IT is a case of ‘steady as she goes’ for the Coleraine Football Netball Club in the 2023 season, as both the football and netball squads look to build upon the progress made in 2022.

The club reappointed both Ryan McClure and Casey Pye to their respective roles and each is looking to take that next step with their respective squads this season.

Football

INs: No recruits to speak of, but looking to juniors to take step into senior football after last season’s premiership.

OUTs: Nil.

THE Maroons were the team that all others chased for much of the 2022 season, as they went undefeated for the first seven rounds, but the break for the Queen’s Birthday seemed to take the wind from the team’s sails, as the players struggled to replicate their form of the first half of the season.

Pre-season for the senior football squad began in the first week of December 2022, with a small break over January from which they have returned to the training track building upon the good work done at the end of last year, as round one approaches against Cavendish.

At this stage McClure reported no injuries to his players, as the side looks to catch the reigning premiers napping on Saturday.

“No injuries at this point, so we will be fully fit for round one, but there are a few players unavailable for the game but not due to injury,” McClure said.

The Maroons were a side that led the way in their style of fast open play last season that gave the team that undefeated start to the season and McClure is not looking to stray too far from what has worked in the past.

It will be interesting to see if the Maroons look to change up any positional moves for different players which may well throw the opposition off guard.

“We’ll try a few things with some players, but ultimately we will double down on what worked last season,” McClure said.

“Hopefully we will have more pace on the ball too.”

Netall

CASEY Pye oversees the A grade netball squad, and is looking to build upon the gains made last season when the Maroons finished fifth after falling to Cavendish at the first finals hurdle.

Pye had her squad on the training track from the end of January and numbers have been good and growing each session, as both the A grade and A Reserve grade squads build towards round one against Cavendish.

The coach reports that there are no injuries at this stage that will keep her from naming the best team possible for Saturday. The two squads have been focusing on their respective roles within the two teams, with emphasis on the individual players to nail down their selected roles.