UEFA Women's Champions League

Crusaders will build on "very successful tournament" 

Despite losing all three games in Group 7 of the UEFA Women's Champions league, Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers' participation in the WCL was for them a resounding success on and off the field of play. The week long mini-qualifying group organised by Strikers' local organising committee was given numerous plaudits by players and partners alike. UEFA appointed delegate, Knarik Abelyan, was full of praise for the standard of organisation while the three visiting teams were equally as complimentary about the training and playing facilities, tournament base and the accompanying activities laid out for the teams.

On the field of play, the outcome of the group was never in doubt given the experience within FCR 01 Duisburg's squad. Under 20 World Cup and Golden Boot winner Alexandra's Popp overhead strike on match day one against Sk Slovan Bratislava was a portent of things to come. Duisburg scored 13 goals in total over their three games. On match day three, their 4-0 defeat over Glasgow City featured the first start for UEFA top scorer Inka Grings and she was quickly off the mark with two goals. The Duisburg midfield is undoubtedly one of the strongest amongst the 32 teams that now enter the draw on Aug 19th for the knockout stages.

Crusaders' performance was laudable considering their ranking in the group. By his own admission, coach Billy Wylie felt that he and his players did not perform to their own standards on match day one against Glasgow City. Saturday Aug 9th was always the game to watch for the home crowd and the match-up against the Germans surpassed all expectations for everyone involved. Attracting the largest crowd of the tournament (300+) who were a much needed 12th player for the home team, Strikers claimed the moral victory of the tournament by becoming the only team in the group to breach the German defense which featured international keeper Uschi Holl and double World Cup winner, Annike Krahn. Julie Nelson's conversion of a goal mouth scramble just after halftime injected life into the team and, as befits the Crusaders logo, she and her teammates left everything on the pitch, eventually  losing out 6-1. Having two days to recover after this David and Goliath battle was simply too much for them and on match day three they lost out 1-0 to Sk Slovan Bratislava despite hitting the post in the final minutes.

Strikers have already qualified for the UEFA WCL next season by virtue of winning the domestic Davisons Frudles' league. Closer to home, their football season continues with the semi-final of the Coca Cola Cup and the Premier Cup final yet to come. Off the field of play and thanks to the support of their tournament sponsors and partners, Chambers Coaches and North Belfast Play Forum, the club has demonstrated an exceptional organisational capacity. Supporters of football were treated to the cream of the crop over the course of the tournament while players and coaches learned much from observing the highest professional standards set by the visiting teams. Women's football community has much to reflect upon in terms of its comparable future development alongside UK and European counterparts and Strikers look to the next 12 months as a crucial preparatory phase for their next European crusade.

UEFA Women's Champions League: Match Day Two 

Strikers Ressurect Their Coat of Armour...

Ballymena Showgrounds was the venue for match day two of the UEFA WCL which saw Sk Slovan Bratislava kick-off proceedings against Glasgow City. Having suffered a 3-0 defeat against FCR 01 Duisburg on match day one, spectators expected to see a more offensive formation from the Slovaks. This was not the case, however, and they persisted with a defensive formation of two banks of defenders which made for a frustrating afternoon for the Scots. Captain, Suzanne Lappin, opened the scoring for the Scots on 26' while Jane Ross made it 2-0 just before halftime (45'). Two more in the second half from Rachel Corsie and Ruesha Littlejohn completed the scoreline which left them sitting top of the table before the second match of the day between former WCL winners FCR 01 Duisburg and Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers.

Watched by a noisy 304 spectators, Crusaders looked to reignite some home pride after their disappointing start to the tournament. It looked a case of premature floodgates when they were 2-0 down within 7' to two headers from Luisa Wensing. Strikers' Lisa Armour led from the front with her commitment and tenacity in the tackle and this sparked the crowd and players into action. For the remainder of the first half, Crusaders were back to their old selves - battling hard in the tackle, organised across the field of play and giving only the requisite amount of respect to their opponents. The Germans obvious dis-satisfaction with the home team was reflected in the demeanour of their bench though they did score two more before halftime courtesy of Mirtle Rolevink.

Billy Wylie's halftime team talk was enough to remind players of their own personal and sporting achievements in taking the field of play against top level European competition. Strikers went a step further than this and they had the home crowd on their feet on 53' when outstanding defender Julie Nelson converted a goalmouth scramble. Cue the game of two halves in which the Strikers' threw everything at the Germans to protect their goal. Angela Platt was the saviour on a few occasions while the determination shown by every player wearing the black and red won the home crowd's respect. FCR found the Strikers' resolve to be unwavering and while they scored two before the final whistle (Krahn and Kiesel on 74' and 85'), they were obviously unhappy with their own standard of play. So it was a case of 2-1 to the Germans in the second half and a moral victory for Strikers. Tournament ambassador, Kate Hoey, was present for what she described as a "very proud day for everyone involved in the club and in women's football in Northern Ireland" and she spent some time with the players after the match.

Match Day Three sees Glasgow City FC and FCR 01 Duisburg face off for the top position in the group (KO 5pm at Ballymena Showgrounds) while Strikers move to Stangmore Park, Dungannon to take on SK Slovan Bratisalva (KO 5pm). A-free-ka provide the entertainment for spectators at what promises to be a special occasion for Strikers' bid to build on their performance against the Germans and take their first European points.

UEFA Women's Champions League: Match Day One 

Alexandra The Great...

The opening games of the UEFA Women’s Champions League played in Moyola Park was a case of contrasting fortunes for the home team and a scintillating Northern Irish debut visit for the former WCL winners, FCR 01 Duisburg. Fresh from her recent U20 World Cup victory which was watched by 24,633 people, a more humble 120 spectators at Moyola Park FC were treated to Alexandra Popp’s overhead strike on 56’ which opened the scoresheet for the Germans. Jennifer Oster (62’) and German international Simone Laudehr (86’) completed a trio of German goals over SK Slovan Bratislava.

 The second game saw Scottish league trailblazers Glasgow City FC take on home team Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers and the gulf in class was quite simply too much. 2-0 down within 15 minutes to goals by Clare Gemmell and Jane Ross, Glasgow City went on to win 8-0 thanks to double strikes by Gemmell and Leanne Ross while Scottish Premier League centurion Katharina Lindner, Suzanne Lappin, and Rachel Corsie completed the scoreline. Their win leaves them sitting top of the group before tomorrow’s schedule which sees Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers take on FCR Duisburg at 6pm at Ballymena Showgrounds. SK Slovan Bratislava play Glasgow City in the earlier kick-off at 3pm.

Congratulations to the Strikers - 2010 Premier League Winners...

Welcome to our new look website which is being launched to coincide with what will undoubtedly be a historical occasion for Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers Women’s Football Club. This year, for the first time in Northern Ireland's football history, we will be hosting the qualifying mini-tournament for the UEFA Women's Champion's League competition. We are both thrilled and extremely honoured at the prospect.

 The tournament will feature top European women's teams to include former UEFA champions FCR 2001 Duisburg, the top seeded team, Scottish champions Glasgow City LFC  and Slovakian league winners SK Slovan Bratislava.