Women’s team make 5 new signings ahead of league structure announcements

Derby Futsal Club are delighted to announce the signing of five new additions to the Women’s team ahead of the 2020/21 season.

Amy Wells, Niki Emery, Kate Wright, Olivia Fox and Tora Bishop join the Derby ranks and will all bring talent and futsal experience to the squad.

Managing Director and Women’s Team Coach Matt Hardy is thrilled that the team have recruited such high calibre players at this point in preseason; “I’m absolutely delighted to be confirming the club’s first additions of the summer and extremely excited to be bringing some very talented and experienced players to Derby.”

Read more of Hardy’s comments below

Amy Wells and Niki Emery join the team after having taken a short break from futsal. They both previously played for University of Nottingham in the National Futsal League and BUCS. The pair are also highly-experienced footballers, having played at Nottingham Forest and are currently part of the Long Eaton United setup.

Kate Wright has played football alongside Wells and Emery at Forest and Long Eaton, and this will be her second season of futsal after playing with University of Derby in BUCS in 2018/19. 

Another member of Team Derby to join the club is Olivia Fox. She was voted as Manager’s Player of the Year for University Futsal 1st team last year, and will bring steeliness and poise to the squad.

The fifth new signing is Tora Bishop. Tora has experience playing both football and futsal at the University of Leicester and is another quality player to add to the ranks.

With the addition of Wright and Fox, Derby Futsal Women further strengthen their ties with University of Derby, as they now have 14 Team Derby current players or graduates in the side.

All five women attended the recent internal Derby Futsal preseason introduction video-call, where the committee laid out plans for the year, post-COVID19. 

Matt Hardy, Managing Director & Women’s Team Coach: 

“From the moment we decided that I would be taking over from James Coyne, we made recruitment our number one priority for the Women’s team, in order to build on the steps James and the squad took in the latter stages of last season before the league was cancelled.”

“We’ve worked really hard to put a plan in place where we can show we’re ready to move forwards from last season and I believe these signings really highlight these intentions.”

“A tremendous amount of credit must be given to Heather Keith and Hannah Roberts for the part they’ve played in sealing these signings. Both have worked so hard on this and I know I speak for both of them, the new faces and the rest of the squad too, when I say we’re so excited to get back on court and get playing again.”