The main architects of this have been local ladies Julie-Anne Minnis and Yvonne Jackson.

As a result of their hard work a senior, U15's and U13's side have been set up.

The newly established Banbridge Ladies' FC got their maiden season underway when they travelled to Drumaness last Monday night for their opening game.

Competing in the prestigious Intermediate A League, the Cheney Park side were defeated 2-1 but showed great tenacity as they fielded a very young, but promising, senior side.

Having already won both their pre-season matches against Kilkeel and Moira the girls have had a very short time to get acclimatised to a full-size pitch.

"Before Cheney was ready we had been training indoor at the Academy and that was very limiting so the team have only had a couple of weeks to adjust," explained their manager, Julie-Anne Minnis.

This will be a very personal challenge for the local manager as she has the credentials having worked with the underage international squads for many years.

"I've been involved in coaching for a while now but I have never been involved in ladies' football locally, so this is as much a challenge for me as it is for the team," said Minnis.

task

"Keeping the side structured is going to be a task but I have faith that the girls will soon find their bearings.

"We will be competing against teams that have been playing together for years, as we have been put into the Intermediate A league, instead of Intermediate C or D.

"However, my main objective is to stay in this league this season and not to take any really heavy defeats."

Minnis need not have worried because while her side were beaten 2-1 last Monday night they worked extremely hard for each other and kept their shape, holding the ball up well. In fact the Ladies were unfortunate not to get a draw as they disputed that Drumaness's winning goal was well off-side.

Speaking after the game Minnis commended the efforts of her side.

"Although we were beat, it was a close game and I was delighted with the way the girls played in terms of holding the ball and position-wise.

"We played a much older side and it did get very physical.

"Some of the younger girls were not used nor prepared for that, but we are in the top league and they are going to have to get used to it."

Banbridge Ladies will play their home games at Cheney Park, fixtures will follow at a later date.

Team: J Craig, JA Minnis, C McCrum, C Bell, H Lyttle, A Berrie, Y Jackson, E Harper, L Johnston, L Redpath, S McDowell. Subs: A Redpath, E Moffat, L Elliott.