Express & Star

Wolves Women prepared for Premier League test

Newly-promoted Wolves Women are relishing the challenge of competing against some of the best sides in the country as they prepare for the opening day of their season.

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They will travel to Blackburn this Sunday as they look to make their mark on the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division.

After a promising pre-season, which saw them win all four of their friendlies, manager Tim Dudding believes they are more than ready for the task ahead.

“We are excited for the start of the season we are playing last year’s league champions away so we not it’s going to be easy, we are the new kids on the block.

“We need to remember that we’ve done the hard work to get there and we deserve to be there.”

Wolves clinched the FA Women’s Premier League Midlands Division One title on the last day of the season thanks to a 1-0 victory over Leicester City Ladies.

Dudding said while this has given them the confidence to build on this success throughout the campaign, there would be no time to rest on their laurels either.

“It’s going to be a steep learning curve, we know that,” he added. “We are prepared to work hard to ensure we keep our focus and keep our quality up.

“It’s been a great achievement to get to this league and we are now among the top 30 teams in the country but we are not underestimating the reality of that.

“There is a lot of work still to do. Our priority going forward is to retain our league status this season – now we are here we do not want to lose it.”

A number of new faces have been added to the now 24-woman first-team squad over the summer.

Central midfielder Kirstie Bavington, 24, signed from Crystal Palace while winger Billie Haynes, 19, joined the club from Aston Villa.

Also making the move was central midfielder Courtney Jones who has come from Stoke.

The 19-year-old said she was settling in well, adding: “I already knew a lot of the players and it seemed like the right time for a new challenge especially with the side having got promoted. It’s an exciting time.”

Vice-captain and centre-back Mai Butler, 21, said all the players were looking forward to getting the season under way.

“Everyone is really excited for the start of the season. It’s going to be a challenge but we are ready for it and we cannot wait to get started,” she added.