Why Ward stepped up to coach Edge Hill United

Immense pride in the history of Edge Hill United’s women’s football team and a desire to extend that success is behind Jo Ward’s decision to step up as Premier League coach.

IMMENSE pride in the history of Edge Hill United’s women’s football team and a desire to extend that success is behind Jo Ward’s decision to step up as Premier League coach.

Ward’s transition from player to coach is almost complete, as she begins her third year as part of the coaching team and first in the lead role.

Former Edge Hill United player Jo Ward will coach the club's women's Premier League team in the 2021 FNQ Football season. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I just want to be involved, and this is a way I can be involved,” Ward said.

“I think I still have a lot to offer in that way, but not so much in playing.

“I’m pretty proud of the history of the women’s team in particular and I want to make sure they continue to succeed.”

Ward first started playing for the Tigers in 2009, winning numerous premierships and championships during a largely successful decade.

MORE NEWS

REPLAY: Dare Devils skipper goes big in T20 Barrer Reef Big Bash

Battle-hardened Saints back for another crack

Generation next stars as Boomers beat the Tall Blacks in Cairns

She has been part of the coaching set-up at Tiger Park for the past few years.

She and Rose Calvert were playing co-coaches when Edge Hill United won the grand final in 2019, before she served as an assistant to Glen Waddingham as the Tigers won the Premier League and Crad Evans Shield double.

Dean Ashton, a successful coach in his own right, rejoined the Tigers’ coaching team last year and will again be an assistant coach in 2021.

Jo Ward in action for Edge Hill in 2010.

Experience with all three will influence the way Ward coaches, but what won’t change is the culture and desire to succeed.

“I probably learned the most from Dean in senior coaching, he’s been my coach for a long time and he is again supporting me,” she said. “That was a big part of me saying yes, was that he’s there beside me.

“In the history of this women’s team, which I’ve been involved with since 2009, hasn’t changed the culture through the years.

“I just want to continue that, the success of that. There’s not a lot to change in that respect.

“Most of those girls, we’ve got some returning players, they know what it takes and they know what needs to happen for that to happen, I’m just looking to guide them with what I’ve learned in that time. ”

RELATED: Gun young midfielder joins Mareeba United

Edge Hill United lost a large cohort of talented young players but welcome back Sarah Beck and Xena Faddy, both of whom last played in 2019, while experienced and quality campaigners like Siobhan Macken and Jo Whately will also be back at Tiger Park.

Jo Ward. Picture: Basketball Australia

The club will also field a women’s reserve grade team for the first time in several seasons, giving more young female players the opportunity to get a taste of senior football before being thrust into the Premier League competition.

“There’s definitely experience, there’s still a good mixture,” Ward said of the squad.

“We’ve got a lot of young girls coming through, we’ve got the reserve grade team this year which is full of young girls who may get opportunities in the premiers as well.

“If you looked at the numbers, they’re probably slightly older than the past year or two.

“(Reserve grade) is great for the future of the club. We haven’t had that opportunity the past couple of years.

“For the younger girls, the 15-year-olds, instead of going straight into Premiers they have reserve grade to build, get a little bit stronger and they can see how we train and train with us to see what it takes.”

Edge Hill United will participate in the Mareeba Mazda Challenge this weekend ahead of a clash with fierce rivals Leichhardt in the Kappa Super Women’s Cup.

Follow @MMcInerney89

Originally published as Why Ward stepped up to coach Edge Hill United