Avondale United women's team make history with first senior league win

What a week for the women of Avondale.

They fielded their first senior women’s team recording a historic 2-1 win over Springfield Ramblers while former player Leah O'Leary Callendar played a key role for the Ireland U15 schools team that won the Bob Doherty Cup in Belfast.

A club that always prides itself on competing at the top level in the men’s game, is now making strides in the women's game.

Mark O’Riordan, a stalwart of the club, has dedicated years to the club, and is now managing the women’s team, with the added bonus of seeing his daughter Chloe follow in his footsteps.

"It was a fabulous occasion. To field a first-ever senior ladies team and to play at home was special but to get the win was fabulous.

"I think when the girls' section was started eight or nine years ago by Derek Chambers, Tomas O’Riordan and Fran Moore it always envisaged that we would create a pathway to a senior team. It was only in the last year or two as the girls were getting to the age and they expressed their desire to continue to play after U19, that we really pushed to create the senior team.

“We are a well-known club who have won major honours in the men’s game and now that we have a women's senior team it would be great to see them challenge for some major honours in the future. 

A few of the underage girls have already competed at the highest level playing for Ireland, in Holly O’Hagan and Leah O’Leary Callendar. 

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The majority of the girls have come through the academy and have been involved with the club since they were young kids so its great to see them grow and mature and now play for the senior team.

“A lot of the girls now give their time also to train the younger kids in the academy so it’s great to have that connection for the younger girls to aspire to.

“With regards to our senior ladies team we are a very young squad with the majority of the girls being local and have come through the academy. They are now transitioning from 19s and we are always recruiting more talent but it is difficult to bring in players at that level as we are a new set-up and usually women are already at a club at that stage but we do have two students from Spain, Camila Bastida and Elisa Escalza, who are very good footballers.

“The aim for this season would be for the girls to really enjoy playing and competing at this level and watch them mature as footballers. It would be a year to stabilise the group and hopefully attract more players to the club for the future. I know it will be difficult at times numbers-wise as a lot of them are in final year of school or in college studying for their futures but at least this will give them a timeout to come and train and play to give them a break and let them wind down and have fun at the same time.

PROUD

“I was involved in the club from underage and played senior with the club. I am very proud of my time with Avondale where I have some amazing memories and friends from playing and coaching over the years. I have been involved in coaching boys in the academy and then the girls from U14s and to see them now playing senior is magnificent. 

My kids are now playing for Avondale and to see my daughter come through the underage and now be playing senior at the club where I did it is fabulous.

“I have been involved in the girls for about five years now and the success I have seen with Avondale girls has been huge.

“John McCarthy, Derek Chambers, the coach Fran Moore and I all bring something different to the coaching team and work really well together as we all have the same goal which is to play good attractive football and to let the girls express themselves on the pitch. Coach Eoin Kelly has just joined us this year who has been involved in the club for many years and his experience will add something new to the team this year. 

"It’s exciting times ahead and I am delighted to be part of this growing, amazing club.”