SEASON 83 - McCowan's A-League Preview
1. Northern Union
Last Season: Champions
Home Colours: White with blue sash / blue / white
Away Colours: All blue with orange trim
Stadium: Redemption Park (50,000)
Nickname: Union
Manager: Dani Pendragon (50)
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Goran Stroud (32, AUD); 2 - Sorcha Lonergan (32), 5 - Altzibar Sarrible (30, ASG), 18 - Rhea Henderson (28), 3 - Otoln-Prant Ezi (25, QUS); 13 - Iseult Conway (24), 13 - Sharon Erskine (28, EUR); 22 - Kitty Hazeldean (29), 8 - Felicia Brind (27), 10 - Tricia Pace (29); 9 - Jadwiga Lofthouse (22)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Karar-Falax Zev (24, QUS); 5 - CB - Horatius Chaumancer (34, COS), 8 - CM/AM - Gaia Penrith (30), 11 - LW - Oriole Blacklock (25), 14 - ST - Scott Walker (30, EUR), 16 - DM - Rhapsody Lane (25), 17 - RB - Pandora Finnerty (24), 19 - LB - Valence Ilya (34, CMT), 26 - CB - Ibilx-Irtix Ono (26, QUS)
Background Union are the biggest show in town. Everyone knows it. You're either with Union or against them, because they've specialised in taking all the big prizes and not made many friends along the way. Owned and fuelled by a mining magnate and favoured by the working class across North Hall and its surroundings, Union buy great players and back it up with ruthless, disciplined defence, and unapologetic gamesmanship. Famously, they were stripped of their 66 title and relegated to the fourth tier when they were found guilty of match-fixing, but they've recovered from that humiliation with suspicious pace. Still, even the hardest-hearted Brenecian has to admit that they do wonders for the UICA coefficient. Union's fiercest rival is Kingsgrove, their opposites in almost every way, but they hate bougie local North Hall as well.
Preview Across the first half of the season, Union were in an honest to God title race. Then Kingsgrove imploded, allowing Union to waltz to the title by a ten-point margin. They've celebrated by buying the world's best goalkeeper, Goran Stroud, as well as a Brenecia international in Felicia Brind to help spark their attack. What do you expect from them? They're practically a B-list Patriots, including regulars like Conway, and now the striker Jadwiga Lofthouse who will likely outgrow the league sooner rather than later. In terms of player ability and, just as importantly, winning culture, nobody else in the league can hold a candle to them. They've won five of the last seven leagues. Don't bet against six in eight.
2. Kingsgrove
Last Season: 3rd
Stadium: The New Royal (48,000)
Nickname: the Royals
Manager: Uther Corren (52)
(4-3-3) 20 - Mia Ria (35, CMT); 17 - Felice Lovibond (27), 19 - Hidawi (27, SHT), 5 - Reina Turnbull (27, NPH), 18 - Deimne Watermark (29); 14 - Anlysa Morland (23), 4 - Xuban Sarasketa (22, ASG), 9 - Jessica Siafik (32, SAJ); 10 - Miriam Troegner (24, VAL), 9 - Danand Tristram (25), 24 - Rhona Leonard (26)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Sonorous Lark (25); 2 - RB - Sonya Stezhenskaya (21, PYA), 3 - LB - Aureliana Kaba (34, APX), 6 - CB - Markus Costello (34), 8 - DM - Quan Darragh (24), 11 - LW - Setanta Ashvane (30), 13 - CM - Neal Windlass (27), 23 - RW - Horan Parkes (25)
Background The southern powerhouse of Brenecia, but perhaps not even the biggest side in Rozelle; still, Kingsgrove are a symbol, and the natural arch-rival to Union. The insufferable talk of the Southern Way - trust in youth, focus on pace and vivacious attack - pervades the atmosphere, and in fairness the club has produced many of the nation's finest players and managers while continuing to achieve success both domestically and abroad. While their catchment is in theory only Rozelle's richer districts, their youth scouts will pluck anyone from anywhere, and they're the favoured club of many rural southern sides too small to have a professional side of their own - much like Union, in the north. But they've arguably grown decadent, and allowed Union to steal a march.
Preview The Royals were left deeply underwhelmed after a second-half implosion turned their legitimate title challenge - ahead of even mighty Union by a point at the halfway mark - into third. They had a goal difference nine points above Union's; they were sixteen points below. Kingsgrove, then, canm absolutely hammer teams while playing at their best, but unless they can produce that best week-in week-out, expect the drought to continue.
