Management switch at Airbus Women’s FC this season

There has been a change in the management structure at Airbus UK Broughton Women’s FC this season.

Lee Starkey becomes manager, while Mari Edwards steps down to player-assistant with a view to concentrating more on the playing side of things.

Airbus will play in the new North Wales Women’s League Premier Division this season alongside Amlwch Town, Bethel, Connah’s Quay Nomads, CPD Y Rhyl 1879, Llandudno and Llanfair United.

Player-assistant and coach Edwards said: “We are currently on our sixth week back in training.

“The girls have been fantastic over lockdown, competing against each other with fitness challenges, a part of a small-sided weekly sessions ran by captain Abby Williams and vice-captain Becky Lees, and participating in a 1:1 session with myself.

“Our main focus this season is to bring all the girls section together by arranging team bonding activities and inviting a few of the U-16s to our training session.”

Explaning the decision to promote Airbus UK head of coaching Starkey to women’s team-manager and for her to become player-assistant, Edwards added: “I’m looking forward to getting back to playing one more season with Airbus and also learning from manager and head of coaching, Lee Starkey, who is a very experienced coach/mentor which will help me get ready to apply for FAW/UEFA A Licence next year.”

Good news for the squad includes experienced midfielder Abby Williams, injured throughout last season, returning to action.

The re-emergence of midfielder Hana Eagles and Bethan Davies is another boost and there are two further signings to be announced.

Current squad

Goalkeepers

Shaunacy Kennedy
Ceri Evans
Sinead Crawford

Outfield players

Alice O’Shaughnessy
Alice Lawrence
Bekah Neumann
Bethan Davies
Becky Lees
Catrin Ellis
Courteney Page
Laura Erne
Hana Eagles
Heidi Scammell
Jade Scott
Jade Pennington
Kim Pugh
Charlotte Thornton
Louise Trueman
Maisie Turner
Rosie Lawrence
Sian Smith
Tegan Hewitt
Abby Williams
Poppy Smith
Zara Shepley

North Wales Women’s League divisions line-up 2020-21

Premier Division
Airbus
Amlwch Town
Bethel
Connah’s Quay Nomads
CPD Y Rhyl 1879
Llandudno
Llanfair United

Championship East League
Corwen
Denbigh Town
Holywell Town
Northop Hall
Welshpool Town
Wrexham

Championship West League
Bangor 1876
Caernarfon Town
Llanystumdwy
NFA
Penrhyn Bay
Pwllheli