Argyle Women | 2023/24 Season Review
Argyle Women concluded their 2023/24 season by securing a ninth-place finish, with 21 points, in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division. It was a year that saw highs and lows, but notably continued growth and spirit from one of its youngest-ever sides.
Following some departures in the close season, manager Ryan Perks and his team were quick to recruit. Six players joined the Pilgrims during pre-season: Ellie Sara, Jade Berrow, Grace Smith and Libby Waylen all arrived, while former Argyle players Tamsin Medd-Gill and Rebecca Dandridge rejoined the club.
“We brought quite a few players in, in the summer,” said Perks, speaking to Argyle TV. “We had a few players move on before pre-season began, some for personal reasons and some based on decisions we made here at the club, so we had to recruit.
“I think we did a really good job in acquiring players from outside our pathway; the girls who have come in have been great. We’ve also had players break into the first team from our pathway and their progression this season has been great to watch.
“We know these players are only going to get better, so to be able to give them their first taste of professional football is great and now they’ve had the experience of tier-three football, I’m sure they’re all looking forward to being back at it again next year.”
As pre-season made way for the Greens' first league fixture of the year, Perks’ side did not start in the way they had hoped, losing 6-0 to Billericay Town at Coach Road. However, the Greens bounced back a week later against Exeter City, knocking the Grecians out of the FAWNL League Cup with a comfortable 4-1 win.
Further results against tough opposition continued to cause issues for Perks’ side but, despite their difficult start, the Greens worked hard both on and off the pitch to improve both performances and confidence.
“It was a difficult period - I won't lie,” said Perks. “We took a few hammerings at the start of the season and at one point started to second guess our decisions we made in pre-season, but we rallied, stuck to the path, and eventually results and positive performances came.
“The match against Exeter was a perfect example of us seeing what we were capable of, and a few weeks later we showcased that again against Chatham [a 2-1 away win].
“Eventually, we got the players back on board and our belief in ourselves as a team grew as the weeks went on.”
Following the announcement of the change of ownership from the 2024/25 season onwards, which will see the women's team move from the Argyle Community Trust to the stewardship of the main football club, Perks’ side began to find their feet and made short work of London Bees, with a confident 5-1 win at Coach Road.
League football took a break just before the year ended and made way for the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, where Argyle continued to flourish. A 13-0 win over Ilminster Town in front of a crowd of over 2,000 fans at Home Park kicked off the Greens’ FA Cup campaign, and a week later the team advanced further with a 4-2 win against Stoneham.
The next test in the cup came from Oxford United, in arguably the most exciting game of the season. Twice Oxford led, and twice Argyle came back, but that was only part of the story.
Having gone behind in the first period, the Greens levelled through a Fern Orchard goal in second half injury time, sending the game to extra time. Oxford converted a penalty in the 118th minute, seemingly taking them through to round four, but Imy Crawford scored spectacularly to deny the visitors, and it was Argyle who won the resulting penalty shootout.
Our FA Cup journey ended in the fourth round with defeat to Nottingham Forest at Home Park, but Perks says the cup run was a feature of the season to be savoured.
“Everybody wants to play in the FA Cup,” he said, “it's a competition that we always love competing in. To beat Oxford in the third round was one of the highlights of the season, not just for me but I think everyone at the club and fans alike.
“We had two Home Park fixtures as part of that run as well, and to see the fans come in their numbers to back us was also really special. On the whole, it made our run one that we will look back on fondly.”
The Greens’ focus turned back to their remaining league fixtures. Three wins away from home and a rescued draw against Hashtag United secured Argyle’s safety with three games to go and, despite defeat in the A&S Interiors Devon Women’s Cup final against Exeter, Perks’ side bounced back with one final point on the road before their season ended.
In summary, Perks said: “This season has had its ups and downs, but it’s been positive overall for such a young squad. We’ve got exciting times ahead of us; there’s already been a lot of work going on behind the scenes since the announcement of our move over to the club earlier this year.
“The staff and players are all looking forward to it. We have a couple of weeks to recharge but once that’s done it’s back to planning, preparing, and recruiting for another season that we hope we can continue to improve in.”
Click here for the thoughts of manager Ryan Perks in full.
