Chris Clifford, manager of the newly formed Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Ladies FC, spoke to us ahead of their Scottish League debut.
How did your team come into being?
I was asked to step down from my coaching position at Hamilton Caledonian Thistle. I then contacted Kirkintilloch Rob Roy FC, who were looking to start a ladies team, about the possibility of helping set up a team as I had been involved in two start up clubs previously. I wasn’t expecting to be offered the managers position mind you but, that’s what happened and I’m extremely grateful to Rob Roy for giving me the chance to prove myself.
Is there much girls’ or women’s football in your area?
We have had a look in the area to find other teams but as far as I’m aware, there isn’t much choice in the Kirkintilloch area. You have Glasgow City who play out of Springburn in the north of Glasgow, and the newly founded Partick Thistle, who we play our first official home match with on Feb 9th, who play out of Maryhill in Glasgow. So I believe we are the only senior ladies team in the surrounding area, but don’t quote me on that!
What is the range of age and experience in the squad?
The ages in the team at the moment ranges from 16-45, with the bulk between 20-30. We only have a senior team just now, but we have had some calls about starting up an under-17s or under-15s as some local girls are looking to get started in the game and we would love to accommodate them and get more young girls involved in football. However, due to lack of funds, that’s something that is in the distant future unfortunately. The experience within the team is very broad. With most of out team having played alongside me last season, a few coming from other clubs after release, a signing who arrived from Canada 3 weeks ago and a few having never played at this level. We have diverse experience within the squad, but as I have always said, you don’t have to have the most talent, skill or experience. If you’re willing to put in the effort, I’ll coach you.
As a new team, what are you focusing on in pre-season?
Pre-season will consist of fitness training, ball work and tactical awareness. As the bulk of the squad have played before, all that’s needed is a few tweaks. Raising the fitness is a main key as we haven’t played since October of last year. Ball work is also a main focus in the ladies game because if we can pass the ball around well, we will have an upper hand on other teams that follow the ball and lastly, as it is my first season as a manager, I’ll need to make sure the team understand my tactics and the way that I want the football to be played and also make sure that the team understands what the other players in the squad need to do, so we can all help each other out. It is a team sport after all.
What are you looking forward to most and least in your first league season?
Most of all, I am looking forward to the matches on a Sunday. There is nothing better than standing at the side of the pitch, watching your team go out and play football. Be it rain, sun or snow, nothing beats Sunday football. Also, the away days. I love getting up early, getting the oranges sliced and the team lines written before heading out on the journey.
Least of all, I’m not looking forward to all the paperwork that needs to be done. I’d prefer to concentrate on the football aspect but it all comes with the job and the good outweighs the bad ten times over.
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