided to challenge themselves and started playing regular games against league teams within Northamptonshire. The first thing the team needed to do was to find a sponsor to help us fund a match day kit. Ultilia offered their generous support to our team to enable us to purchase our first ever playing kit.
Our first game saw the team face a disappointing defeat against an established league team, but this powered the ladies on to train even harder and each player has shown determination to develop themselves to see the team succeed. We feel every game we play team is a victory, not just as a result of the score, but every match sees someone take their first shoot on target, or their first run up the line and for us our team’s success isn’t given by the goals scored but earned by the determination of our hard work.
The team are currently training in preparation for the annual charity match. This year the match is being played at the First Teams home ground, Hayden Road Football Club on Sunday 29th April at 10:30am. The members of the ladies’ team has been split into two teams, Reds v Blues. The Charity match is not only a great opportunity for some friendly rivalry, but also allows us to raise funds for some fantastic charities.
Our teams aim is to continue to thrive to enable us to develop ladies football within our club and the wider community.
Playing football with your feet is one thing, but this team plays with their heart and for that I am very proud to captain such an inspirational bunch of ladies.
Sinade Yule
AFC Rushden & Diamonds C.I.C Ladies Captain