3. Southern Star
Last Season: 5th
Stadium: Pride's Run (24,000)
Nickname: the Lions
Manager: Lenore Drummond (42)
(4-4-2) 12 - Sorcha Tanner (26); 2 - Vivi Conlan (26, CYI), 18 - Axelv-Zorno Ivo (28, QUS), 6 - Athelney Shrine (24), 13 - Mynah Seeler (25); 22 - Penumbra Till (28, NPH), 5 - Skaidrina Briggs (22), 23 - Medea Morin-Antonoff (24, QUE), 16 - Aidan Loxley (27); 17 - Manahaal Brimorii (28, MRN), 10 - Charlie Gray (29, EUR)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Onish Vadaparthy (36, STB); 3 - LB - Rankin Prowatt (25), 4 - CM - Rurik Deimantas (30), 8 - CM - Simone Cantiff (29), 9 - ST - Sebastián Carreno (32, VLD), 20 - ST - Chulainn Bauer (25)
Background Once 'South Rathia', the Lions bear the unfortunate distinction of having suffered the worst ever A-League season and indeed one of the worst seasons in the history of modern top-flight football, attaining just three points over thirty miserable matches. The rebrand in its wake was as much about rebuilding a project that had turned stale, and more effectively rebasing in Lastcreek, the southern keystone of the sprawling Rathia region. On the pitch, a focus on doing a lot with a little has been replaced; they have the cash to throw, now. Their rivals are Northern Stallions (nee North Rathia), for fairly clear-cut reasons.
Preview Lenore Drummond's first season in charge was a fairly underwhelming title defence, Star struggling to score relative to the sides around and above them, and the overall thinness of the squad wearing down with games. In theory, the additions of Morin and hulking target man Brimorii should fix that. Still, Star can reflect on their recent upward trajectory; not only have they won the title, but now, 5th constitutes disappointment. Another such letdown would probably signal the end to Drummond's tenure.
4. Rozelle
Last Season: 6th
Stadium: Meade Row (44,000)
Nickname: the Saints
Manager: Alora Heher (43, COS)
(4-3-3) 1 - Tiarnan Cove (29), 2 - Esther Sidle (23), 22 - Lucien Raeff (31, QUE), 18 - Tapio Niemenen (24, SRS), 3 - Nimue Culpepper (22); 8 - Crane Avery (29), 4 - Annika Miller (27, NPH), 15 - Tyoma Laurette (24, CMT); 23 - Mathgamain Fife (26), 7 - Felix Sebastian (29, NPH), 11 - Fortune Russell (29)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Ebony Carling (23); 6 - CB - Matheo Dybvik (34, VAL), 9 - ST - Sheena Glover (25), 10 - AM - Stemmon Perrodien (31, COS), 14 - CM - Sofia Falcon (34, CEN)
Background A large, successful powerhouse, if not quite the juggernaut of the Big Two. Rozelle's support base is a match for Kingsgrove's, and along with United they've managed to pretty much partition the entire capital between the three of them. They have much of the big-money flash of Union with none of the scandal, much of the style of Kingsgrove without the smugness; the Rozelle Way is just to win, and win well, with good players. A look at their trophy cabinet confirms that they've managed to achieve this with admirable consistency.
Preview The prospect of yet another painful season of rebuilding meant Derdriu Wright lost patience and left to pick up the Patriots job. Now with Alora Heher stepping up from the reserves to take charge, disappointing the fans after the board vaguely mentioned looking for a 'top name', Rozelle aren't even pretending to be making a title tilt anymore. At least Heher's a beloved name around these parts for her exploits as a player. Sidle, Culpepper and Laurette are young, exciting players who will probably get a look from the Goldleague sooner rather than later.
5. North Hall
Last Season: 2nd
Stadium: The Aspire (40,000)
Nickname: the Northerners
Manager: Charles Hunter (50, EUR)
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Hekima Drenel (31, SRS); 2 - Caoimhin Hadley (20), 5 - Nestoras Galatanos (26, VDR), 6 - Cara Keegan (27), 3 - Grey Merritt (27); 4 - Irene Vintner (34, NPH), 20 - Tanya Messenger (26); 7 - Nuada Speaker (29), 8 - Gaheris Archer (28), 16 - Sylvia Marusak (21); 9 - Valentino Escandon (31, AUD)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Murphy Collins (34); 11 - LM - Rudi Moisander (30, NPH), 13 - ST - Adrian Makai (34, PAS), 14 - AM - Jovani Cordier (26, EFL), 17 - RB - Rurik Cole (30)
Background Founded in the image of Muscular Christianity, Hall have always had a rather Puritan tint to it; formed by a well-meaning church group to help rehabilitate the corrupted youth of the area. The ghosts of this can be seen in their focus on physicality and discipline; the Northerners play fair, unlike cheating, superficially similar and nearby Union. North Hall the club will always claim to be the true club of North Hall the city, but nobody believes them. They've still enjoyed significant success over the years, always in the shadow of Union, outside the three glorious years their rivals spent in the wilderness.
Preview The surprise of the top five, Charles Hunter deserved his Manager of the Year gong. It's easy to dismiss Hall as a solid, stolid and predictable outfit, but the combination of fringe international professionals and a couple of young, bright talents - and, critically, 18 goals from Valentino Escandon, the best season to date from the brawny, muscular poach-bastard - got the balance right, between the usual disciplined physicality and genuine domination of teams. Can they do it again?
