After the preseason tournament in Portsmouth, Bootham Ladies welcomed Wigginton Ladies to St Peter’s School for a home preseason friendly, with matches played over 20-minutes under a constant clock.

The evening also marked an exciting step forward for the club as academy players Hannah Block, Heidi Jackson, Katie Hardie, and Hattie Formhals all made their senior debuts.

Bootham Squad:
Heidi Jackson, Charlotte Broad, Ellie Whittaker, Hannah Block, Hattie Formhals, Jess Baker, Jess Barnes, Katie Hardie, Kim Samson, Natasha Eustance, Nikki Brown, Ruby Shaw, Suzy Collins.

Game 01

Full Time: Bootham 4 – 2 Wigginton

Game 02

Full Time: Bootham 3 – 2 Wigginton

Game 03

Full Time: Bootham 2 – 0 Wigginton

Game 04

Full Time: Bootham 6 – 1 Wigginton

After the games Coach Chris spoke to us, ‘That was a hugely enjoyable evening, with excellent performances across the whole squad. In previous years we’ve struggled to arrange any games before the season begins, so having this match, and another next week, is the perfect preparation for the season ahead.

A big thank you to Wigginton Ladies for giving up their evening to play us. They’ve improved massively since our last meeting and really pushed us all the way, especially in the opening three games. We wish them every success in their upcoming football season.

I was particularly pleased with the academy players tonight. Hannah and Heidi continued the progress they showed in Italy and looked very assured. Katie, returning from a long-term knee injury, gained valuable minutes and settled in comfortably. And I was absolutely delighted for Hattie, she looked every inch a senior player, and her hat-trick in the final game underlined that she can compete with any age group.‘

Check back next week when Bootham Ladies face their stiffest challenge of preseason when they take on York City Ladies Reserves at St Johns.

Here are few images from the evening