Newbury Bulls girls are rewriting the books as they eye the Blacktown under-14 football crown

THE Newbury Bulls under 14 girls football team are making history, having recovered from being the bottom of the table last year to grand finalists in 2017.

The Newbury Bulls under-14 girls team are in the football grand final.

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THE Newbury Bulls under 14 girls football team are making history, having recovered from being the bottom of the table last year to grand finalists in 2017.

The all-girls team was formed in 2016 and lost almost all their games to anchor the competition.

While that would have disheartened most other teams, this Newbury Bulls squad showed they are made of sterner stuff.

Newbury Bulls girls after their semi-final win.

Proud manager Margaret Dawson said the girls came back stronger this year and also had new players.

They lost only two games to finish second in their Blacktown District SFA competition and are in sight of their historic first title, with the grand final being played at Blacktown Sports Park on Sunday.

The Stanhope Gardens-based outfit beat St Patricks in the semi-final, taking out the penalty shootout 3-0 after extra time had ended 0-0.

Coach Kevin Yardin said it had been a tough challenge last year and a relentless welcome to football to many of the girls who were playing football for the first time.

“But it instilled an understanding that winning soccer games is hard work and that hard work has been evident this year,” Yardin said.

“Development-wise we have a long way to go so we keep our game plan simple and rely on effort and natural talent to overcome the more skilful teams.

“If only the girls watched soccer they would see just how much more is possible.

“It’s great to see the girls get to flex their competitive muscles at training and during games. “There aren’t many other avenues available to them to cut loose like this so to see them compete is great.

Newbury Bulls with their rivals from St Patrick’s in the semi-final.

“Each girl is their own person but collectively their personalities gel really well — they genuinely enjoy each other’s company.

“It’s not uncommon though to have to remind them they are at training when a quick drink break turns into a gossip or dance session.

“The encouragement and support the girls receive each game from family and friends has been awesome and a reason they have achieved so much this year.

“The Newbury Bulls as a club have been great.

“They’ve put a lot of effort into establishing all-girl teams and that effort will hopefully be rewarded if we can bring home the first girls championship.”

Dawson said the players have been a delight to work with and also become close friends.

“These girls are such a pleasure to work with,” Dawson said.

Newbury Bulls Soccer clubhouse at Stanhope Gardens was destroyed by fire in July ago.

“They have become such great friends and every training session is full of laughter, stories and music and a little bit of soccer too.

“The girls want this win so badly ... they have something to prove.

“They want to be the first Newbury Bulls Girls to win a grand final.

“Hopefully the success that these girls have achieved will inspire other girls in the area to join our club.

“We would love to see more girls playing soccer for Newbury Bulls in 2018.”

Dawson said she and the coach Kevin Yardin are very proud of what the team has done so far.

“Kevin and I are so lucky to have such a wonderful bunch of parents supporting us,” Dawson said.

“They are at every single game, cheering the girls on from the side lines, and supporting us in our roles.

“The Newbury Bulls Club has also been incredibly supportive with building up the girls capacity and their profile.”

The final kicks off at 11.30am.