2017 Premier Women's Coach Announced

2017 Premier Women's Coach Announced

Forrest Hill Milford Appoint new Coach for 2017

Forrest Hill Milford United Football Club is pleased to announce that they have signed Ben Bate as their Premier Women’s coach for the 2017 season.  Bate was involved last season as the Club’s Women’s Reserves Coach.  His team enjoyed considerable success winning both their League and their knock out Cup. Club Chairman Dave Crombie said “we are delighted to have Ben on board again in an enhanced role. Last season we were thrilled to win the Women’s Knockout Cup and Ryan Faithfull, as coach, did a fantastic job for us. With Ryan involved with Auckland City in the Stirling Sports Premiership through till mid-May we have taken the opportunity to engage Ben as Coach. We were keen to engage a quality coach who fits our Club’s ethos and to build on the great progress the team made last season. Ben certainly fits this bill”.

Ben has been a part of the U20 men’s team as a technical analyst at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup and was technical analyst for the Women’s FIFA U17 World Cup. He was also involved with the Northern National Women’s League team.  Prior to arriving in New Zealand he was a technical analyst for the Football Association of Wales’ Women’s teams for 5 years. He began with the U15 development squad before working his way up through the U17, U19 and Senior women’s teams.

As well as this he was also the technical analyst for The New Saints Football Club for 6 years winning several Welsh Premier League, Welsh Cup and Welsh League Cup medals during his time at the club. He also competed in 4 Champions League and a Europa League qualifying campaign. He has coached since he was 16 at grassroots through to academy level at a number of clubs with both male and female players. He also possesses a Sports Coaching degree and a Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science.

Ben said “whilst I have significant shoes to fill with the departure of Ryan from the Head Coaching role, I am excited by the challenge and looking forward to working with this elite group of football players in 2017. There is a real depth of talent at the Club and harnessing that talent is going to be exciting. What really encourages me is the Club’s strategy to develop players to international level and to also give them playing opportunities overseas. This is something I firmly believe in.”