Category: SWPL Team News

Pollard not putting any targets on her shoulders for season 2020/2021

Forfar Farmington have fielded a number of experienced players around the team with the likes of Alana Bruce & Fiona McNicoll been around the Farmington corridors for a long time now, there has also been some young blood coming into the team which has brought fresh enthusiasm & food for thought. 

Alongside Aimee Anderson & Erin who are recent additions from Celtic, London Pollard is also another regular under the age of 18 breaking into the Forfar Farmington 1st team & there’s not a better 16th birthday present than scoring a brace on the opening day of the season to gift Forfar Farmington 3 points. 

Pollard spoke about the game when she said, “We were really strong in the game & played very well with some good passing & we scored some good goals, the girls tried to get the ball into me as my speed helps the team & I am happy to score 2 goals. 

“I am looking at this to score more goals however I ain’t putting any pressure on myself, we are disappointed at conceding the 2 goals but we are happy with the win. 

“There is a lot of teenagers playing in the SWPL1 at the minute & I am hoping to add more goals to my game this season, hopefully I can help the team & get a high position in the league table. 

Cowper happy to be back in competitive action

Cassie Cowper was awarded the captains armband by Head Coach Ryan McConville & returned the favour by leading Forfar Farmington out to a 4-2 victory over Motherwell. 

Cowper showed her quality on & off the ball with excellent communication alongside the ability to defend and get an important 3 points in the opening weekend of the SWPL1 season. 

The former Aberdeen full back spoke after the match, “It’s good to be back in competitive action again after a long time out due to lockdown, friendlies are good but it doesn’t beat competitive games, we managed to get some good goals & a good win with the only disappointment being the goals conceded. 

“Donna Paterson has came back from lockdown really fit & that’s why she has been pushed into a midfield role, London Pollard is still young however you can see from the way she plays the game how good a player she is. 

“We won our battles, we were gutted to concede 2 goals, it was sloppy marking however it’s something for us to work on. 

“It’s good that Head Coach Ryan McConville has acknowledged that I have put in the hard work & the girls can listen to me, Ryan has recruited well during pre-season & it’s good to get some competition to the team & Kevin McGreskin has been a good addition to Forfar & hopefully they both stay for a long time.”

McCafferty loving life at Farmington

Recent signing Eirinn McCafferty has been enjoying her time at FClub so far and is really excited by Sunday’s curtain raiser against Motherwell in the SWPL1. 

McCafferty said, “I am excited for Sunday, I think it’ll be a good game and a good challenge, Sunday is the perfect opportunity for us to show what we’ve been working on through pre-season and also lockdown. 

“The training sessions have been a good high intensity, we’ve had a chance to work and develop on things, it’s been a positive last few weeks. 

“It’s been great to get back into Scottish football, I am loving every minute of my time here at FClub, there is a lot of talent around myself in the team and we all create a high standard when we train or play. 

“Over pre-season, it’s been good to be involved and play my part with goals and assists, I want to win as much games as possible this season and create a positive impact on the team.”

McGreskin pleased with pre-season but counts for nothing come Sunday

 

After a long 7 month lay-off due to COVID-19, Forfar Farmington are back in competitive action tomorrow afternoon hosting Motherwell at Station Park (2pm kick off). 

Due to the current government guidelines, no spectators will be allowed inside Station Park for tomorrow’s curtain raiser with Forfar Farmington assistant coach Kevin McGreskin hoping FClub supporters tune in via the live stream to watch the game, “We have had a good response to our online stream over the past few friendlies against Dundee United & Aberdeen & hopefully they will continue to log-on to the stream for tomorrows match as well. 

“The girls will go out & give their best on the day, Motherwell are a good side & they have a good manager in Eddie Wolecki Black whose been around the Womens game for years, Eddie will have Motherwell organised & tough to beat. 

“I am looking forward to the game & so is everyone else around the club, it’s always good when a season gets underway, we’ve had a pretty decent pre-season & played some good teams but getting the competitive games going is what we’re after.

“It’s good to go through pre-season undefeated but that counts for nothing on Sunday afternoon, we’ve used pre-season to give players a run-out & give minutes to players that need it. 

“It’s a good group of players here at Forfar Farmington, as a management team we are lucky to have that, we have brought in some new players & kept the players that have been around so we are gelling all the time. 

“There’s a real positive vibe about the club now, there is competition for places in the team, they all work hard on the training ground & hopefully the spectators will see a good performance tomorrow.”

 

 

 

Rennie looking forward to playing in the Premier League

New signing Erin Rennie, 17, is looking forward to testing herself in the Premier League & getting out her comfort zone. Erin enjoyed success at Celtic last year however is looking at the switch to FClub as an opportunity to progress the centre midfielder as a player in a competitive environment. 

Rennie said, “I am looking forward to playing in the SWPL1 with Forfar and against some of the best players in the country, I was playing in the Under 19s at Celtic however this move to Forfar will push me on playing against better players and older players too. 

“Hopefully I can get out my comfort zone and do well here at Forfar, I am looking to build myself up and help the team as much as possible. 

“The club has been brilliant with me so far, everything about the place seems professional and I have already got a good impression of the club based on what I’ve seen so far. 

“We are looking to win as much games as possible this season, we have Motherwell on Sunday which will be a hard game but one where we can get 3 points from. 

