- West Ham United Ladies return to action at Crystal Palace Ladies on Sunday afternoon
- Assistant manager Josh Ewens eyeing improvement in performances and results in 2017
- Kick-off at Bromley FC's Hayes Lane ground is at 2pm
West Ham United Ladies return to action after their Christmas break eager to improve their form and results in 2017.
New management team Greg De Carnys, Josh Ewens and Karen Ray took charge of the side in October, when the Ladies were formally brought into the West Ham family.
The trio have introduced new training practices and a new playing style, signed a number of new players and strengthened the senior team’s ties with the club’s junior section, all with the long-term ambition of improving the Hammers’ standing in the women’s game.
The first team return to action on Sunday, when they travel to Bromley FC to take on Crystal Palace Ladies in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division, and assistant manager Ewens says the players and coaching staff are relishing it.
“Having had a short break over the Christmas period, we are all really looking forward to getting back to the training pitch and continuing where we left off,” said Ewens, who combines his role with that of men’s first-team fitness coach.
“I think the break came at a good time for the players, with not only a physically demanding training and games schedule, but also the demands that come with a new way of training, and a new playing philosophy.”
Results did not go as the management team had hoped before Christmas, with the Ladies failing to win any of the seven games they have played since their appointment.
However, Ewens explained that the holistic approach being adopted will take time to reap rewards on the pitch.
“There has been a lot of learning done in the weeks since we came in, and a lot of exploring and struggling with new concepts for the players, and we are very happy with how the ladies are progressing,” he confirmed.
“We are seeing real improvements now both in individuals and as a team collectively, and these will start to be reflected more frequently in results as we continue to work throughout the second half of the season.
“The long-term development of the players we have currently is at the forefront of our efforts, and if we can sign a couple of players that buy into our training methodology and our playing philosophy then great.”
Head coach Ray is also the West Ham United Foundation Women & Girls Officer, providing coaching at newly-introduced Girls Only Soccer Schools in the Essex town of Basildon.
Ewens explained that the long-term aim of the new managerial team is to provide a consistent pathway through to the first-team squad for the club’s aspiring schoolgirls.
There is a great amount more work to be done throughout the club, but it is a challenge which we are all relishing
Assistant manager Josh Ewens
“A huge part of the motivation behind taking on this challenge, and a crucial part of our philosophy, is developing players through the academy to play in the first team to become a self-sufficient club, producing its own players capable of playing at the top level,” he confirmed.
“This means continuity throughout the club and one way of working, to ensure players reach the first team with potentially nine or ten years of being immersed in the club’s philosophy.
“Because of this, there is a great amount more work to be done throughout the club, but it is a challenge which we are all relishing.”
So the message from Ewens, speaking on behalf of De Carnys and Ray, is one very much of ‘Watch this space!’.
He concluded: “We are looking forward to continuing the progress made in the first months since coming in, and are optimistic about where we can get to come the end of the season, given the dedication and commitment to the process that we have had from everyone involved!”
Admission to Sunday’s 2pm kick-off at Hayes Lane is priced at £3 for Adults and Free for U16s. On-site parking is free of charge.