Argyle Women return to Home Park on Sunday, 27 July, to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in a pre-season friendly.
This is the first time new Head Coach Marie Hourihan will be in charge of her Argyle side at the Theatre of Greens, with many players, fans and staff excited about the tie and day of action.
Wolves finished second in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division last season, with Hourihan facing the Midlands side multiple times whilst in charge of Stoke City. Argyle, on the other hand, finished 10th in the Southern equivalent.
Many positive changes and signings have occurred since the end of last season, meaning Sunday’s tie could be full of action for the Green Army to see.
Hourihan is excited for the challenge at hand and can’t wait to see what her side can do against a tough and successful opponent.
“I’m really excited – I think everyone is - to be playing at Home Park,” she told Argyle TV. “There’s a real match experience that's being built around the game, and I think there should be a good crowd there as well, which helps build excitement and energy. Wolves are a very good team, finished second in the Northern Division last year, and I know them well, so it should be a really good game of football.
“They’re well organised; I know the manager and some of the players well. They're going to be a very attack-minded team and very dangerous from set plays, so we’re going to get challenged and tested, but that is exactly what I wanted. We want to play and dominate the ball, and are going to be brave.
“We’re looking to see progressions on what we've been doing in the last couple of weeks. I think you've really been able to see that in the previous two games we've had, but this is a step up now in terms of the level of opposition. We, as staff, are excited to see how the players adapt to that and face those challenges.
“As you go along pre-season, you want the test to increase. This is also a good test for me to see how the players react playing under pressure and with a bit of expectation with the crowd as well at Home Park. The level of opposition is that which we will be facing going into the first game of the season, so I think it's a good opportunity for me to see how we are able to perform.
“We also need to look and see if we're implementing what we're doing in training, and whether we’re implementing the principles of how we want to play. Are we being brave on the ball out of possession? Are we being aggressive to win the ball back? Are we recognising the triggers when we can go and win the ball back?
“All these small, simple things that we've been refining on the training pitch, I want to see how well we take that on board and apply it in games.
“Wolves are an opposition who are going to pose us some real problems. We are going to be, at parts of the game, uncomfortable, but I want to see how comfortable we are being uncomfortable.”
Not only is there action on the pitch on Sunday, but around and inside the stadium, activities are taking place for all to attend for free. Starting at 11am, Pilgrim Pete’s Sports Day gives fans and families the opportunity to get involved with many activities and a free BBQ.
After the game, Club Argyle will be the host for the Lionesses’ Euro’s final watchalong, where members of Argyle’s squad will be present to watch with supporters.
Hourihan said: “This is a perfect opportunity to showcase the Women's team, what we're trying to do and the progressions that we've made to all those that attend. It's the Green Army’s first chance to see all our new players who have come in at Home Park, and of course, all our returning players. It’s a really exciting occasion against a good opposition, which should be a great spectacle for the fans and supporters coming to watch the game.”
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