Manager's Page
MANAGER'S REPORT (2007-2008)
I would firstly like to thank Torpoint football club for their continued support throughout the season 2007/08, and Toni and Glynis for their much needed help and commitment to the Ladies team.
It's been an incredible finish to the season, winning the 1 st division Cornwall league, and getting into two-cup finals, winning the league cup was the icing on the cake and much deserved, giving us the league and cup double this year.
Considering the difficult start we had losing the first two fixtures it could have been easy for us to feel defeated, I am glad to say that this just gave us more determination to rise to the challenge and we maintained a winning league run to the end.
It has not been an easy season, with continued injuries cancelled games, but through hard work, guts and a team spirit that generates energy we were well rewarded.
It is important to acknowledge that none of this would have been possible without the commitment from the players. I would therefore like to thank you all for giving up your time, to enable Torpoint Ladies to remain the best Woman's football team in Cornwall.
A special thanks needs to go to Anna who as always does a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes together with her commitment as a player. This club could not financially run without her help and comittment.
Congratulations to Lilly Gilman who picked up the most improved award this season, her confidence has shown through, well done. Well done to Donna Gage collecting the Managers players award, for her hard work on the pitch and her willininess to accept the Manager decisions on a Sunday. Congratulations to Jo Davies who stepped up to collect the Players Players award, what an incredible acheivement this season. Despite her lack of confidence at times she has proved on many occasions why she was selected in the starting 11, her winning header against Saltash was a turning point for the club as it gave us the confidence to go on and believe we could win the league, it's a huge compliment amongst your fellow players to receive this award well done.
It's also important to recognise and acknowledge the achievments of Kirsty Lambert for becoming not only Torpoints leading goal scorer but she also recieved recognision for becoming top goal scorer of the league, well done. Not forgetting Emma Jenks who consistantly receiving player of the match throughout the season.
I would finally like to thank Ros Jewell, who stood between the sticks week in and week out for the majority of the season carry a serious knee injury. There is no doubt in my mind that we would not have been as sucessful this year without her.
With this season coming to an end it is time to look ahead to next season in the South West division. I hope that I can rely on everyones continued support and committment throughout pre-season and during the season 2008/09. Training will be focused on fitness, positional play, conditioning and strength. We are also looking to strengthen the existing squad by recruiting new players of good standard.
We are aiming to have at least 4 pre-season friendlies throughout the Summer. Two clubs have already shown an interest in playing us, which is Penzance 1st team and Lipson. We will be speaking to other clubs over the next couple of weeks to challenge us.
Next season will be an exciting time for Torpoint Ladies and for the Torpoint football club. Lets approach it with confidence and a willingness to play hard and play fair.
You all deserve a well earned rest enjoy x
Mandi x
My History...
I started playing 5-aside football for Prince Rock Comets when I was 12 years old and joined Plymouth Pilgrims in 1981 when I was 17-years old.
Over the years as I gained in experience I was fortunate to be given the honour of captaining the team, which I held onto for many years. Within that time the team accumulated many cup honours and won the South west league title over 2 consecutive years. I also represented and captained the Devon and regional squads.
Over the years the Pilgrims changed their name firstly to Saltash Pilgrims and later to Plymouth Argyle, where I continued to play and captain the side. Again the team won cup honours but my most memorable moment in my football career was captaining the side that beat Darlington Ladies at Wembley. I walked the 39 steps to lift the trophy it was an amazing experience and one that I will never forget.
The decision to leave Argyle gave myself and some other players the opportunity to start up the first ever woman's football team at Torpoint.
I am now player manager of the Torpoint side and enjoying the experience.
We joined the East Cornwall League in 2005 and came runners up in the league and won the I.T Associates cup. I do believe that in time Torpoint Ladies will be one of the best clubs in Cornwall. We have a great deal of potential within the squad, which will grow from strength to strength. Watch this space.
