FOOTBALL - Moors Women appoint Tom Blaymires as new first-team manager - The Solihull Observer

FOOTBALL - Moors Women appoint Tom Blaymires as new first-team manager

Solihull Editorial 4th Nov, 2021   0

SOLIHULL Moors Women have confirmed the appointment of Tom Blaymires as the club’s new first-team manager – having previously been in charge of Leafield Athletic Ladies and Redditch United Ladies.

 

Blaymires guided both Leafield and Redditch to the top of the West Midlands Regional Premier League table – only missing out on promotion with the former by a single point in 2017/18 and due to Covid-19 with the latter.

 




His support staff will include an assistant manager that is yet to be confirmed whilst Ben Davis – who makes the step up from the development team – working as first-team coach and Mark Blaymires as first team secretary.

 


During his spell with Leafield – Blaymires’ side were unbeaten for the entire campaign whilst also winning the League Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

 

He also enjoyed a fruitful time with Redditch, suffering just one league defeat all season and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup – only for the competition to be cancelled due to Covid.

 

Moors Women’s side currently play in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands – level four of the women’s football pyramid.

 

Blaymires cannot wait to begin his stint as Moors Women’s manager and highlighted the club’s lofty ambitions as a key factor in his decision to take up the post.

 

Blaymires said: “Moors are a fantastic club with big ambitions to get both the men’s and women’s first teams into the highest leagues possible.

 

“They also have a fantastic education programme and a thriving youth section which shows how important future development is to this club. That is what attracted me initially as it aligns perfectly with my own values and ambitions as a coach.

 

“On behalf of myself and my coaching staff I just want to say a massive thank you to Solihull Moors Football Club for the opportunity. We can’t wait to get started and look forward to working alongside everyone over the current season and beyond.”

 

The new Solihull boss insists his side need to play attractive football and hopes to create a pathway for players to progress from the club’s youth teams into the first-team set-up.

 

Blaymires added: “If we are going to grow the game and especially the fanbase at Solihull, then I believe we must make the football attractive for people to watch. They need to be entertained and excited to come down and watch each week.

 

“We also need to create a genuine pathway from youth football all the way through to the first team. We want girls who play for us across all age groups to aspire to get into the first team and provide them with genuine opportunities as a club to do so.”

 

His arrival comes at a crucial time for the club – who currently sit eighth in the Division One Midlands table – and insists survival is the ultimate aim for the remainder of the campaign.

 

He said: “Short-term our focus for the remainder of this season is to consolidate our position in the table and make sure that, at the start of next season, we are still in the same division. In order for us to build for the future and help the club achieve its full potential we need stability on and off the pitch.

 

“Due to injuries and players leaving over the past couple of months the squad is looking very depleted and in need of some urgent recruitment. We plan to bring in some new faces over the coming weeks that we believe will strengthen the squad not only numerically, but also qualitatively.

 

“Long-term our aim is to gain promotion and compete with teams like Wolves, West Brom, Derby County and Nottingham Forest. I am confident that with the clubs’ support on and off the pitch and with the new coaching team we have in place, we can help this amazing club reach its full potential and make the target of promotion into the Premier Division a reality.”

 

Blaymires first match in charge is against Wem Town on Saturday, November 14.

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