Mowi Game of the Week - Aberdour vs Badenoch II

Katie Booth Interview

It’s the penultimate round of the inaugural Mowi WCA National Division this weekend, and our focus is on the match between recently crowned champions Badenoch II and Aberdour. Ahead of the match, we spoke to the Fife side’s Katie Booth!

It’s a big test for the squad as you take on champion elect Badenoch II – how are you looking forward to the challenge?

We’re really looking forward to the challenge. Badenoch have shown incredible form this season, and we know we’ll need to be at our best. However games like this are exactly what we thrive on, they’re a great opportunity to test ourselves against strong opposition and continue our development as a squad. We gain so much experience from matching up to this level of opposition and it’s exactly what our youngsters need to develop.

Aberdour are the 3rd top scorers in the league thus far this season – what has been working well in the attacking department?

Our attacking success has come from a real team effort. The forwards have been linking up well, and we’ve focused on getting the ball into the right areas. It’s also been great to see goals coming from different areas of the park. It shows the depth we have in the squad and the confidence the players are carrying into games.

How have you found the new league format – have the girls enjoyed playing teams they didn’t previously face as often?

The new format has been a really positive change for us and has been crucial in our team’s development. It’s brought some fresh matchups, which has kept things exciting and tested us in new ways. The girls have enjoyed the variety and the chance to test themselves against teams they might not have played before and the 8 aside format has definitely given our squad some much needed depth.

There’s a healthy number of young players in the squad – how important can they be in ensuring the long-term success of the club?

The younger players are absolutely vital to our team and it’s so exciting for me to see the young talent we have coming through. Not only are they bringing energy and enthusiasm every week, but they’re also learning and improving with every game. Their development is key to building a strong future for the club, and it’s encouraging to see them stepping up and making real contributions already. I’d also like to shine a light on the parents who turn up week on week and travel across the country to support. Having that kind of backing on the sidelines makes such a difference.

Whilst the result in the semi final of the Mowi Challenge Cup didn’t go your way, can the squad take encouragement from reaching this stage of the competition?

Definitely. Reaching the semi-final was a big step forward for us, and while we were disappointed not to progress further, there’s a lot we can take from the performance and the journey to that stage. It shows we’re capable of competing with the top sides, and that gives us confidence going forward. Missing out this year just gives us the fuel we need to get one step further next season!

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