Martin Butler declared it, and then repeated it for emphasis."I've said it before and I'll stand by my statement that this is the best soccer team in Stratford," the new head coach of Stratford CT Ladies said Thursday. "The best team, bar none."Butler has good cause to toot the team's horn, based on their record the past few years. The Ladies have appeared in just about every important playoff or Cup game in the Southwest Region Soccer League's Women's Premier Division for four years running and are the twotime defending cheap nike free run league champions.
But Butler, successor to the brilliant tactician and everpositive longtime sideline boss Pete Mitchell, says it's the determination and joy he sees in his players that have freed him up to issue his lofty claim."They're professionals in every way," Butler said. "There is amazing talent throughout the lineup but there is also the will to win, the will to be the best, that always comes out. They are all natural athletes and know what it takes.
"I think they're very proud of what they've accomplished nike huarache cheap and want to continue the great success they had under Pete. Stepping into his shoes after all he has done for the team over the years, moulding them into champions, is a daunting task. I hope to emulate his recent success and continue a proud tradition of attractive, freeflowing football."To that end, Butler has things covered. Just five players Emily Bakker, Jenna Goodhew, Jen Knowlton, Lindsay Marsh and Brianne Nigro will not be returning, "due to work, babies and otherwise," but three exciting new players are on the roster for 2011. The newcomers are Anna Szabo, Brooke Wilker and Tonya Malcho.
"Anna is a triathlete, Brooke was Stratford's female athlete of the year (for 2009) and Tonya is returning to Stratford after a number of years playing with Kitchenerbased teams," Butler noted. "The core of the team has stayed together. Our players range in age from 1938 so it's a great blend. We have lost a few seasoned players but the fresh faces will bring a new dynamic to the team."Butler also saluted the team's mothers skipper Celeste Mitchell, Lisa Barton, Lindsay Marshall and Andrea Thompson who at one point or another nike air max 1 sale have missed seasons for obvious reasons but have returned due to their love of the game (and perhaps to impress their kids). Another mother who has also played for the Ladies over the years, Deirdre Slattery, will see action this summer, likely on a parttime basis.
Returning fulltime to the squad are Barton, Melissa Becker, Laura Brennan, Tara Chadwick (2010 league scoring leader), Kayla Klimasko, Marshall, Jenna McLeod, Celeste Mitchell, Erin Mitchell, Carly Simons, Steph Simons, Kahla Stern, Thompson, Carolyn Tuer and Sarah Wilkinson.Ann Shivas, who has played at the national level and professionally in Australia, will train with the team for the first part of the season, but is waiting on surgery which rules her out of playing.
jgfh0815