Wootten: "It's good to be back" with SSFC Women

We caught up with South Shields Women's Jen Wootten ahead of the side's anticipated return to action against Washington FC Women on Sunday.

It has been 76 days since the lasses last played a competitive match - a 3-2 win against Sunderland West End Ladies on Wednesday, May 8th - and although having all that time to rest was crucial, she believes now is the ideal time to pick things up where the team left off.

"The rest was needed and well-deserved for everyone", she reflected, "but it's good to be back training with the team.

"I've missed it."

Pre-season is a unique and challenging aspect of the football calendar.

While its main aim may be to give the squad a good run-out, it can also be a good way to team cohesion and harmony before the tough league and cup runs get underway.

Wootten agrees with that assessment, believing it to be a really rewarding period.

"Pre-season is super important," she said.

"It gives players a chance to build their fitness back up and get back into the swing of things.

"It's good getting back with the team and having a laugh again, which helps with team chemistry.

"I do look forward to pre-season after being off for what feels like so long.

"It makes you realise how much you miss it and how good exercise can make you feel."

A talking point across all of these insight interviews has been the idea of making progress and constantly striving to build upon the good work achieved last season.

The Mariners finished last year's campaign in fourth place in the NERWFL Premier Division, with 44 points and having scored an impressive 73 goals in all competitions.

Wootten wants the team to "aim high" and to make the most of the cup competitions this season.

She added: "I think we can aim high this season.

"We did well last season in the league considering all the changes we had.

"This season like any other we aim high; I'd like to see us finish in the top three in the league and have a much better cup run this year, especially the league and county cups which I believe we can be pushing to win."

Those changes have helped her to become a better footballer in her view.

"I think I progressed massively last season," Wootten said.

"With changes in the squad, I was moved all over the pitch in different positions which improved how versatile I am as a player.

"This developed my game mentally and physically, a lot. It was the most 90 minutes of football I've played for a long time."

Get your copy of The Mariner - either in print or online via the club’s website - to read more insight from within SSFC Women, featuring quotes by Annece Legg, ahead of the men’s friendlies against Grimsby Town and Newcastle United U21s. 

Follow the team on social media for more behind the scenes content throughout pre-season and the campaign afterwards, on Twitter/X and on Instagram.