'It's a damn good team': Caithness Ladies can inspire next generation, says McKenna
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Head coach Tom McKenna is confident that the ever-improving Caithness Ladies can inspire the next generation of female footballers in the county.
The former Wick Academy boss is delighted with the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the women's team, who have had back-to-back wins in their last two outings in the SWF Highlands and Islands League and are fourth in the table.
McKenna also manages the Castletown men's team in Caithness AFA Division One, having led them to promotion last summer, and the ladies are now playing their home games at the village's Back Park with its much-admired playing surface and refurbished pavilion.
Caithness had an impressive 5-2 victory over Ross and Cromarty last month in their first match at Castletown, and followed that up with an emphatic 6-0 win at Brora last Thursday night.
McKenna said: "The people that come and watch the ladies, and the girls themselves, say the progression they've made in the short period of time we've been together is unbelievable."
He said the team had been "battered" in some games last season but went on: "This year they've been more competitive and I think they're going to win a lot more games than they lose.
"They're so honest. When you turn up for training you've got 20 lassies week in, week out. You've got 18 to 20 girls on a Sunday [for matches], home and away.
"It inspires you, it motivates you – you want them to do well. The girls deserve a lot of credit.
"There's a senior ladies' team in Caithness and that will inspire young girls. They know, if they love kicking a ball about, that it's a pathway for them.
"I think as a community we've got to create that pathway so that the councils, or the sporting authorities, know that there's a senior team here and it's a damn good senior team. They try and do everything as well as they can, and I think each and every one of us has got to try and promote that.
"From what I've seen, the girls are doing it all themselves. They don't have a committee – it's the players doing their own individual roles. They all come together and everything is so organised. It's brilliant.
"I've invested in it – it has inspired me to want to do more for them. Whatever they achieve, I want it for them more than for anybody else.
"I just want these girls to do really well and have an effect for young girls."
There were two goals each for Carly Erridge and Kerrie Martin in last week's rearranged far north derby at Brora. The others came from Donna Majilton and an own goal.
Caithness went ahead early on when the in-form Erridge ran on to a through ball and fired it past the keeper.
Erridge doubled the lead when a great passage of play left her one-on-one with the keeper, whom she rounded to slot into an empty net.
Brora had to endure wave after wave of attack in the first half and Martin added a third after linking up with Hannah Morrison at the edge of the box. Martin then produced a side-footed finish to make it four before the break.
The home side were more spirited and determined in the second half but Caithness extended their lead through an own goal. The visitors saved their best goal for last when Kara Sutherland's corner found Majilton, who scored on the half-volley.
Morrison was named as player of the match.
Sutherland moved up to second in the table with a 9-4 win at Nairn on Sunday.
Caithness Ladies' next fixture is at home to leaders Orkney on Sunday, May 14.
