After Cardiff City Women clinched a third successive Adran Premier Title, we caught up with head coach Iain Darbyshire.
“I’m immensely proud.” Iain began. “I’m proud of the players and the staff, we’ve had to overcome a lot of obstacles to get to where we are now. And I just couldn't be prouder of this group. This is what we're built to do.
“We lost seven of the best players the league has seen in pre-season. And a couple more added on to that when we go back to the Champions League, so nine players out in total. We’ve had to bring players in and make sure they can compete and make sure that we give them the right information at the right time.
“There's been some bumps in the road, which is only natural when you've got such a new group. Losing four or five players to injury during the season doesn't help either. But these players just find a way to win. And we've got some great youngsters as well that have been backed up by some really strong senior players. It makes this one so much sweeter because we've had to overcome so many obstacles and everyone can celebrate now.”
And despite the many obstacles they’ve faced this season, the Bluebirds won seven of their last eight fixtures to secure another league title.
“The players have shown such character, such resilience all season. There’s been some dark days across the season, and there's been times where we've had to rip up the script and rebuild and start playing a new way, learning a new way, especially when we have so many injuries.
"And the last few weeks, what you've seen is a team that's just built to get results. We knew we couldn't be as fluid as we wanted to be or express ourselves on the ball as much. We've got so much out of the team. So we were just built to be solid and get results. And again, if last week's result, where we scored three goals in five minutes and teach you anything about this group then nothing will.”
Midfielder Kerry Walklett added: “I’m delighted, I think every single one of us today with the opportunity to get over the line, we were so keen to get it done. We've had so many challenges this season with injuries and as Iain said to us prior to the game, we’ve been through a total rebuild.
"Week by week we have been chugging along and we've really pulled together, and I think the last few games, we’ve said ‘come on girls we’re nearly there’, so to get it over the line with two games left is absolutely ecstatic.
"It’s been so difficult, it's been like a total rebuild. You look at last year's starting 11 and you look at starting 11 and nearly every position has changed. I think what hasn't changed is our principles, our character, our work rate, playing for the badge which has all stayed the same, but we’ve had to learn on the job and huge credit to the girls that have come in."