With Gillingham Ladies set to start their league season at QPR on Sunday, KSN caught up with manager Ian Varley about his sides’ chances.
Hard work over the past couple of years has seen the Gills Ladies climb the league pyramid and show that through hard work and dedication a side can mix it with the best of them.
Victory over Havant & Waterlooville in a play-off last season saw the Gills Ladies retain their Southern Premiership status.
One man that has been instrumental in the success is manager Ian Varley who has transformed his side into a well run unit that should be up their pushing for promotion this season and he told KSN what he is targeting for the forhtcoming campaign:
“Our targets are the same as everyone else in this division and that’s to get promoted. The experience of last season is something we don’t want to go through again and we’ve been working hard throughout pre-season to make sure we have a better campaign this time around.”
Building a squad capable of challenging for promotion has to be every manager’s aim and Varley admits this summer has been a busy one and he feels the new players will add to what he has already got:
“We’ve signed some really good players so far and they’ve all fitted in great which is a real positive. I’m still after a few more and hopefully we’ll be able to announce more signings in the coming weeks.”
“Also a club like ours has to seriously consider going down the super league player route and I have a couple of big signings in mind that will add real quality to the team. It’s a case of watch this space.”
Injuries have plagued the Gills this summer and Varley went on to explain how much of a problem that has been for him as he looks to cement a side ready to start the league campaign:
“It’s been very frustrating this season with regards to injuries and I can’t quite put my finger on why we’ve had so many players out. They key is not to rush them though as we have a long season ahead and as important as Sunday’s game is, it won’t win or lose us the title.”
Facing QPR away on the first day of the season has to be a tough start for any side, but Varley feels his side have a real chance of nicking all three points:
“We always go out to win every game and there’s a real belief in the squad that we can have a successful season. QPR will be tough as there location enables them to sign big players and if they don’t do well this season the club must be doing something wrong.”
“It’s the same with all the London clubs, if they don’t do well they need to seriously look at themselves as the pool of players they get to choose from is incredible. They should all have the strongest squads in the division.”
This season sees the start of a three year sposnsorship deal with The Marine Travel Company and Varley explained to KSN how the support of the Canterbury based company has helped the side move onto the next level:
“The backing from Marine has been extraordinary and everyone at the club is so grateful! It’s enabled us to move onto another level and progress the club how we all want it to progress. Over the next few years with Marines backing this club could well be in the Superleague which is the ultimate aim.”
You can follow Ian Varley’s exploits on twitter @IanVarley9 and Gills Ladies progress @gillsladiesfc