Pools Women's Team will kick-off their new campaign on Sunday with a trip to face Carlisle United in the preliminary round of the Women's FA Cup (2pm kick-off).
Jonathan Gibbon-Hayes has drafted in a number of new
signings during the summer and put his squad through a rigorous pre-season in
readiness for the big kick-off.Pools will begin the season among the favourites for promotion from the North East Regional Women's Football League Premier Division but it's the FA Cup which dominates their thinking this weekend.
Carlisle currently play their football in Division One of
the North West Regional Women's Football League so will form tricky opposition
for Pools as they look to make progress in the competition.“It feels like it's been the longest pre-season ever so I amglad to finally get started,” admitted Gibbon-Hayes.
“The FA Cup is a big competition for the players and for me
personally so it's a great honour to manage in such a prestigious competition
so hopefully we can produce a strong performance.“Carlisle will make sure it's an extremely tough tie for us
but I have belief in this squad and if they show the quality they have then we
can win the game.“It's also exciting that we'll have one or two players
making their competitive debuts for us at the weekend so it would be brilliant
for everyone if we could get off to a winning start.“We've had a great summer bringing new signings in to the Club
and we've put them through their paces in training and with games during
pre-season.“Myself, Andy and Ryan have also spent a few mornings up
watching the First Team train too to aid our development and I would like to thank
Craig Hignett and the players for allowing us the opportunity to do that.”Gibbon-Hayes has a big squad to choose from but will be
without Jenni Duffy-Smith, Faye Garside and Rebecca Smith, while Hannah Skull
is unavailable after joining Pools on loan from Sunderland.The tie will take place at Creighton Rugby Club in Carlislewhere entry to all supporters is free.