SOMETIMES you have to take a step back to move forward and that’s now paying off for the women footballers of Sion Swifts FC.
Twelve months ago, the Strabane team were making their presence felt in the Sports Direct Women’s Premiership, the top division in women’s football in Northern Ireland.
After being formed in 2010, the club’s highlight as a top-flight side came in 2017 when they won the Irish Cup at Windsor Park, beating Newry City 2-0.
The Swifts also lifted the League Cup in 2022 and reached the final of the Irish Cup later that year and the League Cup final last season.
They also finished second in the Women’s Premiership in 2019 after being pipped to the title by Linfield on goal difference.
But the early part of this year saw a sudden and unexpected upheaval with the resignation of long-serving manager Tony McGinley and the loss of a number of senior players.
No team could cope with that big a turnover of senior players, leading Sion to taken the tough, and currently being vindicated, decision to rebuild from the ground up, rather than struggle in the top flight this year.
Voluntarily stepping down to the second-tier NI Women’s FA Championship, in came new manager Christy Barnaby to begin the restoration and the change of fortune has been dramatic.
At the time of writing, Sion are top of the Championship table, two points clear with four games remaining and with a game in hand over second-placed St James’ who they will also meet in the upcoming NIWFA League Cup final.
“Our destiny is in our hands,” says Christy Barnaby.
But cautious Christy is quick to point out that winning the title won’t necessarily mean an immediate return to the Premiership.
“ There is an application process that we are looking at before progression can be made,” Christy explains.
“Our focus right now is on winning the Championship and the making sure we have a squad ready to take on the Premiership challenge before making any big or hasty decisions on our next step.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done at the club and in my first close season I will be looking at our structures all the way down our age groups to ensure we continue to attract and produce the best young talent in the North West.
“In truth, were it not for the young players stepping up to fill the gaps created by those who left, we would not have a senior team at all. I want to make sure that pathway is still there and mapped out for our juniors in the future.”
The turnaround is remarkable, considering Christy arrived in February to take charge of just nine senior players while the side currently top of the Championship relies strongly on youth, with an average age of 18 and player ages ranging from 16 to 26… and they still haven’t lost since their second game of the season.
That is down, in large part, to the combined goals tally of Cache Crumlish with 21, Christy’s sister Rachel Barnaby and Caoimhne Heron, both with 18.
Christy’s decision to come on board followed a break from football in the lead-up to his wedding. He had previously been with Maiden City, in Derry, where he helped develop the girls’ and senior team.
“It was an offer I couldn’t refuse,” he said of the Sion approach.
Knowing the history, he had every reason to believe the club’s sacrifice of their Premiership status would be a temporary setback.
The Swifts had grown from strength to strength since their formation in 2010 and currently field 10 teams – two under 9s, two under 11s, three under 13s, under 15, under 17 and senior, with 200 players registered.
They have produced a number of international players, such as Republic of Ireland midfielders Tyler Toland and Ciara Grant, and in June 2019 the club attracted wide media attention when their goalkeeper, Nicole McClure, played for Jamaica at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, in France, then played in a league match for Sion Swifts the following day.
“Our numbers reflect the massive interest in women’s football right across the country, even more so since Covid,” says Christy.
In their statement of regret at leaving the Premiership, the club insisted: “Sion Swifts Ladies and Girls FC is committed to grow the club and continue with its important work to empower girls and young women to participate in the sport.”
To that end, their next project is secure local council funding for an upgrade to the floodlit main arena, with a 200-seater stand, at Melvin Sports Complex, where they currently play on the 3G pitch.
Premier facilities to match their Premier ambitions.