6. Marque
Last Season: 4th
Stadium: Goodship Road (32,000)
Nickname: the Privateers
Manager: Marian Ironside (44)
(4-3-3) 1 - Scanlan Pritchard (33); 2 - Veronika Fábián (22, PAS), 5 - Svante Whitfield (33, EFL), 6 - Celeste Taunton (28), 22 - Pavel Lockhart (27, NPH); 21 - Ecaterine Svobiene (20), 23 - Murgen Conrad (28), 10 - Armand Cariou (28, AUD); 7 - Niko Longshore (25), 12 - Bjorn Cohen (26, SNL), 16 - Pellegrin Csapo (29, PAS)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Cennetig Bullen (26); 8 - CM - Lavinia Riitsi (32, MRN), 9 - ST - Rook Sawyer (26), 18 - CB - Rurik Grade (25), 19 - RB - Arnau Mata (29, DEL), 24 - LW - Matilda Kerry (26)
Background The roguish, explosive Privateers cultivate an image as Brenecia's second club, based out of the nation's key eastern port. Something is always going on there. The football has to be entertaining, there has to be a pathway for local talent, and winning ugly or boring just isn't enough. Well, unless there's silverware at the end of it. As a result, Marque have generally underachieved their potential, but the fans are happy. They like to bring some colour to bear against their stale local rivals, Orient.
Preview Was Marian Ironside the brains behind Igrene Cantor's success the whole time? Well, no, but she is undeniably doing good work with the Privateers, guiding them again to the IFCF places. Increasingly the side is getting defined by its aggression in the challenge, in high and hard pressing. Marque are always great value, but Ironside's remained adamant that they aren't there to catch the eye, but to get results. They outscored Union, for fuck's sake, and were able to fend off their interest for Niko Longshore.
7. Northern Stallions
Last Season: 7th
Stadium: The New Road (24,000)
Nickname: the Stallions
Manager: Aoife Cresci (45)
(4-3-3) 1 - Clarisse Pike (30); 2 - Larissa Ensign (24), 5 - Keane Mathers (34), 6 - Andras Heward (26), 22 - Valda Harkhan (29, SRS); 13 - Kestutis Garrett (22), 4 - Natalia Legate (28), 8 - Susan Monaghan (21, TMB); 26 - Brooke Urbanik (23), 16 - Salvia Farrier (25, NPH), 11 - Ladonna Womack (23, CMT)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Garth Buckell (25); 3 - LB - Rurik Shea (27), 7 - CM - Cyper Corr (35, BNJ), 9 - ST - Andre Naulo (35, SAJ), 10 - LW - Miloš Simeoniwic (30, ZRH), 15 - ST - Buck Panzer (26), 33 - RB - Lexi Kinney (19, CDG)
Background Formerly 'North Rathia', reflecting where they hail from; specifically, the north is mining territory, the more verdant and poorer south is farmland. The north likes to mock the south for its poverty, in a 'tallest pygmy in the village' kind of way, though both resent the big cities. The Stallions' history is starker than Star's; they were little use prior to their rebrand, but have been a constant presence at the top since. Based out of the northern crossroads of Ironstone, which is, appropriately, the centre of the mining trade east of the Hall. Once won the title and immediately lost 8-0 to Union due to a series of arrests and violent hangovers in the title party.
Preview A dramatic backslide in results towards the end of the season killed off the Stallions' IFCF hopes, and Larissa Graves' hopes of keeping her job. Aoife Cresci arrives from Endeavour Brenecia and will have work to do if she wants to actually get better than seventh. That said, she's been well-backed in the window. Farrier and Womack are both fast, dynamic young forwards - Womack likely to be sold on in the future, but Farrier could be here for the long haul - while Confederate international Harkhan should bolster a flagging defensive unit. There'll be some patience for the manager to bed in at the McCowan's A-League level, but not an overwhelming surfeit if things turn truly sour.
8. Gallant Cross
Last Season: 9th
Stadium: Cruxhall (12,000)
Nickname: the Gallants
Manager: Medda Ringbill (49, BSE)
(4-3-3) 1 - Charlotte Fasano (32, SVG); 17 - Curtis Holman (26, KSK), 22 - Sawda Bedrosian (25, SRS), 6 - Sunil Damasekara (27, SYL), 3 - Leyland Howell (25); 21 - Kira Lorinc (24, PAS), 18 - Kadek Ahlberg (23, PFA), 13 - Gwynyth Hexham (27); 23 - Cuan Redruth (24), 7 - Iacopo Fantacci (24, SOR), 10 - Radoslav Cherganski (29, ZRH)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Hilda Granville (26); 2 - RB - Zsofika Sebeok (33, PAS), 4 - DM - Konda-Ralox Saf (33, QUS), 5 - CB - Vance Commodore (33), 9 - ST - Banshee Strider (35), 11 - AM - Yuria Taishizuno (32, HIN), 14 - CM - Candica Batton (26)
Background Cross are what feels like a rarity in the upper echelons of Brenecian football; the only consistently professional representative of regional town Stourhead, they’ve traditionally taken pride in their resilience and work ethic, but always had room for a damaged-goods flair player somewhere along the line.
Preview The regression to the mean was inevitable, as was the departure of Roimata Shehu, perhaps a season later than expected. But Cross acted quickly to bolster the team, letting a bunch of people go on frees and then picking a number up on frees... but those being Damasekara and Ahlberg, released from Sylestone clubs, and the journeyman-by-design marksman Iacopo Fantacci, who only signs one-year contracts in any case. Cross have locked in a solid future and should not find themselves overly concerned with the relegation dogfight.
