With the start of their debut open-age season in the South Wales League fast approaching, Rhiwbina FC’s backroom staff have been working hard to overcome the struggles of recruitment.
But the team is now sitting pretty with 16 players registered, so we spoke with Rhiwbina FC Head Coach, Andrew Key, to find out about the new venture.
SK: What inspired the idea for this team to be introduced?
AK: At under 16 level we had a number of the senior girls playing to a very good standard. As soon as the season ended we feared that a lot of the girls wouldn’t get into some of the established sides in the SWWGL, or if they did they may struggle for game time. With this in mind we decided to start a new side and after contacting Rhiwbina FC, we had a meeting and agreed that a Ladies team could be introduced.
SK: Where will you be based and what area to you expect to draw from?
AK: Based from Whitchurch Hospital Pitch, Park Road, Cardiff – We will be expecting to welcome players from all over the Cardiff area, as well as maybe the Valley areas (Caerphilly, Pontypridd etc).
SK: What does a regular training session comprise of?
AK: Training is currently held at Caedelyn Park, Cardiff, on a Thursday evening from 6.15pm till 8pm. A typical training session will be to send the girls on a 2 mile run, stretch off afterwards followed by fitness training, i.e. sprints, lunges, squats, planking, sit ups. This should all take 40 minutes. We then do about 40 minutes of technical drills with the football (this will include about 2 or 3 areas in which the players need work on). We will then take a 10 minute break whilst we discuss tactical awareness. Finally we will finish with approximately a 30 minute game to try and implement everything that has been done and said. This can sometimes be stop start for a bit whilst we explain where and why players should be in a different place to where they are.
SK: Have you got any real characters in the squad already?
AK: We do have a few characters but credit where credits due, they work hard during training but at the same time lighten the mood with their antics and wind ups when the time permits. One compulsory rule is that we all sit in the pub for a drink after all games and have fun to unwind. No mention of the game that has just gone on. Leave that to training sessions.
Rhiwbina on the ball in pre-season action at Caldicot Town.
SK: How do you want your team to play and what might be their motto?
AK: We are slowly learning to play with two different styles, reason being that if something isn’t working then there’s a back up plan. They are also competent at rearranging formations if they are asked to do so from the sidelines. The girls have adopted the saying from the National Squads #TogetherStronger. It’s their request as they feel that the new players that have arrived into the squad have taken little time to settle in and the go out to play for each other and not themselves. We have a very young squad as most players are fresh from under 16 level but the mood is very positive and after recent meetings with Caldicot in which we lost 5-3 and Splott Albion (also in our league) in which we walked away with a 12-3 win, they are excited for the start of the season.
Rhiwbina welcome new players to training session at Caedelyn Park, Cardiff, 6.15pm on Thursdays. They host Barry Town United in their opening league match on Sunday September 13th, 2pm KO.
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