Football NSW League One Womens 2023 Season Preview
The 2023 Football NSW League One Women’s season is shaping up to be one of the best to date as female football continues to grow and develop across the nation.
The 14-team competition will be one to keep an eye out as each team set their sights on silverware as well as participating in this year’s ‘Sapphire Cup’.
Let’s check out how each team will be gearing up for the year with Round 1 commencing this weekend.
Blacktown City FC
Blacktown City FC endured a tough first campaign in the FNSW League One Womens competition but have strengthened their 2023 player roster to get themselves up the ladder.
Coach David O’Keefe’s side improved over the course of last year and are aiming for better results this year.
O’Keefe has added some quality in young Philippines attacker Malea Cesar alongside Welsh star Jenny Davies.
Established League One Womens stars Emma Ingerson and Ashley Limnios have also been added to the roster as Blacktown City hope to spring a few upsets this year.
Camden Tigers FC
Having competed in their first-ever League One women’s competition last year, the Camden Tigers are hoping to do better following their 15th place finish in 2022.
The Tigers have kept the majority of the squad from last year under the guidance of Troy Witton who has added some good, experienced heads in Doris Osman, Alex Honan, Sam Cefai and Klara Vukovic which might mean better times ahead at Ron Dine Stadium.
Central Coast Mariners FC
It is shaping up to be a big year for Central Coast Mariners.
They head into the W-League next season and know this campaign is a big one for those looking to impress.
Dan Barrett returns to the dugout armed with a squad raring to go.
Kiara Fontanilla and Kaya Hawkinson have joined from the Philippines national team while Savannah Murphy and Annalise Rasmussen crossover from the Football NSW Institute while some experience has been added in the form of Servet Uzunlar and Sara Piriz.
So it’s safe to say that the Mariners are one of the top contenders for the crown this year.
Hills United FC
Last year’s Grand Finalists Hills United FC head into their second year, looking to build on the history they made in their debut season.
It will be a tougher time for Alan Tasses’ squad with some key players retiring in the off-season including captain Desiree Galea.
Custodian Sarah Easthope has taken over the armband as she looks to lead the side.
They have brought in Japanese player Juri Hiragawara alongside Shailee Bartle, Alyssa Janssen and Bela Donaldson in their quest for finals football again.
Inter Lions FC
To say that last season didn’t go to plan for Inter Lions would be an understatement for a club that has a wonderful history in the League One Womens competition.
2023 is a clean slate for Inter Lions who hope their fortunes will change for the better.
Coach John Webb has brought some crafty new additions to the squad as the Lions look to get themselves back on track.
Marconi Stallions FC
Marconi Stallions have kept an air of stability around their team as they look to make a drastic improvement from their eighth-place finish in 2022.
Andy Severin will be the coach for the side and the famous club have made a splash in picking up Japanese goalkeeper Yoshimi Miki from Ehime FC alongside talented players Julia Figueroa, Erin Cleghorn and Alex Morgan to assist in their quest for silverware this year.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC
Last year’s wooden spooners Mt Druitt Town Rangers have been diligent in the off-season in ensuring they won’t be picking up the honour again in 2023.
The big name the club has brough in for this year is Philippines midfield international Anicka Castaneda. Japanese star Hitomi Maeta has also made the move while defender Holly Williams will patrol the backline in front of goalkeeper Renee Krstanovska who has made the switch from Marconi.
Pacey forward Rita Boateng rounds out the signings as coach Neil Ross hopes that the new addition of players will help the Rangers cause for a higher placed finish this year.
Nepean FC
Nepean FC finished 2022 in 14th spot and things are looking brighter for the side in 2023.
Ben Gough will be in the hot-seat as Head Coach once more after arriving mid-season in 2022.
Gough has a youthful outfit which will take to the field as Nepean FC continue to rebuild its squad.
SD Raiders FC
A proud women’s club, SD Raiders FC didn’t end 2022 where they wanted to be and 2023 is hopefully shaping up to be a better one for the side.
They have a new head coach in Linda Khamis which will give the side a boost with someone so experienced in the game.
Ernie Smith Reserve is always a tough place to visit and will be key as the Raiders hope to spring a few upsets this year.
South Coast Flame FC
For South Coast Flame FC, their inaugural season was a solid one as they picked up a few valuable wins and burned brightly in 2022.
The South Coast side has kept the core of the side which saw them finish mid-table and sprinkled in a big splash in Bronte Trew.
Trew has come over from rivlas South East Phoenix FC and will help Daniel Naumovski’s side possibly make their first foray into finals football potentially.
South East Phoenix FC
It was an off-season of change for South East Phoenix FC.
The side had a large turnover with players heading out but remain confident that they will be a team that will compete every week.
Their biggest signing was recruiting former Illawarra Stingrays star Ash Long as coach Norm Boardman is confident that his new chargers will ruffle a few feathers this year.
St George FC
St George FC started off brightly in 2022 before they fell away late in the season and finished just outside of the top four.
Coming into this season, the Saints are feeling just fine, having kept the core of the side and have brought in several Under 20’s players who took out the championship last year.
The likes of experienced campaigners Caitlin Campbell, Georgia Manos and goalkeeper Ally Hinson have all penned deals with the club as new coach Mark Greenfield hopes to kick-off life with St George on the right foot.
Sutherland Shire FA
Sutherland Shire FA have stayed true to themselves and kept almost the entire team from 2022 which saw them finish the season with a flourish.
Coach Jon Long has maintained that their outcome for this year is improvement and he has added a few notable names to round out the squad as they hope to press for a finals series finish.
UNSW FC
It was close but no cigar for UNSW FC last season.
The students were knocked out as they fell one game short of the 2022 Grand Final in a dramatic shootout and will look to go one better this season.
Guillermo Rubio remains at the helm and has managed to re-sign the majority of his players.
He furnished the squad with some talented players in Hannah Beard and Zoe Bartley while also picking up Coogee United FC trio Margaux Montegut, Sian Genoud and Hayley Marshall who featured in the Champions of Champions last year.
UNSW FC will be one of the sides to watch out for in 2023.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
