Cardiff Met Archers have been hard at work on their preparations for the upcoming Women’s Premier League season. Archers get their 2023 season underway with an away game against East London Phoenix on 29th January at 15:00.
Head Coach Tom Guntrip is joined by retired Paralympian Caroline Matthews MBE. Caroline was involved with the team in the 2022 season in camps and Cardiff Met BUCS training, and is a key component of their campaign this season.
Head Coach Tom Guntrip commented:
“I’ve really enjoyed working with Caroline so far. Her experience in the game is almost unparalleled, she’s been passing on knowledge and advice to players and myself, and she’s keen to learn from my thoughts and experiences as well.”
(On Rosie Williams’ departure) Rosie worked tirelessly on behalf of the programme and did a lot of great things that we are looking forward to building on. She showed passion and dedication in the way she worked, and we wish her all the best for the future.”
Looking ahead to the 2023 season, the Cardiff Met Archers are determined to deliver a strong performance on and off the court:
“We are looking to compete in and win every game we play, but fundamentally we are focused more on developing our processes and ensuring that we play a consistent way that not only sets us up for immediate success but also develops our players along the performance pathway and contributes to long-term success for GB and the individuals.
“We want them to feel valued as players and as people, and to benefit from all the support we place around them, from nutrition and Strength & Conditioning to performance analysis and psychology. We’ve been working hard over recent months at building our off-court support structures, and the staff we have assembled behind the scenes have been excellent.
“The nature of the team means that while we don’t get to see everyone multiple times a week, we know that everyone has been working hard wherever they are based. Some athletes have been with GB, some are based in Cardiff with multiple Strength and Conditioning and on-court sessions a week, and those further away have S&C plans in place and are playing for their local sides, but overall, we are very excited to get started.
“Camps have been full of hard work and commitment so far, and with the team being so young and full of potential, there has been a real drive to increase their skill level and prepare themselves for the biggest stage they can.”
The Archers line-up has shaped up over the last few weeks with new arrivals Brooke Mottram and Sam Hill joining the team.
Ella Archer returns to the court for the Welsh side, having been an integral part of the squad last season:
“Preparations for the second Women’s Premier League season have been going strong! I am feeling very prepared to get back on the court and play with my teammates once again. I’m feeling fit, strong, and mentally prepared.
“I’m so excited to get back on the court at the Archers arena. Nothing beats the support of a home crowd and especially an Archer’s crowd! They helped us and supported us through many games last season, so we can’t wait to have them carry us on the court again.”
Fans can expect exciting, fast-paced action at the Archers Arena this season as the Cardiff side continues to build. Find out more: https://archers.basketball/
Every Women’s Premier League game will be livestreamed on the British Wheelchair Basketball YouTube channel. The full fixtures list can be found here: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/competition/womens-premier-league-2022-23/
