Just to update on Man City Ladies and our forth coming adventure into the WSL. For those of you that are not aware I made the squad after putting my self through 6 months of hard work including me completing the Insanity programme on top of training with the club.
It’s probably my proudest achievement to date making this squad given the fact that I had retired from the game 18 months ago and was completely out of shape and touch with football. At the end of last season I made a promise to myself to give it one last go. I probably have never been so fit as I am now.
On top of all my training and been put through extensive testing with the club who are putting everything into making this work. I have been playing for over 25 years and can safely say that I am of the old school variety, turn up play and go home. Times have moved on though and I have in the last few months been introduced to the science side of football. I have done all form’s of testing for speed and agility and which we repeat every few weeks to see how we improve. Was really proud when I was told that I had made the 2nd best improvements out of the squad.
I have been given a programme that I have to work on three times a week which co insides with cardio training and yoga. This is all done on your own which takes a lot of motivation. At the present we have had about 4 weeks off over Christmas and it can be hard at times to go and work out while friends and family are enjoying all the trappings of Christmas. I am relived to be back in on Tuesday for some training with the girls.
From the 20th I will be going full time which will mean training 5 times a week. This is a huge commitment for the girls like me who all hold down full time employment. I am one of the luckier players that work flexi and have employers that are understanding of my situation.
I am under no illusions that the next 10 months is going to be all about hard work and sacrifice. Me playing at this level with affect my personal like and also my social calendar, but its well worth it if I get to play for Man City at elite level. This is all I have ever wanted to do in my football career. There is no one at the club more proud than me.
The level of commitment from City is amazing and once everyone is aware of the commitments City are making im sure all the doubters and snipers will stand back and applaud.
I hope that for those of you with young children in particular daughters that like football will come down to games to cheer us on. I know that the women’s game is not at the level of the men’s but I feel it’s a better environment for young children to able to watch football in. For those interested the season gets underway in April 2014.
As for my future at 36 going on 37 this will more than likely by my swansong, one last season as a full time player. I’m sure of my friends on here who have advocated me going into coaching will be pleased to hear that City are putting on some courses. Im hoping that next season I will be an understudy goalkeeper coach learning my trade….
Andie #21
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