The new season is approaching for Wanderers Women and manager Myles Smith insists they cannot rest on their laurels after last season’s success.
Bolton are stepping up to tier five after clinching the title in their first campaign under club operations, without losing a single game in the league.
Smith’s side continued their pre-season schedule with an emphatic 6-0 win against Rochdale last weekend as the opener at Darwen on August 17 edges closer.
“We are in a good place,” he told The Bolton News. “Obviously, you have a lot of things to do in pre-season. You have people coming in and out, you have a lot of things to work on tactically.
“You have to lay down principles for the new players, but we have got some really good work in. There is more work to do before the first game of the season but we are confident we will be as ready as we can be.”
He added: “I like looking at it as a fresh slate. The momentum carried through into the summer in terms of players you are able to recruit, but as soon as we start pre-season it is a fresh start and you have to earn the right.
“Just because we won the league season, it doesn’t mean we are going to win this league this season – not at all. There are a lot of new faces in and a lot of faces have gone within the players and staff.
“We are playing much tougher opposition this year, it is a much tougher league and we have to be ready for that.
“We are not starting from scratch because a lot of the foundations have been built, but we definitely can’t rely on the success of last season.”
Abbie Brown, Lucy Walsh and Natasha Dale have joined the squad this summer, with further signings to be confirmed in due course.
“They are bedding in really well,” Smith stated. “Whenever you come to a new club – especially one that had so much success in the previous season – it always takes a little bit of time.
“Every individual is slightly different - some bed in quicker than others, some need a little bit more attention, some you can just leave to their own devices.
“The new signings are settling in well and we have a few others who have been in the environment who we are yet to announce, but they are doing well. We are looking strong.”
Wanderers face a tough test on the opening day against Darwen, who finished second in the table last season.
It is a demanding start for the squad, who have five days in the space of 15 days to kick things off in tier five.
“I was quite happy the fixtures came out earlier than last season, it gives us time to do a bit more preparation,” said Smith.
“You have to play every team twice and whatever order they come, it is the same for everybody come the end of the season.
“I think we have five games in the opening 15 days so we have to be ready for that, it will come thick and fast in that first phase like it did last season.
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“We will get ready for Darwen and we know they are going to be a tough challenge, I am sure they will be right up there again this season.”
Wanderers recently confirmed that the Women’s team will be playing their home games at Chorley’s Victory Park this season, moving from Atherton Colls.
“A huge thank you has to go to Atherton Collieries, to Paul [Gregory] and his staff, because they looked after us tremendously,” Smith insisted. “They welcomed us with open arms and helped this Women’s team last season.
“As you grow, develop, move players and staff on and bring new people in to try and develop the programme, we recognised that we probably required a new venue and we have a really good relationship with Chorley.
“Victory Park is a fantastic place to be and once again it shows the operational side of the club.
“It is not just about what happens on the field, we have brought in new sponsors this season and that all adds to the long term sustainability of this Women’s team which is super important.”
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