Buckie Ladies to face Sutherland as league title defence set to kick off
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THIS Sunday will see Buckie Ladies FC get their Highlands and Islands league title defence under way when they welcome Sutherland to Gordon Park, Portgordon.
Last season saw the team complete an historic league and cup double double under new manager Laura Duncan.
There was plenty silverware off the pitch, too at the SWF Annual Awards, with Duncan claiming the Volunteer of the Year Award and teenage keeper Sophia Golebiewski named Player of the Year.
Buckie Ladies are set to begin their title defence with a strong squad, said Duncan.
She continued: "We've pretty much got the same squad as last season with a couple of younger players coming up from the development ranks.
"It's a real boost having so many experienced players in the squad.
"Everyone's really looking forward to it and we're hoping to do well again.
"Our pre-season has gone well although the weather has scuppered some of our planned friendlies and training sessions."
While the league and cup trophies remain firmly in Buckie Ladies' grasp, Duncan was under no illusions as to the challenge that lay ahead in terms of retaining them.
She said: "It will be hard this season, every team is improving and we had a lot of tough games last season.
"We've just got to keep working hard and hopefully we'll get the double again, but there are a lot of good teams this season.
"There is a bit of a target on our backs, so there's definitely a bit more pressure on us now.
"We're starting off our campaign with a difficult game as Sutherland proved last year that they're a very good side, we'll have to be at our best.
"Orkney we're our closest title contenders last season and I definitely think they'll be a team to watch this time around. We had tough games against them.
"Caithness were another team who improved a lot and gave us quite a game in the League Cup final.
"There's a new team in the league this year, Ross County, who are a bit of an unknown quantity at the moment."
Looking at the girls football development side of things, Duncan said that the set-up was running very well and for the first time the aim of providing a continuous pathway from under-8 level right through to the senior side had been achieved. She added that around 40 to 50 girls on average attending the training sessions.
For women aged 18 and over of all abilities who would prefer to have an informal kick around rather than formal training sessions, Buckie Ladies are offering recreation football sessions every Friday, weather permitting, at Gordon Park from 7pm to 8pm.
Duncan has also announced that this will be her last season in charge of the senior team and will be looking to hand over the reins to a new management team. Anyone interested in the role should make contact with the club via its Facebook page in the first instance.
The match is scheduled to get under way at 3pm – for match updates and club news, visit Buckie Ladies' Facebook page.