9. Rockridge Phoenix
Last Season: 8th
Stadium: The Vantage (22,000)
Nickname: the 'Nix
Manager: Morcillo Clamidia López (46, FFD)
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Aarif Muhammad (27, FVA); 17 - Vaidas Salter (24), 18 - Zara Sinclair (22, TLI), 4 - Miluose Oches (30, TIO), 3 - Kyra Skein (28); 21 - George Richards (32, EOT), 6 - Leon Solari (29, SVG); 23 - Kristina Midtjaer (28, SVJ), 8 - Kotaro Katsura (31, HIN), 19 - Aoife Freemason (25); 15 - Kambiz Ortan (24, SRS)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Gretel Harris (25); 2 - RB - Gabriel Farahani (34, KSK), 9 - ST - Jagoda Kovacevic (34, PAS), 10 - CM - Oscar Andrade (30, TKT), 13 - CM - Jerome Mettis (31, CMT), 22 - CB - Dean Zivkovic (34, PAS)
Background Formerly Ridgeway United, a side that won a title early in the A-League’s life cycle. Then financial reality set in and they crashed and burned to the very bottom of the pyramid, only rising back up after rebranding and refurbishing. Now under the auspices of an ambitious Euran cartel, they’ve become known for ambitious and well-targeted foreign signings.
Preview Kotaro Katsura! That's what the marketing team wants the fans to fixate on. It's an impressive name, to be sure, a Zenith hotshot and Hinodejin international playmaker and probably as close as they could get to a replacement for Camila Soria Luna, now retired for good. Morcillo Clamidia López has done a fair job of proving he can at least keep the Nix out of dramas, while Solari and Ortan offer experience and glamour while also being sufficiently damaged goods to end up at a midtable McCowan's A-League club.
10. Lotus Park
Last Season: 11th
Home Colours: Green / black / green
Away Colours: White / green / white
Stadium: Lotus Park (31,000)
Nickname: the Foresters
Manager: Russ Shorten (57)
(4-4-2) 1 - Ezina Swain (26, EFL); 2 - Freysa Monique-Pule (27, ZWZ), 5 - Darren Flowers (29, CBP), 6 - Jess Vorobjovas (24), 19 - Justin Pedroza Sierra (24, MVE); 23 - Avielle Foxborough (28), 24 - Nadira Pool (24, CMT), 8 - Praline Jansen (26), 11 - Nelida Steere (24, EFL); 9 - Orazio Canova (27, SOR), 21 - Kara Ciogach (34)
Notable Reserves: 12 - GK - Victoria Jones (20, TMB); 3 - LB - Lachlan Crowder (31), 4 - DM - Rain Gillis (29), 14 - CM - Cinta Priftil (21, SRS), 18 - CB - Luke Lemieux (34, DEL)
Background One of the major sides in the key northwestern city of Falkner, Park blend the affluent, suburban side of town with the more bohemian area around the Falkner University (FU, fittingly), Brenecia's intellectual centre. The club have been mildly successful, even through the cut-throat merger years, generally finding a way to keep afloat, generally with an attractive brand of football. Despite Falkner's rather placid reputation, the local derbies against United are genuinely vicious, fuelled by Park's notorious tendency of stealing talents from United's natural catchment.
Preview Unsurprisingly, the Foresters' strategy of hiring two very good strikers in Ciogach and Canova hit paydirt, as they outscored every team beneath them to finish comfortably safe. Granted, their next highest scorer after those two were midfielders Foxborough and Jansen, tied on... three. They've focused on defensive reinforcements, Flowers and Justin slotted in to finish honestly one of the more solid back lines in the league, and generally look rock-solid. In their starting XI. Injuries could be catastrophic for them, but as the McCowan's A-League's middle class has grown stronger, Park have kept up the pace.
11. Guilder
Last Season: 10th
Stadium: Sandstone Avenue (23,000)
Nickname: the Turbines
Manager: Andrea Rohan (50)
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Helaia Sivitri (34, SRS); 16 - Aspar Brink (28, FFD), 5 - Iucharba Killen (24), 6 - Alessia Giribaldi (30, SVG), 3 - Torsten Eikholm (28, KOR); 8 - Ide Usano (25, ASG), 21 - Kahitana Kandadija (27, FFD); 7 - Moira Kenny (22, EUR), 15 - Vaida Meskela (21), 11 - Kate Stepford (28); 9 - Villanelle Rizzari (28, COS)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Ríçâr Sçârî (25, FFD); 4 - AM - Dimitri Pent (28), 10 - LW - Mariska Akker (21, COR), 15 - AM - Paul Llewelyn (33), 22 - LB - Koharu Soler (29, HIN)
Background A small southern town, Guilder sits approximately at the crossroads of Rozelle, Marque and Falkner, starting out as a trading post that grew in the industrial era. In more recent times, Guilder's earned an odd reputation for environmental affairs; the nickname 'the Turbines', after the wind farms built to try and even out all the mines in Brenecia, has been reclaimed and stuck. The club are something of a yo-yo side traditionally.
