The new season kicks off this weekend with Continental Cup matches and sees Birmingham Women drawn at home to Manchester City Women. The last time the teams met was in a League match in the closing stages of last season when the hosts came away with a convincing win. It was a victory that sent Fans and Players into the Off Season in good heart and with high hopes of a positive start to the new one.

But the Off Season is usually one of change and this one has been no exception. For a start the team name has changed from ‘Ladies’ to ‘Women’. As far as players are concerned, Freda Ayisi, Jess Carter, Maddy Cusack, Coral Haines and Abbey-Leigh Stringer have moved on to be replaced by Chloe Arthur (Bristol), Lucy Staniforth (Sunderland), and Harriet Scott (Reading). And Tony Elliott has been appointed as GK Coach.

So, will the 2018/19 squad start as its predecessor finished – strong, confident and determined? We’ll have to wait and see…