“There have been setbacks, but we’ve been able to bounce back.”
Annie Ackroyd is enjoying her second spell at Boldmere St Michaels – and looking at the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands table, it’s perhaps no wonder.
Boldmere St Michaels currently sit third, with seven wins and two losses to their credit – exactly the same record as Leafield Athletic, who are above them on goal difference.
And the two teams meet this weekend.
“We’re excited,” she tells SheKicks.net. “Everybody’s excited. We’re preparing in the same way that we would for any other game. So we do our standard analysis and what we’re going to do at the weekend and how we’re going to turn up.
“We know Leafield are going to turn up. They’re going to be up for it. We’re going to be up for it. It’s going to be a battle like it always is.”
In a quirk typical of women’s football, where pitches are at a premium, the game is at Leafield’s home – which is also where Boldmere train.
“It’s a familiar environment, which I think can help. If we bring our A game, then we can win. We’re filled with confidence, I would say, and looking forward to it.
“We’re going in positively, but knowing that it’s going to be a tough game.”
Annie Ackroyd: Karl Henry is here with a mission
Boldmere’s coach is Karl Henry, who had a distinguished professional playing career with Wolverhampton Wanderers and QPR among others.
“He’s come with a mission,” says Ackroyd. “He has a goal for us to get promoted, and you can see and feel that he has a plan of how he wants us to play – and we’re all on board with that.
“And I think that really helps, to be honest, especially with the start of this season: we’ve had a lot of injuries, but because we play in a certain way, and we all know how we’re playing, we have this system, and we know the patterns, it means that people can slot in. If a key player is missing, then somebody can slot in.
“I think he’s a great person and he is keen to always look at what we’ve done well, but also what we’ve not done as well. He is very keen to look at where we can improve and what went wrong and put it right for the next game. I really like that.”
And Ackroyd is also impressed with the club’s commitment to growth and investing in its women’s and girls’ talent pipeline.
“There’s 15 year olds, 16 year olds who are getting time, they’re training with us, they’re playing, and it’s really nice to see that, especially as one of the older girls of the team now – which I don’t really like to admit! – but it’s good to see.”
Boldmere St Michaels travel to Leafield Athletic on Sunday, 30th November at Castle Vale, kick-off 3pm.