Preview Increasingly entrenched in midtable, the Turbines may have the worst nickname in the league, but they are able to put together some decent performances and they can boast a very mean defence, now bolstered by Eikholm. He's from Ko-oren, need one say more? But Guilder have a reason to be, not just enough quality to linger; Kenny and Meskela are two of the most exciting young attacking talents in the league, and it's hard to imagine them sticking around forever. Keep an eye on them going fowrard, but they aren't immune to drifting into danger.
12. Twin Saints
Last Season: 12th
Stadium: Shady Moorside (11,000)
Nickname: the Twins
Manager: Cristobal Madera (52, OSR)
(4-4-2) 20 - Brian Merson (31, TKT); 2 - River Clemence (27), 5 - Evander Bowerman (33), 19 - Marnus Cubben (26), 3 - Genevre Harker (26, EFL); 7 - Elida Jaranogi (27, SRS), 4 - Czigany Vas (25, PAS), 21 - Lélé Rouselle (31, KOR), 11 - Sela Saotisohi (27, SRS); 15 - Wladmir Imilić (25, ZRH), 9 - Uathach Walker (29)
Notable Reserves: 1 - Gareth Clevinger (29); 8 - CM - Xabat Legarza (34, AUD), 13 - RM - Lola Crossing (27), 17 - RB - Shara Hartley (33), 18 - LB - Louise Brine (23), 22 - ST - Lynton Talbot (26), 23 - CB - Merric Arnold (24)
Background A fairly familiar tale in Brenecia's rapid growth, as two rival towns - Saints Wessex and Essex - wound up more or less blurring into one another, and with both clubs struggling to survive, merged into a single unit. 'Twin Saints' is now the name on the map, as well as of the surviving club, a small city on the western frontier. There's still friction between the two halves, but the club, among the most stable in the nation, has been a source of pride.
Preview These days the Twins are just kinda... there. An essentially capable side playing essentially competent football, with a decided defensive slant. Uathach Walker has blossomed into a powerful all-round striker, while the commanding axis of Rouselle and Legarza in midfield excel at taking control of matches. Really, though, the Twins are just too good to go down but a stretch to actually accomplish anything... though it did take a late surge, six wins in the last eleven games, to secure that status last time around.
13. Rosbank Town
Last Season: 2nd (B)
Home Colours: Black / black / orange
Away Colours: White / black / white
Stadium: Rosary Stadium (28,000)
Nickname: the Black Swans
Manager: Jancis Adrian (45)
(4-4-2) 1 - Fabian Snæþórsson (31, GRF); 2 - Lina Watt (30, CMT), 5 - Marie-Louise Daucourt (30, CMT), 6 - Cromwell Thorne (27), 3 - Adelaide Bright (24); 15 - Yadira Ziegler (26, EFL), 4 - Harper Casey (29, KOR), 8 - Kristjana Eiríksdóttir (27, MVE), 20 - Belle Barclay (21, TLI); 26 - Franziska Locke (19), 10 - Anaara Baelli (29, MRN)
Notable Reserves: 7 - RM - Nils Chapel (32), 11 - LM - Elaine Sutton (28), 13 - CM - Alexis Claspen (28), 14 - ST - Stefan Punnett (27), 17 - RB - Jacqui Greening (28), 22 - CB - Joanna Rollins (30), 36 - CM - Demetrio Defarolera (18, FFD)
Background A large town in Rozelle's shadow, on the other side of Lake Liberator - you can get to the capital through a short trip on the ferry. But Rosbank has its own sense of pride, and the Black Swans, named for the notoriously aggressive seabirds that lurk the lake and menace tourists, have had a fair record bouncing between the top two divisions over the years. They have a proud record of youth development, and traditionally play attractive, attacking football. The club tradition, in essence, is to go down fighting, and they feel that sets them apart from the Scaffields and Franciscas of the country.
Preview The Black Swans dominated the league - though they couldn't outpace the Southrons - and look well-placed to stay up, adding the likes of journeyman defender Thorne and 23-cap international Watt to their defensive line and putting faith in livewire acts Barclay and, most intriguingly of all, Nephara U20 international Locke on loan from AFC Treason. They've often underwhelmed, it's not for nothing they've picked up their reputation as a yo-yo side, but even so... on paper, they have enough.
14. AFC Westpike
Last Season: 14th
Stadium: Sedgwick Park (26,000)
Nickname: the Teamsters
Manager: Florian Burnes (45, NPH)
(4-4-2) 12 - Udalaitz Altabegoiti (27, ASG); 2 - Claudia Marston (28), 13 - Viggo Gudbrandsson (22, KLD), 24 - Kitty Borden (26), 6 - Iraida Kostina (22, PYA); 15 - Llywela Hall (26), 5 - Sarah Reid (28, TLI), 8 - Adone Gennaro (26, OSR), 23 - Erika Leander (26); 9 - Cwenthryth Harper (25), 16 - Morten Christensen (28, FVA)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Markus Kattegat (25); 4 - DM - Erin Scheuer (30), 10 - ST - Crowley Mathers (31, CYI), 18 - CB - Gisela Alberon (34, SRS), 19 - RB - Icarus Vibes (22), 22 - LB - Litany Ainsworth (25)
Background In these times, it's bold for a Brenecian club to proudly show its Nepharan roots, but unsurprisingly the western port of Westpike is by a distance the strongest-influenced by the homeland, and AFC Westpike in particular were founded by Nepharan labourers. As rhetoric has dialed up, so too have the club, now officially displaying the Nepharan form 'AFC' in their title. This doesn't make them popular, but it does help them stand out. Arrayed against Pikemouth and especially Royal, Westpike's fans engage in the Nepharan tradition of pyrotechnics despite the best efforts of police.
