On Thursday evening, Bootham Ladies faced their toughest preseason test as they welcomed York City Ladies Reserves to St John’s. Knowing York would be a strong and organised opponent, the match offered a good measure of Bootham’s progress.

With several regulars away, the side handed a start to trialist Amy Kennedy, a former youth player from the early days of the Bootham Futsal Academy. The game provided a chance to build fitness, try new combinations and give all the players valuable game time ahead of the new season.

Bootham Squad:
Ellie Whittaker, Jess Baker, Katie Samson, Jess Barnes, Kim Samson, Natasha Eustance, Suzy Collins and Amy Kennedy.

Game 01

Full Time: Bootham 5 – 0 York City Ladies Reserves

Game 02

Full Time: Bootham 6 – 2 York City Ladies Reserves

Game 03

Full Time: Bootham 1 – 0 York City Ladies Reserves

Game 04

Full Time: Bootham 0 – 2 York City Ladies Reserves

Head coach Chris spoke to us after the evening games, he said, “It was an enjoyable evening, and I’d like to extend a huge thank you to York City Ladies for playing the matches. With a long season ahead, 23 games in total, every minute on court at this stage is valuable. We started strongly but lost our rhythm over the final two games and drifted away from our futsal principles. Credit to York, who grew into the contest and deserved their result. Early on we moved the ball quickly and effectively, but as the matches went on, that level dropped.”

Chris acknowledged the importance of making the most of rare match opportunities:

“We don’t get many chances to play friendly futsal matches, so it’s vital we use every moment to sharpen our play. Unfortunately, we didn’t do that today. With the first league fixture only a few weeks away, this was an opportunity we let slip. That said, we still have two more training sessions to reset our mindset, and perhaps it’s a positive that we’ve already put a performance like that behind us.”

Looking ahead, he expressed optimism for the season:

“I’m excited for the campaign. We have a real chance to challenge the established Tier 1 clubs. It will be tough, but this is an opportunity we intend to embrace. The players are determined to give their all and put Bootham firmly on the futsal map.”

Here are few images from the evening:

Bootham Ladies launch their new season with a home game against Leicester Athletic at York St John University Sports Barn on Saturday, 13 September, with a 2:00 PM kick-off.

This year brings an exciting new league format, where the first five matches will determine which division Bootham competes in for the rest of the season. That makes this opener especially crucial, and your support can make all the difference!

Come down, cheer them on, and let the team hear that Bootham roar!