Glentoran Women set off to Cyprus tomorrow to play their opening tie in the UEFA Champions League.
The match is this Wednesday (4th September) when they face Slovenian Champions NS Mura in the Stelios Kyriakides Stadium in Paphos, KO is 3pm UK time.
The winners of this will play the winners of the other group tie between Apollon Ladies FC (Cyprus) vs Pyunik Women (Armenia) for a place in the group stages. That tie will also be played in Cyprus on Saturday afternoon.
Announcing the travelling squad, Head Coach Kim Turner told www.glentoran.com : " I’m very happy with the strength and ability of the squad we’re taking to Cyprus this week. When you have international players in the squad its always important to plan and to develop the squad on the assumption some of them may move into full time football as has happened here over the past few seasons. That’s what we’ve done and the players we’ve brought in and the younger players we’ve promoted from the Academy sides. They have all come in and performed very well this season. So I’m convinced this is as strong a squad as we’ve ever taken into Europe.
We played this format of Champions League Qualifiers when it was first introduced 2 years ago so we know how big the challenge is ahead of us and we are all looking forward to it. We have prepared well and are playing well domestically so all of our players and coaches are looking forward to the tournament and we will do our best to enjoy the experience and make the Glentoran Family proud”.
The squad named by Kim and her coaching team is:
1.Ashleigh McKinnon 2. Annie Timoney 3, Jess Foy (captain) 5. Sofie Keenan 6. Nadene Caldwell 7. Aimee Kerr 8. Demi Vance 9. Rachel Rogan 10. Ellie Butler 11. Emily Wilson 12. 12. Ellie Scott 14. Aimee Neal 18. Kascie Weir 20. Rachel McIntyre 21. Kelly Bailie 22. Megan Neill 23. Jenna McKearney 24. Sarah Tweedie 26. Kelly Crompton 97. Chloe McCarron
The coaching and support staff travelling will be: Kim Turner (Head Coach), Billy Clarke (General Manager), Steven Patterson (First Team Coach), Emma Traynor (Physical trainer), Darren Fox (Goalkeeper Coach), Amy Warwick (Physiotherapist), Ben Crossley (Analyst), Sarah Gamble (Administrator) and Emma McMaster
There’s a real blend to this squad with no fewer than 10 changes from our last Euro squad that competed in 2022. A lot of international experience has departed for full time football outside Northern Ireland, including 5 current international regulars Caragh Hamilton, Kerry Beattie, Joely Andrews, Casey Howe and Danielle Maxwell (now with Cliftonville). Also missing unfortunately will be last season’s Glentoran Player’s Player of the Year Emma McMaster who is currently injured, though Emma will travel with the squad.
However since then Demi Vance has returned from Rangers bringing a wealth of European experience with her, and another international regular Emily Wilson have joined the club. In addition the club signed well in the pre-season and in August with Aimee Kerr, Aimee Neal, Sofie Keenan, Ellie Butler and Kelly Crompton all settling well into the squad. Also it wouldn’t be Glentoran Women if a few of our young players hadn’t made their breakthrough. This season Kascie Weir, Megan Neill and Rachel McIntyre make their first entry into European club football. But they won’t be at all intimidated by the experience as all 3 have experienced plenty of success at underage international level.
The most experienced in European competition are Jess Foy, Nadene Caldwell, Demi Vance, Kelly Bailie, Chloe McCarron, Annie Timoney, top scorer Rachel Rogan and keeper Ashleigh McKinnon. But even younger players Jenna McKearney – establishing herself as a regular starter this season and scorer of a number of spectacular goals from midfield – and right back Sarah Tweedie were both important members of the 2022 squad. So we won’t be lacking in European nous on our travels.
Skipper and experienced European campaigner Jess Foy also spoke to www.Glentoran.com: “ We are really excited for the upcoming week competing in the UEFA Champions League qualifying matches. In previous years we have shown that we can compete with some of the top teams in Europe and we are hoping to do the same this week. We will be focusing on our first game against ZNK Mura which we know will be a very challenging game. We have strengthened our team this year with a lot of young players over the course of the season and are confident in the strength and depth of the squad. We are progressing well in all competitions and will look to continue that process when we are away in Cyprus. We are looking forward to the challenges ahead”.
Good luck girls, we’re all deeply proud of you!
Photographs by JOHNNY CALDWELL