Preview High hopes turned into edging out a seven-goal thriller in the playoffs. 14th itself wasn't so bad, but the manner of it was, a feted attack falling flat with less than a goal a game and just 20 points, saved just by how terrible Pikemouth and Orient were. Viggo and Kostina have been signed to shore up a leaky defence, one overly dependent on the excellence of Altabegoiti between the posts, while Cwen Harper will need to keep up her form after 12 goals last season, not counting another in the playoff.
15. Royal Westpike
Last Season: 13th
Stadium: Elan Court (24,000)
Nickname: the Cavaliers
Manager: Kendall Childress (42)
(4-4-2) 12 - Finn Nichols (32, CMT); 2 - Theresa Klaus (25, VAL), 5 - Aldred Sparr (27), 6 - Lieke Scheffer (23, COR), 19 - Erich Marks (31, STL); 7 - Ivy Yerron (26, CMT), 4 - Siegfried Franz (25, VAL), 8 - Vicente Escobeda (22, FFD), 11 - Lanie Sarrazin (29, OAM); 9 - Roman Tesarik (25, DEL), 21 - Mara Sand (31, CMT)
Notable Reserves: 1 - GK - Chiron Bennett (34); 7 - RM - Ross Hunter (32), 14 - CM - Camille Martinaux (32, CMT), 17 - RB - Dean Becker (32), 22 - CB - Cliff Sturrock (32)
Background Formerly ‘Westpike United’, the city is anything but these days. Royal are, as the rebrand suggests, aggressively in support of Brenecian independence and values, and aggressively reject Nepharan influence. Among the oldest clubs in the nation, they have their origins in Muscular Christianity, and have always attracted a right-wing fanbase. Predictably, AFC Westpike - who stand against everything they believe in - are their fierce rivals.
Preview While Kendall Childress didn't succeed in her stated aim of tightening the defence, which ended the season as the league's worst, she did manage to keep Royal up with five points to spare. Will the introduction of Lieke Scheffer alone fix that? Well, probably not. In truth, Royal are just lacking in too many areas, and with the bottom half of the A-League looking stronger than ever they may just not quite have enough to hold on. Wouldn't be the first time that's been predicted, though.
16. Southrons-Errant
Last Season: Champions (B)
Stadium: Grand Marquee (9,000)
Nickname: the Southrons
Manager: Bram Merchant (48)
(4-4-2) 1 - Gabríella Hárlaugsdóttir (27); 19 - Etta Cornelian (26), 5 - Anita Rao-Chavan (25, ZWZ), 22 - Nicola Clark (26, CBR), 3 - Trisha Nzonzi (24, CYI); 7 - Aidan Lindegartner (28), 4 - Geré Manaudou (29, KOR), 13 - Malachi Ashton (28, c), 16 - Maerhen Wake (20); 10 - Sharla Ornelas (23, CMT), 16 - Seneca Kemp (27, CYI)
Notable Reserves: 20 - GK - Keith Sheridan (31); 2 - RB - Rusty Warren (34), 6 - CB - Jayce Tanner (33), 9 - ST - Cedric Keane (32), 11 - LM - Sara Connell (30), 23 - LB - Roscoe Grant (29)
Background The Southrons made their name travelling in various small towns in the south for four years, when their stadium burned down. The nickname stuck, lasting even after they became good. Their fans are still convinced that a crunch C-League fixture some years back, when Union were working their way back up from their matchfixing sanctions, was... fixed, in Union's favour. Their rivals are unambiguous.
Preview Back up, but with the lowest budget in the league. The Southrons are going to be up against it this season, and their squad is undoubtedly patchwork, but the quality is there. Their main asset is their attack, having scored almost three goals a game last season, Seneca Kemp managing 31 goals in 28 games and now paired by the promising Chromatik striker Ornelas. The big question for most promoted B-League sides is firepower; the Southrons have that in spades.
