2022/23 has seen Durham Women’s WSL Academy squad take their first steps into the WSL Academy League.
And while perhaps a daunting prospect, it’s one which the young squad and their staff have taken in their stride.
At the time of writing, the young Wildcats sit third in the league having secured victories over the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and plenty of others.
It’s been a fine start for a programme than only began last summer, and head coach Bob Wilkinson is delighted with the progression shown thus far.
“It’s grown massively,” he said.
“The players themselves have grown as well. We set off at the beginning of the season with players that were of a great ability, but we’ve managed to work with them individually, as units and as a team to make them far better than what they were – and they still aren’t near the ceiling of what they could be.
“They’ve done some fantastic work, we’ve had some great results and are third in the table.
“It’s not an easy league in any way and all the teams are good quality teams. Every game you have to work hard for it, and our players show great hunger, fight and desire every week.”
Key to the progression has been the development of the individuals within the squad.
Wilkinson and his staff have taken a tailored approach to the needs of each player, and it’s certainly paid dividends.
He explained: “Before the end of last year we went through their first Player Development Review – which is where we look at them individually, academically and work with them to make them better players.
“It’s all about development. These girls are aspiring to be full-time, professional players and there’s no reason why any one of them in this squad can’t make them.
“I always say to them that great opportunities come from great moments and vice versa, we say it before every game, and they rise to that every time.
“We use clips, we work with the performance plan and we using everything in a positive way so that every one of us can get better.”
And while development is the key priority, everyone in football enjoys getting good results – and the WSL Academy side have certainly got plenty of those.
They became the first side to beat Arsenal’s youngsters this term and have scored nine goals while conceding just one in the process.
“It’s absolutely fantastic,” said Wilkinson of the results.
“I think a lot of the teams looked at us as the underdogs and they’ve been found wanting because of the desire and professionalism that each player in our team has shown.
“We’ve had some great results against some big clubs and it’s amazing to see.
“I tell them every time – you’re the underdog, you deliver on the pitch and you leave big clubs wondering what’s happened. That’s a credit to them, as everything is down to them – training ethic, work rate.
“When you walk away from some of those clubs with the results we’ve had, it’s fantastic.”
Those results have seen academy players rewarded with the chance to train with the first-team, which Wilkinson believes highlights the ‘true pathway’ at the club.
“I’m a big believer in being player-centric, and I really believe that Durham has that player-centric pathway for every individual.
“They train as the academy team, play for Cestria in the National League, and some have been training with and on the bench for the first-team – and haven’t been out of sorts. They are performing.
“It’s great to see them gelling with the first-team players because that’s where they want to be.
“It is a player-centric, true pathway and everything is there for the people that want to get there.”
To register interest in the 16-21 WSL Academy Programme, email bob.wilkinson@durhamwfc.co.uk.
