Pride Park Ladies return to action in the Derbyshire League with the Challenge Shield, against Mickleover Sports at Matlock's Cavendish Fields on Sunday (10th Sept)
This is the League’s traditional curtain raiser to the season, usually played between the League Champions and Cup winners from the previous season, but with last season’s champions Glossop having left the League, Pride Park feature as Plate winners against last season's league runners-up and double Cup winners who have switched to come under the Mickleover Sports umbrella from this season
The Ladies achieved their highest league position of 3rd last season, securing a first piece of silverware in the Plate Final, in their third season at Open Age.
The squad is now much smaller than at this time last year, but the nucleus of last season’s squad remains, with three new players added so far. Nevertheless, having lost some experience - the average age of the squad is lower now than in our first season at open age - it will be interesting see how the team adapts in what will be a transitional period.
This season, for the first time, there is also the prospect of promising younger players from the u16s getting the opportunity to gain experience at senior level - which is permitted once they have turned 16, when they can be dual registered and eligible to play - with the first of the under 16 players having already been dual registered, there could be as many as four debutants playing on Sunday.
The game also represents a potential milestone for one of the established players, as it will be Otty Baker's 50th senior appearance for the Ladies team.
The game kicks off at 13.30 at Cavendish Fields, Matlock
Squad (from):
Jade, Sophie, BethT, Lizzie, BethJ, Alice, Hannah, Tash, Julianna, Otty, Maja, Chelsie, Emma, Jess, Michelle, Kaycee