Kalvin Williams reflects on the season for Chester FC Women
Sunday’s win over Wirral Phoenix, a fourth successive for the Blues, ensure that Chester FC Women finished third in the NWWRFL Division One South for the 2024/25 season.
Under the leadership of new permanent manager Kalvin Williams this campaign, the team have showed resilience and determination despite facing stiff competition.
They finished the season in third place with 43 points from 22 games and a goal difference of 18.
Alice Rowhan spoke to CFCW Manager Kalvin Williams to look back on the campaign…
Q: Kalvin, what are your thoughts on the season as a whole?
A: The start of the season was very tough, it was a bit of a shock to the system with former manager Martin Fitzsimons leaving the club after him being in the job for the last five years.
This role was something that I thought that I could do but would not have known until the time came – and the timing felt right for me.
In the first eleven games of the season, we won seven of them and had a club record-equalling FA cup run.
Obviously, there has been ups, downs and everything in-between, but overall, I am really pleased of what the team have achieved this year.
Q: What do you think were the key factors in the team’s success this year?
A: The best thing that ever happened to the team was the rebuild during the season and players showing of their character and personality.
We started off the season with a group of players and we lost a few including some of our key players from last year, which presenting an opportunity for some of the younger players to come through from the development squad.
They are a young group, but they have taken everything on board and really stepped up and done themselves proud.
Q: Were there any matches or moments that stood out to you as turning points in the season?
A: The biggest one for me was beating league winners Poulton Vics FC Ladies away from home, making us the first team to do so, showing that we can beat anyone in the league.
Another one was beating Ellesmere Port here at home where Ciara Lee scored late on in the game.
And the one that will stick with me forever till the day that I die will be 300 fans shouting Chester’s name on Sunday and getting the 3-1 win for our last game of the season.
Q: Which players do you feel have shown the most growth this season?
A: Emma Gray, scoring 20 goals this season. I have not given her enough credit from me personally this year, but she is a significant factor in what we have achieved this year, she has really got behind the group and made sure that she is a role model for the younger players.
Sarah Redman has also been a role model and there’s players that have stepped up like Ciara Lee and Cindy Tweedle who are both really talented players.
The list could go on forever – is it would be unfair to name everyone because I think if I were to go through them all, I will be here for hours!
Q: Are there any emerging players who you think will play a key role in the team’s future success?
A: Every player that played in the squad on Sunday will play a massive part in the years to come. I think we will go on even further next year, aiming to win the league and have a good cup run.
There are some really good talented football players in our development squad, which is now going to be rebranded as the under 23’s for next season.
It has been really good that we have had 15-year-olds doing the warmup with us and learn about what we do on a matchday and experience that first hand is going to be massive for them.
Q: From a tactical perspective, how did your strategies change over the season?
A: I think the thing that we had to learn the most about was we don’t have to consistently score. I would always say like if we scored one, we have got to score three, that’s the mentality we had but recently we have seen that we take the games at the scuff off the neck.
On Sunday we dominated the ball, and we just moved it around, we do not have to go on and score, if we’re in a winning advantage and we have the ball and win 1-0 it does not matter – game done.
Against Woolton we scored five in the first half, and I think everyone was wanting to get on the scoresheet and then suddenly it was 5-4 and it was a shock to the system, with us going on to win 7-4.
For me personally, the message is to make sure that we are a little bit more defensive minded and resilient and we have shown that in the last two games, especially with the score lines being the way they are.
Q: Looking ahead, what are your primary goals for next season?
A: For me, it’s to win the league.
It’s easy to say that, I know it’s been a part of the club’s aim for the last five years, but as you have seen there are a lot of fans coming down and the league is becoming more competitive.
Our average age yesterday was 18 and it has been the same for most of the season but for us to step up, not have a pre-season, do a rebuild mid-season and play against some top sides it was always going to be tough.
This year though we have a full pre-season, we have got targets we want to work on and singings we want to make.
Q: Are there any areas of the team that you are specifically focusing on for improvement in the off season?
A: I think that we must work on making sure we have a goal scorer, although we have Emma Gray who has scored 20 this season there has been lots of chances where we have not scored.
We have had other players score sixes or sevens, but we need a natural number nine now, someone who will get us 30+ goals a season and that is what will help us win the league
Q: How important has the support been from the fan base been this season?
A: The support has been the best it’s ever been, and it’s the best feeling ever.
When it’s been really tough, and I doubted myself, and think I might not be the person for the job, I think I just look at the support home and away, getting 300 for our last game as well. I know that I am leading a team that our supporters can be really proud of.
That makes my day, it is a very heartwarming feeling that I get to do that every week but also making sure that I can do that for the next couple of years would be amazing.
Q: If you could summarise the season in one word, what would it be and why?
A: Manic!
But I have enjoyed every manic second of it, because I am really proud of what we have achieved this year.