Football
Coventry City Ladies confirm pre-season schedule

Buy photos » Paul Cudby has planned a testing pre-season campaign for his Coventry City Ladies side. (S)

PAUL Cudby is already planning ahead for next season after putting together a tough pre-season schedule for his Coventry City Ladies side.

Cudby's side impressed throughout their debut season in the top flight of women's football, finishing sixth in the Premier League National Division.

And their pre-season reflects what will be another tough campaign with Cudby lining up five home games starting with a game against Sheffield Ladies on July 22.

This will be followed by a match against an American college team on July 26 before Brighton Ladies visit the Bedworth Oval three days later.

The two big tests come in August when they entertain Super League sides Bristol Academy on August 5 and Birmingham City on August 12.

"We're delighted to have such a strong pre-season schedule to help us with our preparations for a second campaign in the FA National Premier League," said Cudby.

"Sheffield and Brighton have both performed well in the Northern and Southern divisions of the Premier League and they'll be really tough opposition competing at the top end of their respective leagues.

"Bristol and Birmingham to finish off with will be phenomenal tests for us and we're delighted to have them both lined

up.

"As a club we're continually trying to progress and develop, and there's no better way to measure ourselves than against two of the best teams in the country."

MIDFIELDER Leanne McKenna, grand-daughter of Sky Blues legend George Curtis, played for the Great Britain Women's Police side in the first game of the Union Sportives Des Police D'Europe tournament in Denmark on Monday.

McKenna was part of the British side, which also included former City star Netty Manca, that was beaten 2-0 by Austria in Copenhagen. They were due to play Norway on Tuesday.

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