The Border Raiders faced tough opposition in their first year in the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League 1 last year, but held their own and managed to avoid relegation back to League 2.
However, with several players departing, an anticipated struggle for numbers and the required experience has resulted in the side requesting a demotion to the now-renamed Football Victoria Bendigo League 2.
Co-coaches Paige Pinson and Amelia Richardson will continue their tenure in charge of the squad and are hoping to grow a mostly new and younger crop of women into a competitive side.
“I'm hoping for it to be a developmental season, I just want the girls to improve,” Pinson said.
“I want us to bond as a team, start creating some great habits for next year and for the years after that.”
Pinson is confident the club will be able to field a team over the 18 rounds of competition and the option remains, especially with the move back to League 2, to blood some promising junior players.
“We've got some new young girls who are coming up with a lot of talent and a lot of potential, so we're looking forward to seeing them have some opportunities to play women's soccer,” she said.
Charley Schwencke, the returning Phoebe and Gabriella Crothers and their younger sister Monique are all young talents to watch, Pinson looking to find game time for them this year.
The Border Raiders’ campaign begins this Sunday with an away fixture, the side taking on Spring Gully at Stanley Avenue Reserve from 11am.
The side is looking to play a simple brand of football from the off and assess what it might be capable of this year.
“(We’re) keeping things simple at this point, seeing what we've got available to us, what potential we have, and if we can move some people around and give them some chances to try out some new competition and positions,” Pinson said.
“It's a bit of a trial season and a building season for us.”
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