SWSA: Blackwood United prepare for upcoming season, with women's team debuting in Premier League

Blackwood United are preparing both their men’s and women’s teams for the upcoming 2024 South West Soccer Association season, with both squads facing challenges ahead of the season. The Balingup-based club, which takes in Donnybrook and Bridgetown players, had a bye for this week’s Pioneer Cup, as the teams prepare for their first matches of the season. The men’s team will be playing away against Geographe Bay in round two of the men’s division one competition, while the women’s team will host Dalyellup on Saturday for round one in the women’s Premier League. Blackwood United secretary and women’s team manager Krista Nichols said she was “positive” about the women’s team with a number of new players in the team. After being promoted to the league division, she hoped they would see some success this season. “It’s been positive leading up to the match,” she said. “We have good numbers this year and a lot of fresh faces, so we have ended up in the league division this year. “I think we’re all confident, but it’s a big change for us as a team and club and I don’t think we had a league side for as long as I can remember.” She said the club was “nervous yet confident” about the season, with a focus on building a culture for both the core and new players on the teams. “For this year, it’s finding our feet and our main focus as a club is to build the culture,” Nichols said. “To have an enjoyable season, and see how our younger and newer players fit within the teams is the main goal.” “We ended up with a men’s team again this year, which is amazing for us.” Blackwood United men’s co-coach and player Danny Abbiss said the men’s team would have some challenges ahead. “We’re a pretty old side in comparison to the teams we’ll be playing against, and that will be an issue I think,” he said. “Our age is going to be our biggest challenge, because we do have some talent here, but it would be nice to have some young blood here too. “I’m trying to concentrate on passing skills, rather than chasing the ball and running it. “We’re not going to keep up with the young fit boys, so we’re trying to work on our passing and what we do off the ball, before starting on endurance.” “Ideally, we want to make the ball do the work, instead of us trying to do all the work for the ball.” Abbiss said the men’s team was also struggling with numbers and told the Times getting more players on board would help. “We are struggling with numbers,” he said. “Especially with the fact that some of the guys who have registered are fly-in fly-out or are working with the Greenbushes mine, so they might be able to play one week, and then will be rostered nights or something and unable to attend games or training. “Having some younger blokes and peak players would be good, but ideally if we got more interest in the club, that would also be great for us.”