Southampton Saints tell us about their new strategy designed to secure the Club as a major presence in the Central South of England.
Entitled ‘Saints 2020+’, it sets out short, medium and long term goals for the club and, like Southampton FC itself, believes that its youth are the investment for the long term future.
Southampton Saints G&LFC believe in creating successful players and teams by developing them physically, technically, psychologically and socially from an early age, and doing this all in a supportive, friendly, enjoyable and yet challenging environment.
Saints – The Past
Saints originated from Red Star Southampton WFC which was formed in 1979, played in the Home Counties League and later in the Southern Regions League. In 1991 the team were winners of the Southern Region Division 1 title and subsequently became one of the founder members of the inaugural Women’s National League. Affiliations to Southampton FC came in 1995/96 with Red Star changing its name to Southampton Saints Girls & Ladies FC. At the start of the 2001/2 season Saints merged with Southampton FC with their Chairman Rupert Lowe also becoming Chairman of Southampton Saints Women. Disappointingly, following relegation of the men’s team at the end of the 2004/5 season, Southampton FC reduced its commitment to women’s football and the running of the team was passed back to Southampton Saints Girls & Ladies.
Saints – The Present
Southampton Saints G&LFC currently have 7 teams ranging from Ladies down to U-10s and some of their most recent achievements include:
• Saints’ Ladies – Southampton Dvisional FA Cup winners 2012 and 2013. Area Finalist South West Combination League Cup 2012/13. Saints Ladies have won the Women’s FA Cup 8 times and were runners up 3 times, a record only recently overtaken by Arsenal
• U-16s – The U16s top their League having won all their games so far and having a +105 goal difference! Amazingly they have won their League and Cup double every season for the past five years! In 2011 they were England FA Tesco U-14 Champions, playing matches at Derby County’s Pride Park and Birmingham City’s ground St Andrew’s. In 2012 they won all their matches in Holland, the first Saints team to play overseas, while in 2013 they won the Bolton Wanderers Ladies Cup beating Bolton Academy 1-0 in the Reebok Stadium.
• U-14s – Sitting top of their league they boast a +35 goal difference.
• U-13s – Playing up an age group over the last 2 seasons having previously dominated their own age group, the U-13s sit at the top of the New Forest U-14 league. They won the U-14 Plate Cup last season and are currently competing in the Challenge and League Cups.
• U-12s – Last season saw the U-12s (then U-11s) representing the South of England at the ESF National Festival of Football in Coventry, playing teams chosen to represent the North, East and West of the UK. Saints went on to win this and consequently be crowned ‘National Champions’, as well as winning the League Cup. The U-12s are currently sitting top of the Winchester League with a +97 goal difference.
• U-11s – In second place in the U-12 league you’ll find the U-11s. Playing up an age group this season after comprehensively winning their own age group league last season, the U-11s have only ever lost to their U-12 Sister Team, and their attractive passing game and killer finishing has earnt them a +36 goal difference. Last summer the U-11s (then U-10s) came runners up in the ESF Regional Tournament.
• U-10s – This season’s newly formed U-10 team are sitting top of their league also and have a +29 goal difference. Notably they won the Winchester Tournament after only one training session!
Saints – The Future
So what’s in ‘Saints 2020+’? Pete Manson, Chair of the ‘Club’s Strategy Working Group’ outlined the club’s goals:
Short term goals include the introduction of:
• Mini soccer school
• U-18 team
• Player Development Plans
• Dedicated keeper training
• Sports science internships
• Club physio
• High profile Club President
Medium term goals are to secure:
• Permanent home round
• Major sponsorship
“The club’s long term goals are to not only maintain the excellent standard and performance of our youth teams but also, of course, to see our first team in the WSL. There’s lots of work to do for our club officials, managers and coaches, all of whom are voluntary, however the passion and vision is here in bags” Pete stated.
But what of Southampton FC? Could their support of the female game be re-kindled now that they are in the Premiership again and with Katharina Liebherr as Owner/Chairman? As the central south’s only Premiership Club you would like to think that they are considering it at least!
Pete went on, “The future’s bright, the future’s red and white!”
www.pitchero.com/clubs/southamptonsaintslgfc
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