Chatham Town Women’s skipper Grace Coombs has been reflecting on how the club are looking to bounce straight back into the National League after last season’s relegation.

“It was nice to have a break in the summer after last year,” she admitted, “I think that everyone who had come back is refreshed. We have to learn from what happened last year, we cannot just ignore it, but the break was lovely as we have all had a reset mentally as well as physically as it was tough last year.

“I think in some ways we addressed it before the end of the season which meant we could have some time off in the summer, have a bit of a break and come back fighting.” 

“It was hard to come in last year at times, it really was! We all felt that, but this year is so different, there is such a good vibe, I just cannot put my finger on it!” 

“We seem to have something that was not there last season, we have all said it. We had a lot of good people here last year, and I think the changes at the beginning, a lot of changes we never really recovered from and as players that is the sort of things that we must learn from.

“We must adjust and it was better at the end of the year and even in the last few games and we have carried that on. We have brought in new people, really good people, really good personalities, we have a young team, and the youngsters are really coming out of their shells a bit. They have been here a while now and it has just been a nice blend, and it is nice.” 

“We did have a lot of good people here last year, you can’t say that it’s just the people who have left, but the reset really has done us good, and everyone has come in with a fresh mindset, not forgetting about last year but just try to learn from it and start again.” 

“It’s all been positive so far, but now we have a responsibility to keep it going, we can’t let it drop, and long may it continue!” 

Speaking to us after the weekend’s 3-1 win over Moneyfields, the Chats skipper admitted, “We needed that win! We have had tough games, but I think we have needed them, the order that the games were scheduled is perfect with “professional” teams and then before Sunday, two tier five teams and I think we are finding our rhythm.

“In those games we had to problem solve a lot and that was something we did struggle with last year, and I think it will be very beneficial for us. It was nice to get a win Sunday, but pre-season is about competing and not so much results but to get goals with three different scorers is always nice.” 

Picture supplied by Allen Hollands.