12 May - Braintree Town Ladies looking to add to squad for next season
12 May 2011

Braintree Town Ladies are looking to add to their squad as they contemplate a return to the Eastern Region Women's Football League's Premier Division next season.

Having experienced South East Combination football last season Iron Secretary Dave Clarke believes the squad needs strengthening if they are going to compete at Eastern Region Premier level again, saying "There is no hiding the fact that our squad at the end of the last season was very thin on the ground, the situation we found ourselves in wasn't ideal but I think both the players and staff have learnt an awful lot from competing at that level."

"What it really hightlighted was that we were lacking in playing strength in depth in terms of numbers and quality and this is something we are looking to address this summer. There is no doubt that the Eastern Region League has improved in the twelve months since we got promoted and realistically we've got to aim at consolodating at that level again. We are no longer 'little old Braintree' we will be the team that everyone wants to beat because of the level we were playing at last season."

The Iron Ladies are looking to add players in all positions to their existing squad for next season. With the continued backing from the Cressing Road club Clarke feels like the Ladies side would be an attractive option for new players, adding "The men's side got promoted to the Conference for next season and there is a real buzz around the club, there will be a lot of work going on to get the Stadium up to Conference standard and there aren't too many female teams who get to play week-in-week-out in that standard of grounds."

"It was probably the biggest thing we all noticed playing at South East Combination level, it wasn't dodgy old park pitches with temporary ropes, they were all what I would call proper football grounds right up to the likes of Ebbsfleet and Lewes whose facilities were top class. I think that's why we get players prepared to travel a bit further, it used to be the case that most of our players were local, but nowadays quite a number of them come up from the edge of London.

"It's not just playing facilities, the fact that we have our own full size grass training pitch with full floodlights, have access to indoor and 3G training facilities during the winter and have a full bar and changing facilities are really appreciated by the players. The Ladies get treated in exactly the same way that our men's team do, although unfortunately we don't quite work to the same budgets that they operate on!! Even little things like match day programmes, full physio support and no signing on fees are big pluses, the players who come here from other clubs tell us that we are professionally organised and the best run club they have played for, but having experienced the next level up we know there is even more we can do as a club ", Clarke added.

Everyone is welcome to join preseason training when it recommences on Wednesday 29th June, between 7-9pm at the clubs Cressing Road facility, Clockhouse Way, Braintree, Essex. CM7 3RD. For more information about Braintree Town Ladies and joining in training, please contact Secretary Dave Clarke on 07792 232861 or by email at dave.clarke@braintreetownladiesfc.co.uk.