Club’s success story

ON PARADE: Springhead Ladies FC, who play in the Cheshire and Manchester League.

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

THESE are vibrant times at Springhead Football Club.

The men’s first team are riding high in the premier division of the Manchester League, while the 12 junior sides boast a surplus of talent.

But the good times at Ashfield Crescent are not just confined to the male sector — the opposite sex are beginning to make their mark as well.

Formed three years ago, the women’s open age team are targeting promotion from division two of the Cheshire and Manchester League.

“We finished third last season and could have gone up, but we turned down the opportunity,” said club development officer Paula Revill.

“The team is still relatively new and we wanted the players to gain more experience.

“Although we won’t win it this season, we’re doing okay and a place in the top three is not beyond the bounds of possibility.”

The female side of the game is taking off in a big way at Springhead.

They are a FA Charter Standard club and, as such, their development plan has to include women’s football.

Manager Gary Hamill has 24 players to choose from, the youngest of which is 16-year-old Lydia Rainford.

Springhead have a “nice rapport” with Uppermill, says Revill, with the link-up proving beneficial to both parties.

With no junior football teams for girls at the club, some of the youngsters have switched to their local rivals — with Springhead’s blessing — where they gain vital experience by playing in the Oldham Girls League.

But their skills are not lost forever as they will return to join the senior ranks when they are old enough.

Apart from attracting more women into football, one of team’s main goals is to help foster young talent.

Four of the players — Lauren Revill, Sam Shepherd, Mel Benham and Emily Gannon — are level 1 FA qualified coaches and pass on their knowledge at club’s burgeoning soccer school.

Upwards of 40 children attend sessions at Breeze Hill School, where the hope is many will become stars of the junior set up.

Hamill’s side currently play their home games on the 3G artificial surface at Chapel Road, but this is proving a costly exercise.

Revill explained: “Up until this season we played at Ashfield Crescent but, because of extensive drainage work carried out on the pitch, the club decided to cut the number of games played on it.

“We need changing facilities, which is one of the reasons why we chose Chapel Road.

“We’ve had to pay £900 for the privilege — it works out about £75 per game — so it isn’t cheap.”

The female influence is not just restricted to the playing side.

There is a feminine touch to much of the behind-the-scenes work as well, with Revill, Vicky Cunningham and Ann Hewitt all ensuring the Springhead set-up runs smoothly.

Revill has responsibilities as club development officer, Cunningham is the club secretary and Hewitt is charged with handling paperwork in the junior section.