Ladies start away to champions
ROVERS Ladies have been handed the toughest possible start to the 2008-09 Women's Premier League season.
Adam Lakeland's side, who finished eighth in the National Division last term, will visit reigning champions Arsenal when the new season gets underway on Sunday August 17th.
It is the second time in three years that Rovers have met Arsenal's all-stars on the opening weekend, having played them at Shawbridge in their first ever top-flight game in 2006.
And it doesn't get any easier for Rovers, who will face big-spending Chelsea in their first home game seven days later, before welcoming Leeds United to Clitheroe the following week.
Next up, Rovers travel to newly-promoted Nottingham Forest on August 31st, whilst new signings Chantelle Parry and Faye McCoy will no doubt be looking forward to going back to their old club Liverpool when Rovers travel to Merseyside in mid-September.
Arsenal, who also won the FA Cup in 2007-08, visit Lancashire on December 14th, whilst Rovers end the campaign away to Bristol Academy on January 18th.
After hearing today's fixtures, Lakeland said: "Well it doesn't get much tougher than that, does it?
"There won't be any easy games in this league next year, but Arsenal have lost one or two players to Chelsea over the summer, so maybe that's weakened them slightly. But at the same time, it's probably made Chelsea stronger!
"I'll be going through our pre-season programme with the players this week and when I tell them about our opening fixtures, I'm sure they'll work even harder to get into the best possible shape for those first two or three games.
"They're big games and it's a tough start, but we don't fear anyone in this league. We've competed well against the top teams in the past and feel confident we can do so again, especially as we've strengthened ourselves this summer."
