Matt Beard has spoken of his excitement heading into the end of West Ham United’s first season in the Women’s Super League, and is already looking forward to what the next campaign holds for his side.
Beard has put pen to paper on a new contract with the West Ham United women’s team, which will see the WSL-winning coach continue to lead the Irons.
West Ham’s first season in the WSL currently sees the Hammers sit sixth in the top flight, with the team also preparing for a match against Reading for a place in the FA Cup final next month.
Beard is delighted with how the team has performed so far this season and is already looking forward to the challenge of building on this year’s successes next campaign.
It’s going to be an exciting future for this West Ham team, and it is something I’m really looking forward to.
Matt Beard
“To be in the FA Cup semi-final and to be mid-table in the league in our first ever season at this level is a good achievement,” Beard continued. “We genuinely feel we can take this project a lot further though.
“We want to finish as high as we can in the league. The FA Cup run has been a great focus for us, and the prize at the end of the season could be a trip to Wembley Stadium, and what a fairy-tale that would be for us if we manage to get there.
“I believe in this group and I believe we can get there. We’ve just got to remain focused, and keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
Beard is already aware of the challenges his team will face next season, as they see to build on the positives of their maiden WSL campaign.
He said: “Teams will know about us and they will know some of the players that weren’t quite known when we built this squad. From that side, teams and coaches are going to be aware of our style and them types of players.
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“Our biggest challenge will be improving on this year. We’ve got to the Continental Cup knock-out stages, we’re in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and we’re mid-table in the league. There’s some very good teams in this division and there will be some good teams coming up, so it’s going to be tougher.
“From that side of things, we need to make sure we recruit well, continue to progress and our statistics are even better.”
The head coach is excited for what the future holds for his team, and himself, as West Ham United continue to build the infrastructure around the women’s side.
“I’ve been pleased with the group this year and I know we can improve and take it forward,” Beard added.
“It’s going to be an exciting future for this West Ham team, and it is something I’m really looking forward to.”
