Michael Lee could be forgiven for thinking twice about taking on Merewether's Herald Women's Premier League coaching role.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In recent seasons, the club have been a heavyweight of Northern NSW Football's top-flight women's competition.
United made four grand final appearances in fives years under 2019 WPL coach of the year Cassandra Koppen. They secured the premiership-championship double in 2015 and back-to-back grand final wins in 2017-18.
When Koppen stepped aside at the end of 2019, hers were always going to be big boots to fill. United also lost several senior players, including midfielders Jane McDonald, Tayla Braithwaite and Leah Giuffre, due to various reasons.
"[Merewether president] Scott [Ellis] asked me last year to take the team on, and I said, 'With all of those good players gone, I'm on a hiding to nothing'," Lee joked.
Ellis ended up taking the reins and United were unbeaten until the league's penultimate round.
After then bowing out in the elimination semi-final, he managed to convince Lee to take the job.
"I really enjoyed it and I hope I get another chance at some point, but as of right now the best thing for the club as a whole was to get someone else in," Ellis said.
"We've got another grade of WPL as well as the SAP [Skill Acquisition Program] coming in next year. We're still trying to get numbers for that, so I tend to go where the next problem is for the club.
"Michael's been in and around Merewether for a number of years. He's played over 35s and has been coaching our under-18 girls' teams for the past couple of years.
"The way he coaches and his demeanor and his general football knowledge and football skill were something the whole coaching group recognised and were keen to get him involved."
Merewether's 2021 first-grade squad is still being finalised and training will not start until the new year.
A few more senior players are expected to be lost but Lee was excited by the challenge of helping to develop the club's next wave of talent.
"There's a couple who are retiring, a couple hurt, a couple not sure," Lee said.
"There will be a real exodus this year, there's no doubt, but it's not all about winning. I've always been a believer that if they enjoy training, enjoy playing, then job done. Winning is the bonus.
"It's going to be hard work because there is so many experienced players gone and we won't replace them, but there's a lot of young ones that will step up."
The 2021 WPL will start in late March with the grand final set down for the weekend of September 25 and 26.
As well as first and reserve-grade sides, clubs will have 13s, 15s and 17s teams in 2021. Each club has also been given a SAP licence.
"The SAP age groups are 10, 11 and 12s but not all clubs are choosing to run all grades," Ellis said.
"We're aiming for all three but that's dependent on getting enough players. The idea is the clubs get hold of players earlier then we can put girls on a better coaching pathway sooner."
Related content:
- Women's sports news | Newcastle Herald
For faster access to the latest Newcastle news download our NEWCASTLE HERALD APP and sign up for breaking news, sport and what's on sent directly to your email