It’s been a long but constructive summer for West Ham United Women’s manager Olli Harder.
After securing the Club’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League status on the penultimate day of the 2020/21 season, Harder has set about making improvements to his side ahead of the upcoming campaign, which begins on Sunday.
This was Harder’s first opportunity to make changes to the side that he inherited when he took over in the early part of 2021 – and there has certainly been a lot of change in east London.
Eleven new players have been brought in ahead of the 2021/22 campaign - a mix of experienced pros as well as exciting young talent - and Harder is pleased with the squad that has been assembled as his side prepare to make the trip to the south coast on Sunday.
“I think you will see a refreshed West Ham United this season," he said. "I think you will see a lot of energy and dynamism from the team.
"For us, it was about closing the previous chapter and starting a new one, and I believe that the players that we have brought in will add value to that and hopefully write themselves into a bit of West Ham history.
“Pre-season has had its challenges but overall it’s been really good. We’ve had players coming in at different points and players coming back from the Olympics so integration itself has been a challenging aspect.
"However, we’ve had a lot of really positive sessions out on the training pitch and we’re ready and raring to go ahead of the weekend.”
This will be Harder’s first taste of experiencing the West Ham United faithful on a matchday, having already greeted the supporters at our Open Day that was held in August.
And the 34-year-old is hoping that they will have lots to cheer about in what will be their first away outing since February 2020.
“It was fantastic to be able to meet some of the fans at our Open Day that we hosted in August and just get a feel for what this all means for our local community – especially for myself having not experienced that due to the pandemic.
"We’re really looking forward to having them back, and we hope that a good number of them will be making the trip on Sunday.
“Football without fans is not the same, but it’s also a sport that needs to be enjoyed. It’s a form of entertainment and when people aren’t there to enjoy it then it’s not the same for everyone.
“For us it’s about having the opportunity to connect with our fanbase and our community. We can be a little more hands-on and have those moments that really makes women’s football so special.”
The Hammers will be looking to improve upon their ninth-placed finish in the previous campaign, but Harder believes that success isn’t limited to just your final finishing position.
“This season is about continually improving what we’re doing here at West Ham United. It’s about creating an elite environment for our athletes and as a football club to continue to grow what is a young programme.
"We’re a young team - this is only our fourth professional season as a club - so it’s about continuing to grow and hopefully become a force in the future.
“Success for us this season comes in many different forms. It’s about growing and improving our programme, growing our community, engaging women’s football within our fanbase and looking to win every game that we play.
We know that Brighton are a strong, physical team and have a good programme, but it’s a good opportunity for us go out and play with no fear and look to pick up a victory on the opening day
Olli Harder
“It’s no secret that we want to win and do well, but this is a journey that takes time. I’ve come in and been in the job six months and have had one transfer window to start moving things around and understand that Rome wasn’t built in a day.
"We’re laying the foundations so that we can move forward as a football club, and that all starts when the whistle sounds for kick-off on Sunday."
Sunday’s opponents, Brighton & Hove Albion, had a strong finish to the campaign last season, ending up in sixth position. They, like the Hammers, have had a busy summer with a number of departures and arrivals.
Harder is looking forward to the occasion of playing at a Premier League ground and is hoping to come away with all three points.
“It’s a great treat to be starting the season at the Amex Stadium. We know that Brighton are a strong, physical team and have a good programme, but it’s a good opportunity for us go out and play with no fear and look to pick up a victory on the opening day,” he concluded.
Tickets are still available to purchase for Sunday’s fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. Click here to purchase your tickets for the match.
Alternatively, if you can’t make it down to the south coast on Sunday, make sure you don’t miss out on our first home fixture of the new campaign against Aston Villa on Saturday 11 September. Click on the graphic below to purchase your tickets!