B-League Preview
1. Premier Rozelle
Colours: Green and white
Nickname: the Eels
Manager: Lienke Vesper (46, NPH)
Key Players: Soren Laverty (GK, 31), Sana Emiliosdóttir (GK, 22, GRF), Sebastian Rashica (RB, 34, NPH), Itziar Lévêque (RB, 29, ASG), Selena Ninetails (CB, 35), Narendra Foroghi (CB, 26, SRS), Tuireann Luther (CB, 26), Casey Fisken (LB, 29), Cundoistar Kander (LB, 21, FFD), Manannan Coulter (DM, 27), Murray Evans (CM, 29), Desdemona Ndlovu (CM, 26, CBR), Kayleigh Reid (CM, 25, TLI), Gareth Malwick (RW, 30), Chloe Minassian (RW, 21, CDG), Stella Bradman (ST, 28), Lilly Taylor (ST, 26, TLI), Eriu Crowe (LW, 27)
2. Rozelle Alliance
Colours: White and blue
Nickname: Alliance
Manager: Kristijan Markowić (49, ZRH)
Key Players: Kelly Chaplain (GK, 35), Markéta Banik (GK, 29, HIN), Mathieu Vance (RB, 32), Nessie Kendall (RB, 25), Miona Rowlex (CB, 33, CMT), Garvin Platton (CB, 27), Orhan Mataras (CB, 26, SRS), Rufus Creek (LB, 33), Peter Andreassen (LB, 25, NRH), Daniel Belanger (RM, 29, KSK), Adam Kraljic (CM, 34, MRC), Jana Larionov (CM, 26, SVJ), Alivia Rivera (CM, 23, EFL), Laurentzi Arenaza (LM, 34, AUD), Mikaela Kjellsen (LM, 26, SVJ), Lorelei Komatsu (ST, 32, HIN), Alida Petrov (ST, 30, SRS), Kate Burnside (ST, 23)
3. Proudcastle
Colours: Yellow and navy
Nickname: the Oathmen
Manager: Lyn Crowley (55)
Key Players: Felipe de Anglada (GK, 31, TEQ), Yohan Gauthier (RB, 28, CMT), Tana Kiln (CB, 29, YSP), Sandra Mulder (LB, 32), Gergő Antalik (RM, 28, FFD), Chardonnay Keating (CM, 33), May Quinn (CM, 33), Sara Russet (CM, 31), Adelaide Casimir (CM, 26, ISK), Natanael Malmqvist (LM, 29, NRH), Graham Petrie (ST, 34, SCT), Jacqui Heath (ST, 34), Stefan Harper (ST, 29), Sung Ibarra (ST, 23, CMT)
4. Pikemouth
Colours: White and green
Nickname: the Harpoons
Manager: Liang Bo (53, YZH)
Key Players: Alain Donnet (GK, 30, CMT), Lisbeth Fellowes (GK, 26), Alexander Caulder (RB, 31, SCT), Murtagh Speed (CB, 27), Steiner Neill (CB, 27), Camilla Auskas (LB, 32), Antonio Bozic (DM, 34, PAS), Brii Muuren (CM, 33, MRN), Mhairi Jansen (CM, 28), Eve Kindred (CM, 27), Piotra Brookfield (ST, 27, APX), Simon Kvaal (LW, 34, VAL), Tristan Redmond (LW, 26)
5. Chafford
Colours: Red and white
Nickname: the Cavaliers
Manager: Daniel Snowden (60)
Key Players: Julia Clemence (GK, 27), Lissa Hayward (RB, 28), Dawn Connett (RB, 25), Brandon Ponscak (CB, 33, CBP), Ruth Bensom (CB, 30), Candice Mellan (CB, 25), Sterling Forbes (LB, 25), Tash Miller (DM, 33), Karel Tanzer (DM, 24), Grant Edelweiss (CM, 29), Lukacs rue Pfareliele (CM, 28, FFD), Louise Gunn (RW, 29), Yassin Vega (AM, 27, SNL), Elizabeth Rhodes (LW, 27), Beckett Keeley (ST, 28), Bennett Moore (ST, 28)
6. Falkner United
Colours: White and black
Nickname: the Hunters
Manager: Emerald Sheehan (48)
Key Players: Arden Millar (GK, 28), Olwyn Fife (GK, 22), Coriander Lewis (RB, 27), Orfeo Moretti (CB, 29, HIN), Oran Keller (CB, 23), Heward Stone (LB, 33), Kelleher Vintner (LB, 24), Faith Northwest (RM, 27), Danielle Cordelier (CM, 33, KSK), Eloise Hourihane (CM, 27), Aenepe Edramara (CM, 23, KOR), Tore Na'Verii (LM, 34, COS), Holly Steer (LM, 28), Tess Stocker (ST, 33), Owen Findlay (ST, 30, TLI), Tamsin Caphrey (ST, 26)
[b]7. Rozelle Archers
Colours: Jade and blue
Nickname: the Archers
Manager: Marisha Cade (45, NPH)
Key Players: Alisander Sandford (GK, 27, NPH), Milesia Stephens (RB, 32), Promise Kellow (CB, 26), Susheela Kaur (CB, 26, SRS), Lexi Holmes (LB, 27, HAN), Catubodua Jones (DM, 27), Theresa Varela (DM, 18, EFL), Chloe Sorley (CM, 33), Avril Wisnyewski (CM, 32, CBP), Claude Goodwin (CM, 23, NPH), Ivanna Hartley (RW, 28, NPH), Ano Ishimaki (AM, 29, KOR), Garrick Malcolm (ST, 32), Dima Camille (ST, 24, CMT)
