SOCCER: Ipswich Town Women FC break new ground tonight when they take on Barking Ladies under floodlights in the Southern Division of The FA Premier League Notcutt's Park, Woodbridge Town.

By Elvin King

SOCCER

IPSWICH Town Women FC break new ground tonight when they take on Barking Ladies under floodlights in the Southern Division of The FA Premier League Notcutt's Park, Woodbridge Town.

And they hope a change of venue and a switch from their normal Sunday matchday will help generate fresh interest in the club.

"This is the first time Ipswich Town Women have played a home league game under lights and it gives us the opportunity to display our talents in front of a new audience," said development coach Gregory Cooper.

"As the leading female participation sport in the country there are more and more opportunities opening for youngsters to participate in football, our club being a prime example.

"We have recently grown to accommodate seven teams with more than 100 players. This match is a fantastic opportunity for potential players and football followers to see for themselves the standard of the women's game.

"I think visitors will be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the game and enjoy the brand of passing football that we play."

Having suffered a 4-3 reversal at the hands of Chelsea at the weekend, Sean Thacker's team will be aiming to find the form shown in a previous run of four consecutive victories in the league.

Ipswich Town Women's usual Sunday afternoon home venue is the ITFC Training Ground at Bent Lane, Rushmere, the home of the Ipswich Town Academy.

Normal admission is £2 but for this special match two adults can gain entry for £3 including programme. A free prize draw will be held with tickets to see both Ipswich Town and Ipswich Town Women in action.

Cooper added: "We hope to see some fresh faces. We do not receive any funding from ITFC and really need to generate income from a fan base we do not have at present."

YOUNG footballers from West Suffolk College's Bury St Edmunds Football School are well aware of the benefits of full fitness.

And they have given up part of their half-term week for special training, with boys and girls being called back into college for a day.

Sessions are held every six weeks to check that they are all on course for physical perfection.

Bleep tests and reaction training are combined with lectures on diet and avoiding injury.

Nick Nelson, WS College's senior sports science lecturer said: "We are able to tell accurately if players are on track, and then adjust their training accordingly,".