“There is a lot of competition within the club which will help towards improving me as a player, prior to coming here I had been doing a lot of individual work as part of pre-season with the government guidelines in place and I am excited by the upcoming season ahead,”

Anderson looking forward to big challenge

We snapped up Aimee Anderson, 16 on loan from Celtic for a season with Anderson highlighting the fact that it will be a big challenge for the winger.

Anderson enjoyed a successful 2019 with Celtic leading them to League and Scottish Cup success and started 2020 on a bright note being involved in the Scotland Under 16s squad before lockdown. 

Anderson spoke about the move to FClub by saying, “I am excited to join the club and start training with the players, it will be a big challenge for me as I am only 16 and the SWPL1 is a good standard however I know this will improve me as a player. 

“There is a lot of good, young players in the league with the aim being to come here and do well for the club, I wanted a new challenge and seen this move to Forfar as an opportunity to explore new things, coming to the Premier League will mean I can get better, get stronger and add some character into my game. 

“I’ve been impressed by the structure at the club already, it’s a really good set-up at Forfar Farmington, (Head Coach) Ryan McConville & (Assistant Coach) Kevin McGreskin have been really good with me so far and they both have high ambitions for this club. In terms of the squad, there’s some good players here already. 

“The aim is to get a few upsets and get some good wins during the season, being at Celtic I had a winning mentality. Fighting for your place in the team is much better than just getting handed a place in the starting 11 every week so I will just need to work hard to prove to Ryan & Kevin that am worthy of starting games.”

Stirling excited to work with youngsters at Farmington

New signing Melissa Stirling admits she is excited by working with the younger players who are coming into the 1st team picture at Farmington. 

Stirling, 29 arrives at FClub with Premier League experience in her locker at Glasgow City & Aberdeen alongside a recent spell at Cove Rangers where she built up a fantastic relationship with current Forfar striker London Pollard. 

The winger is keen to replicate her link-up with Pollard at Forfar alongside helping the younger players, “There is a lot of young players in the club at the moment, I am looking forward to working with the younger players at the club and leading my experience onto the youngsters. 

“Part of my decision to join Forfar was to go & work with London again, myself & London built up a good relationship at Cove and I am looking to do the same here at Forfar, until last week I hadn’t been doing any football activity for 8 months, I have a lot of work to do and I recognise that. 

“In terms of my awareness just now it’s a bit delayed however it will come with time, coming back into the SWPL1 will be a massive transition for me, the tempo and the standards is completely different and it’s a step-up. 

“I am up for the challenge here at Forfar though and I am looking forward to working with Ryan McConville (Head Coach) & Kevin McGreskin (Assistant Coach).”

Cattanach pleased with positive change

Erin Cattanach admits there has been some changes in the operations both on and off the park at Forfar Farmington but implies that they are for the good of the club leading into the league season which begins in 4 days at home to Motherwell (18th October).

Cattanach spoke about pre-season and how positive it’s been to continue training again after lockdown by saying, “There has been a lot of positive changes throughout pre-season, we have been working on a lot of tactical stuff and the physical aspect has been tough. 

“We have signed some players that will strengthen the team which will hopefully make us better, it’s been great seeing everyone again as I lost a lot of motivation through lockdown. 

“I would like to finish mid-table at least, Ryan McConville (Head Coach) has been very positive for us as players, things are slowly progressing however we are showing what we are capable of. 

Erin has been part of the FClub for a number of years now coming up through the youth pathway and will be influential with the new recruits to the club.

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Pender looking to challenge at Farmington

Kathryn Pender admits she has come to Forfar Farmington to challenge in the SWPL1 when the season gets underway on the 18th October when Motherwell come to Station Park. 

Pender spoke about the challenges awaiting Farmington in the new season when she said, “We are looking to challenge in the league this season and compete with the top teams in the league with the aim of getting a top half finish. 

“Pre-season so far has been hard however it’s important to get the graft in which will hopefully do us well when the season begins, a lot of us were guilty of being lazy during lockdown. 

“We have been doing a lot of ball work & getting the fitness up, training has been good amongst the group & we have added a bit of sharpness to our game each week. 

“It’s a good squad here at Forfar Farmington, I know the Assistant Coach Kenny Gammie having worked with him at Montrose before speaking to the Head Coach Ryan McConville after a couple of sessions and I just wanted to go for it. 

Pender is reunited at Forfar having spent 2 seasons with the Development squad in season 2015/16. 

Smith excited with Farmington project

Forfar Farmington’s new media officer David Smith is excited about the upcoming project that is evolving around the club prior to the season starting in 3 weeks time at home to Motherwell on 18th October. 

Smith has experience working in football clubs during his 9 years working in the media department at clubs in both the mens and womens game and is looking forward to sharing his experiences at Forfar Farmington. 

“I am happy to be joining such an exciting project at Forfar Farmington, I am ambitious and jumped at the opportunity to work in a professional environment again something which Forfar Farmington provide. 

“Everyone within the club has been really welcoming and have been a big help for myself who has a lack of knowledge at present regarding the club especially Ryan McConville (Head Coach) and Nicola McBride (Club Development Officer) who have been very transparent with any issues or questions I have had. 

“Forfar Farmington is a positive and progressive club who do fantastic work in the community and are respected in Women’s football circles which was a big draw for me, we have work to do to reach good standards in a media perspective prior to the Motherwell game however things are progressing well. 

“Women’s football in this country is going from strength to strength and I am very happy to be apart of that.”