8. Francisca Orient
Colours: Sky and blue
Nickname: the Jacks
Manager: Skara-Brae Green (44)
Key Players: Irvine Welles (GK, 26), Martin Thurrock (RB, 27), Theodore Rondeau (CB, 34, CMT), Emeline Pons (CB, 30, EFL), Rory Drayman (CB, 26), Connor Parris (CM, 31), Neil Metcalf (CM, 27), Strut Alnwick (CM, 26), Lara Mayer (LM, 26), Kinsella Morant (ST, 33), Natalia Ward (ST, 26, HAN), Alcina Yeardley (ST, 26)
9. Coppersmith
Colours: Orange and black
Nickname: the Smiths
Manager: Lilith Cromwell (54)
Key Players: Darren March (GK, 32), Royce Gannon (GK, 25), Lemuel Lowther (RB, 27, KOR), Greven Arist (CB, 33, SRS), Renato Lindsey (CB, 27, CMT), Belladonna Chilton (LB, 32), Ai Ueda (RM, 31, HIN), Meadow Foreman (RM, 28), Claude Kittenhawk (CM, 31), Ombre Pinnock (CM, 27), Haile Gabwen (CM, 27, SRS), Mars Behan (LM, 30), Viktör Ísnì (LM, 22, FFD), Silban Kihiyaborda (ST, 27, ASG), Thompson Bastin (ST, 27, TKT)
10. Endeavour Brenecia
Colours: Red and white
Nickname: the Torchmen
Manager: Cheney Staunton (41)
Key Players: Léòkadío Rüvündêwâ (GK, 30, FFD), Ottokar Izold (GK, 20, SRS), Johanna Cauldron (RB, 28), Reuben Cornwell (CB, 28), Jana Thurrock (CB, 28), Hera Marevi (CB, 20, TFS), Hank Hampton (DM, 28, DAR), Séraphin Szilágyi (CM, 30, FFD), Reeve Stanton (CM, 28), Jarek Nerkko (CM, 27, COS), Tormod Butcher (RW, 28), Halyos le Gall (ST, 26, APX), Vanda Gerô (ST, 25, PAS), Guillaume Csokonai (ST, 18, FFD), Nasrin Jain (LW, 26, SRS)
11. Finbar Stalwarts
Colours: Teal and yellow
Nickname: the Stalwarts
Manager: Fiona Catlin (45)
Key Players: Russ Cale (GK, 29), Arran Costly (GK, 28), Cooper Wainwright (RB, 33), Ketifa Cohen (RB, 26, EFL), Tony Huxley (CB, 26), Axel Norris (CB, 25), Robbie Weijsman (LB, 32, TLI), Ryn Ness (RM, 32, CMT), Edlin Bernau (CM, 31, TSA), Cale Lane (CM, 29), Hanan Paulu (CM, 25, SRS), Nyna Reeve (LM, 27), Maxence Steward (ST, 26, EFL), Edelweiss Carson (ST, 25)
12. Snowden River
Colours: White and green
Nickname: the Mariners
Manager: Alison Hawkes (49)
Key Players: Roisin Black (GK, 28), Sakae Hakugi (RB, 31, KIR), Loella Surrey (RB, 26), Cole Amundson (CB, 29), Marina Lowell (CB, 27), Pamela Corder (LB, 28), Ashley Turner (CM, 30, ETN), Clovis Moran (CM, 27), Arran Gerrard (ST, 26), Destine Martin (LW, 30, CMT)
13. Fiana Cove
Colours: Yellow and blue
Nickname: the Blades
Manager: Tash Nawalka (52)
Key Players: Baylor Lindsett (GK, 27), Justin Grezda (CB, 32), Mark Watson (CB, 32), Bailey Geofford (CM, 33), Bernard Gilson (AM, 33), Brendon Vermolen (LW, 30, TLI), Chimon Prandl (ST, 23, SRS)
14. AFC Swanbridge
Colours: White and purple
Nickname: the Swans
Manager: Emlyn Chilford (42)
Key Players: Rollo Varney (GK, 31), Brittany Horton (RB, 28, HAN), Jaroslava Marchenko (CB, 29, CMT), Pallavi Brutsky (CB, 26, SRS), Maurine Calley (LB, 29), Alexis Martyn (CM, 34), Miguel Almanzar (CM, 29, FFD), Carina Bruce (ST, 33), Donal Chance (LW, 31)
15. Stourhead
Colours: Blue and yellow
Nickname: the Masons
Manager: Teagan Bridges (52)
Key Players: Markus Brendan (GK, 27), Eliwulf Tambor (LB, 34), Esther Justin (CM, 28), Sheena Megson (RW, 28), Alysia Keen (LW, 32), Scott Matthews (ST, 28)
16. Shaleport Rangers
Colours: White and black
Nickname: the Rangers
Manager: Lugh Wilhelm (48)
Key Players: Lennon Wood (GK, 29), Roman Rios (RB, 29, SNL), Celest Beid (CB, 33, TSA), Zalman Rodara (CB, 24, SRS), Sêvêr Fâerçâlenh (LB, 22, FFD), Kent Dulwich (CM, 31), Stefan Rafaelsson (CM, 28, GRF), Cherish Mills (RW, 26), Titus Dunne (ST, 31), Casper Forthright (ST, 26), Linda Redthread (LW, 32)
