Division One – The Big Day arrives for Salford City

All eyes will be on Lees Field this weekend as Salford City Lionesses make their long awaited GMWFL debut away to Urmston Meadowside. The Lionesses released their first team photo on Thursday night revealing a mixture of higher league and GMWFL experience in their squad.

Most notable was the appearance of Beth Tattersall who spend last season playing WPL football with Bolton Wanderers having previously spent a decade with FC United of Manchester. Its far from a one-person team with WNL and NWWRFL experience in Laura Tobin (Bolton Wanderers), Jess Duke (Curzon Ashton), Fliss Winters (FC United) and Adora Yau (Stockport County).  Giving them much needed experience to navigate the league is former Bolton Lads & Girls captain Ell Thornton. The former Manchester City player arrives at the club having collected the GMWFL Division One player for the last two seasons running.

In Urmston Meadowside, they face the 2016/17 GMWFL Champions who will be looking to build on their 7-0 home trashing of Sale Ladies last Sunday. Sale will take on Flixton Ladies in the First Round of the Manchester Women’s Challenge Cup this weekend.

Bolton L&G and Barr Hill look to set early pace

Two sides who kick started their campaigns with a win last weekend meet at Bolton Lads & Girls Club. Bolton L&G started their season with an impressive 6-4 win over newly promoted Rochdale thanks to goals from Emily Ashworth (2), Coral Leather (2), Alice Hey and Becky Steen.

Barr Hill themselves defeated newcomers Lango 3-2 in another thrilling game as they look to build on their GMWFL Division Two title in their maiden season last year.

The weekends other game see’s Rochdale host Langho at Wardle Academy.

Division Two – New teams open field

With Barrhill, Rochdale and Sale all promoted, Division Two is more open than ever this season with the admission of four new teams.

Swinton are the early pace setters as they ran out 5-2 winners over newcomers Boltonian Ladies. The goals camefrom Anna Broadie (2), Elizabeth Robinshaw and Jessica Coyne despite two in reply from Stacey Saunders.  Tameside United will be looking to build on a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Heyside, returning to the GMWFL, when they head to Swinton this weekend.  Heyside and Boltonian Ladies meet at the Crompton House CoE Academy.

Finally, the Division’s two other newcomers West Didsbury & Chorlton Development host AFC Oldham at Brookburn Road on Sunday. West unveiled their squad on Friday revealing a mixture of youth and experience including 5 players who finished runners-up in the NWWRFL Division One South last season. West Development’s pre-season includes a win over Barrhill and a draw with Urmston Meadowside.