WSL 2 The Clubs & Predictions

    A new season of the WSL begins next week and after 3 season's of a single division of 8 teams the 2014 campaign will feature a 2nd tier, 10 new teams having won in the bidding process to compete. Bringing with it promotion and relegation between the 2 leagues (promotion subject to meeting FA criteria for WSL1). I'm very much looking forwards to seeing all 10 teams play over the coming season in what is a new era for women's football in England.

     Let's start with a brief run down of the 10 teams, who they are, who they've brought in how I feel they might fair over the coming season.

    Aston Villa Ladies

     The current Women's Premier League Cup holders Aston Villa Ladies have a strong tradition of bringing players through their youth system which makes up the bulk of their squad and includes England U19 Internationals Caitlin Leach and Sarah Mayling along with Sherry MuCue who starred for the U19's herself last summer and made her U23's debut in La Manga earlier this year. Play at Sutton Coldfield on a 3G surface, have visited the ground nice stadium with good facilites. Have brought in 5 new signings for the new season, Emily Owen and Natasha Baptiste (both from West Brom) Hannah Williams and Lauren Walker (both from Wolves) and Alicia Robertson recently returned from the United States.

     WSL 2 Prediction - mid-table

     Doncaster Rovers Belles

         I said 10 new teams... and that isn't quite correct Doncaster Rovers Belles as most of you know were founding members of the WSL back in 2011. The WSL bidding process for both new leagues 1 and 2 caused a fair bit of controversy namely because Doncaster Rovers Belles found themselves 'relegated' after just one match of the 2013 season. Know my opinion unfair and not handled well by FA whatever reasons were given it did affect the rest of Doncaster's season and they did finish bottom. New season = new beginning can't turn back the clock. It is just possible the FA inadvertantly made a stronger Doncaster as a club.
     I've mentioned it before but the best bit of transfer business this winter is probably Doncaster not losing any of their players have retained the services of the likes of Sue Smith, Millie Bright and Jessica Sigsworth. Have a new manager in Gordon Staniforth who has brought in Reanne Thomas from Nottingham Forest, goalkeeper Shannon McCarney from Leeds, Hope Knight from Notts County and Sophie Stamp from the North Yorkshire Centre of Excellence. Playing at the Keepmoat Stadium they will be one of the teams to beat this season which will bring a new challenge.

     WSL 2 Prediction - title contenders

    Durham Women FC

    The criteria laid out by the FA for joining the WSL set up was that a club be either affiliated with a men's club or form a partnership with an educational body. The latter has been the case with what was to most a brand new team when the WSL 2 franchises were announced is a new venture formed by the then Northern Combination set up South Durham & Cestria in partnership with Durham University who have experience in funding and promoting sports franchises in the form of Durham Wildcats who play in the National Basketball League.
     Have brought in some experienced players such as the Irish international Seana Cooke from Raheny United to compliment their squad of young players that include a couple of youth internationals, Scottish U19's Zoe Ness and England U19's Beth Hepple. Have recently appointed Rob Atkin as their new Head Coach.

    WSL 2 Prediction - bottom half

    London Bees

   Like Durham, London Bees have formed a partnership with an educational body in Stanmore College and at their launch announced what they described as one of the biggest sponsorship deals in women's football in England. Certainly have ambitious plans London Bees is essentially a rebranding of Barnet Ladies FC, the new club looking to form an identity as a club that belongs to the whole of London and is a great idea. That identity might take a while to break free especially as the club is going to play it's home games at The Hive home of Barnet FC, a nice stadium again great facilities for players and fans.
    At the launch the club was a little short of playing staff and didn't have a 1st team manager. To that end the club have been busy recruiting and have brought in goalkeepers Cherie Rowlands and Sophie Harris from Arsenal, Sydney Hincliffe and Dawn Mallett from Stoke, Danielle Oates from Blackburn and Sophie Forgarty who has been starring fo QPR Ladies this season. Their last appointment was bringing in a 1st team manager just last week in Tom Donati who had previously been coaching Barnet FC's U18's

     WSL 2 Prediction - bottom half

    Millwall Lionesses

   Have been a prominant force for women's football for many years particulary in the 80's and 90's Millwall Lionesses have perhaps one of the longest associations with their respective men's club and to that end have been successful in winning a place in the new WSL 2 will be playing their home games this season at The Den home of Millwall FC a nice modern built stadium that recently hosted the England Women's World Cup Qualifying match with Wales. Manager Alberto Kurti has brought in a number of experienced players over the close season the most prominant being Liverpool Ladies title winning goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill. Has also brought in Lillie Billson after her spell at Lincoln, aswell as defender Kylie Davies from Chelsea, England U23 star Naomi Cole from Lewes and Brighton trio Sophie Perry, Lily Agg and Kim Stenning.

