Promoted teams and fresh faces in rival teams means new challenges lie ahead for McNamara, who said: “First and foremost, it’s time for me to say thank you and reflect on last season. I don’t think I’ve had the opportunity to do that with the girls. Everybody knows the situation I was in.
“I’d like to thank and congratulate Karl and all the staff and players. Despite the disappointment of the play-off, the season as a whole was nothing but a success and we exceeded absolutely every expectation.”
McNamara saw his team lift the trophy as champions before he handed over the baton to friend Karl Milgate as he set out for his three-month deployment in the RAF. Milgate played a big part in seeing the girls lift silverware in the Birmingham FA County Cup against rivals West Brom and gave a humbling interview following the team’s defeat to Southampton in the play-off.
As the start of the season approaches this weekend, the team are looking forward to getting started, at fresh surroundings of the New Bucks Head, home to AFC Telford, and to creating memories.
“With the success the girls are having on the pitch, it’s important that the infrastructure and structure around them also grows,” McNamara explained. “It’s really fitting for me to say thank you to Castlecroft and for everything that AFC Wulfrunians have done over the last three years we’ve been there. Unfortunately, we’ve outgrown that stadium, but what an exciting new venture to be part of.
“As we look to the new season, it’s always a difficult situation now to start as champions. You’ve got to rejuvenate the girls and make them go again somehow, because, ultimately, we should be playing in the Championship this season, that’s normally what comes with winning the league, but that’s not the case, so we’ve got to come together as a group, but first and foremost we must manage expectations.
“Last season was one of a kind and we really must manage the expectations of everyone associated with Wolves, including all the fans, because this season might look a little bit different.
“As a club, last season probably came a little bit too early in our journey if I’m being honest. You look at the league this year and there are some phenomenal teams with phenomenal budgets going into them. Forest are signing big players on big contracts and Burnley are signing players from Everton.
“I think this will be the strongest Northern Premier League that the country has ever seen, and I think that’s testament to the way the game’s going. We’re getting more and more great players, not only coming from the bottom but also coming from the top two tiers now and dropping into tier three and understanding that it’s a great league and a great time to be a part of it.
“The expectation, I’ve spoken to the club about it, is to provide a better platform for female players to play football in Wolverhampton and to continue to grow on the successes we’ve had over four years.”
The end of an incredible season saw two departures for the club, with Natalie Widdal and Nyah Edwards leaving the club, but McNamara hopes to bolster his squad for the upcoming season, while making sure he keeps his core players at the heart of his ideas.
“Every summer it’s important to have some departures and incomings, it keeps the squad healthy, active and competitive. I’m excited about the people we may be adding. We had a strong group last year that won the league by six or seven points. It was important to me to keep the nucleus of the group that understand what my values and the club’s values are.”
As the women’s game grows after a summer of growth and legacy, the head coach encourages fans old and new to get behind the team for a season of memories, growth and excitement.
“My message to the fans is that we need you and want you there again. We want fans to understand that it’s a process and last season has now gone. There are going to be hiccups along the way, but we’re still on this massive journey and that togetherness that got us through difficult moments last season is going to play an even bigger part this season.”
By Meg Garbutt
