By Oisín Bradley
Sports Editor
It’s been change aplenty in the management structure at Galway WFC as they gear up for an exciting 2021 campaign, with Dave Bell joining Billy Clery’s coaching staff for the upcoming SSE Airtricity Women’s National League season.
Bell is a man with plenty of experience in women’s football, and will be looking his guile and know-how around the training pitch and match-day squad can make a huge difference as Galway WFC look to break into the upper echelons of the FAI WNL.
Bell’s time in the game spans over thirty years, having most recently managed Shelbourne Ladies to successive second-place league finishes, as well as an WNL Cup crown in 2019. Galway WFC boss Clery will hope to tap into such a depth of wisdom as his side build on last season’s fifth-place finish, having lost all their games in the second phase of the league last season.
In the inaugural FAI Women’s Under-19 National League, Emer Flatley will be taking the reins as head coach of the club’s new Under-19 side. Flatley, a former Ireland underage international, will be looking to guide the team to success in the maiden year of the league, for a club she spent time representing in her playing career.
Flatley will be familiar with the death of young talent at her disposal that having worked with many of the side’s key players as Under-17’s coach. Among the talented crop is last season’s Senior Player’s Player of the Year Shauna Brennan.
Robbie Barrett will be joining Flatley in the coaching set-up, having previously coached at Annaghdown club Corrib Celtic. Rounding off the ticket as assistant manager is Alan Faulkner, the assistant manager, having coached Limerick club Aisling Annacotty as well as being in the dugout for the Desmond League Gaynor Cup team.
The club will be looking forward to the resumption of SSE Airtricity Women’s National League action in mid to late March, a sense of excitement which has been heightened by the release of the fixtures on Monday.
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