    WSL 2 Prediction - top four, title outsiders

    Oxford United WFC

     The 2102/13 South West Combination league winners enjoy a strong affiliation with the men's club and have a very good centre of excellence from which the bulk of their playing squad is made up for the coming WSL 2 season. Have brought in ex Oxford player Les Taylor as manager for the new campaign. Have the largest squad of players in WSL 2 goalkeeper Demi Lambourne has experience with England U19's. The club will play it's home matches at Abingdon United FC.

    WSL 2 Prediction - bottom half

   Reading FC Women

   Reading FC Women captured everyone's attention early on as the club brought in long serving Arsenal and Wales midfield star Jayne Ludlow as their new 1st team manager. Ludlow in turn has brought in a number of players from her former club most notably that of fellow long serving Arsenal defender Ciara Grant along with former reserve players Lauren Bruton, Alexandra Keown, Zoe Cunningham, Rebecca Danbridge and Molly Bartrip. Also swooped for Chelsea and Wales striker Helen Ward. Welsh goalkeeper Nicola Davies from Doncaster. Eartha Pond from QPR and Geogina Giddings and Kirsty McGee from Portsmouth.
    Have a strong centre of excellence and a player to look out for will be Fran Kirby who recently played for England U23's. Have signed a deal to play this seasons home games at Farnborough FC although they will be making their WSL 2 debut on the 16th at the Madejski Stadium against Yeovil Town Ladies.

     WSL 2 Prediction - top three title challengers

   Sunderland AFC Ladies

    A lot of people felt it should have been Sunderland and not Manchester City Ladies that had won a place in WSL 1. They had been since the WSL was formed in 2011 the WPL winners on 3 occasions. Despite that success the club was only intrigrated with the men's club in 2013 as part of the winning bid criteria. They too have a very good history of youth development. Have as their tailsman the prolific goal scorer Beth Mead who has performed very well at England youth level scoring goals recently to help the U19's qualify for the Euro's.
    Fellow striker Abby Joyce has featured for the England U19's and Brogan McHugh who is an u17 international. The club also has two senior Northern Ireland internationals in their ranks midfielders Rachel Furness and Sarah McFadden.

     WSL 2 Prediction - title contenders

   Watford Ladies FC

     Another club with a good record of producing good young players Watford have a strong youth set up and make up the bulk of the Hertfordshire women's squad that clinched this years East Anglia Championship. Have the talented Welsh international Sarah Wiltshire who has had a very successful loan spell with Cardiff City Ladies. Have also strengthed their squad for the upcoming WSL 2 campaign by bringing in former player Bonnie Horwood after her 3 year stint with Lincoln Ladies along with Katie Knell and Stacey Donnelly from Reading and striker Gemma Bryan from LA Strikers. Will play their home games this coming season at Berkhamsted FC.

    WSL 2 Prediction - mid-table

    Yeovil Town Ladies FC

     This will be the longest trip for myself to make to see Yeovil Town Ladies play. The Somerset club affiliated with the men's club won the South West Combination league in 2011/12 before winning a place in the new WSL 2. Are one of the most proactive clubs on twitter. Manager Sarah Lawler has brought in a couple of high profile and local players to boost the playing squad in former Chelsea and Bristol midfielder Katie Sherwood along with Welsh international Helen Bleazard formerly with Chelsea. Striker Jemma Tewkesbury has come in from Portsmouth along with midfielder Jade Kirby and Natalie Haigh from Swindon Spitfires. A locally based squad the club will play it's home games at Sherbourne Town FC.

    WSL 2 Prediction- bottom half

    It is tough to make an accurate prediction when so many teams are unknown to me and the league like WSL 1 will perhaps take a while to settle down. Expect Doncaster and Sunderland to be strong contenders for the title with Reading and Millwall close behind as for the rest best to wait and see. Get an early look at the new league as Oxford United WFC play the opening and history making game of the 2014 campaign this coming Monday the 14th the visitors London Bees before everyone else takes their bow on the 16th & 17th. Hope to see a great deal of WSL 2 aswell as WSL 1 over the coming months.. so close now.