Halifax Panthers women’s new coach

 Following the announcement that Halifax Panthers women’s team will be moving to a new training and playing facility, they will now be playing from the OSCA Foundation Community Sports Hub

The next big announcement from the Panthers camp is that for the 2022 season they have a new head coach – Anthony Mccarthy. He is no stranger to the women’s squad as he has been the assistant coach for the last two seasons.

Ant has vast rugby experience as he currently plays Rugby Union for Cleckheaton RUFC and rugby league for Birkenshaw RL in the summer. He also has a number of years of coaching background having coached Cleckheaton Juniors for many years up to senior colts.

 

He brings a different coaching style to the team and describes himself as “patient, personal, a problem solver, and very loyal as well as dedicated.”

 

He is the kind of coach that likes to get things done, but bring the team along on the journey too. He is a hard working coach with a professional attitude both on the training field and behind the scenes.

Ant’s love and knowledge of the game in both codes is evident, he will start by stripping the game back to basics and is a massive believer that getting the basics right and defence wins games and the rest will fall into place.

 

He has high expectations from the ladies he wants them to listen, take on board what he’s saying then implement it in training and on the playing field. As well as cementing a solid team base he also wants to work with each player to improve their individual games.

 

He believes that they key to growing as a team is for the ladies to ask questions and really get on board with his mission to bring the team on with the direction he wants the team to take and grow together.

 

Ant is the kind of coach that will give it his all, which is why the decision was a tough one when he was asked if he wanted to step into the head coaches role.

 

“When I was approached it took me a full week to decide. Not because of any of the players or the club but because I know I will put everything into it and it will consume me. I wanted to be sure I was ready to give everything as it means so much to me and to so many others (players and supporters). It’s a massive honour to coach the Panthers Women’s team and when I leave, I want it to be in a better place than when I came here”

 

 

When he filled in as interim coach for the last four games of the 2021 season following the departure of Ash Bond he saw that as a team certain areas for improvement, he chose to concentrate on the technical side of things, and wanted to liftthe morale around the training ground and attitudes on game days. By doing that he saw a massive improvement and that is how he wants to start and build on next season.

He has confidence in his method that improving one thing at a time will be beneficial to the team as it grows.

“Don't stress about building the wall just concentrate on laying one perfect brick at a time”

 

I would like to wish Anthony, assistant coach Connor Matheson the rest of the Halifax Panthers women’s team all the best for the 2022

 

The women are holding open training sessions for new players on;

27th November 2021 10:30 – 12.00

11th December 2021 10:30-12.00

15th January 2022 10:30 – 12.00

At the OSCA Foundation Community Sports Hub, Cousin Lane, Halifax, HX2 8AD

 

All females age 16+ and all abilities welcome.

Email Halifaxrlfcwomen@gmail.com to register your interest