Their male counterparts have already got their feet up and are relaxing during their summer break and now the players from the Dundee United Women’s team are eyeing doing the same.
For them, though, the looming time off takes the form of a mid-season break and, by the time it comes round, manager Gavin Beith wants them to have taken a big step towards back-to-back promotions in their first two years in the senior league set-up.
Last weekend’s emphatic 4-0 home win over promotion rivals Inverness Ladies left the Tangerines two points ahead of the Highlanders and Granite City at the top of SWFL Division 1 North, and Gavin wants to see that gap at least maintained in the two games before the break.
And, while this term has been tougher than an inaugural season that saw virtually every opponent swept aside with consummate ease, he believes it’s also shown his players how good they can be.
“Last season it was hard to tell how good we were because we were comfortably the best team in our league, as the scores showed,” he said.
“This time, early on we had a spell when we lost to Central Girls in the league and went out of the Scottish Cup and the League Cup pretty much in back-to-back games.
“In the league defeat, the winner came in the 93rd minute, so that made it even harder to take, though I have to say I thought Central played very well that day and were well worth their win.
“For us, those games were really the first time since the club was formed we’ve had a spell where things haven’t gone our way.
“That’s told me a lot more about the girls than when we were running up big wins almost every week last season.
“They’ve worked hard to come through it and shown when they produce what they are capable of for most of a game, they are a very good side.
“That’s been very pleasing because there are good teams in our division.
“So to come back from that sticky spell and get to the top of the league has taken some good form.
“And against Inverness last week I thought we put together a very good performance for 75 to 80 minutes. It finished 4-0 but it really seemed like four going on 14 at times.”
United will round off the first half of their season with trips to mid-table pair Stirling University Development on Sunday, then Aberdeen U/23s a fortnight later.
Whether or not all goes to plan and they remain top of the table, Gavin believes a strong second half of the campaign is on the cards.
“I think like last year the girls will have learned quite a bit about the league during this first half and, over the six weeks of the break, use that knowledge to come back ready for the rest of the season.
“Last year we definitely looked a more mature side after the break and, if the same thing happens, we will have a very good chance of going on and winning promotion again.”
Even if that’s not the case, the former Dundee player knows it will not be for want of trying.
“As you’ll probably remember, Dundee United Women has been my first involvement in ladies football and I have to say I’m enjoying it.
“For me it’s about being in charge of a team — and I love that.
“As well as being very talented, one thing I can say about the squad at United is every time we meet up, whether it’s for training or a game, I know the players will all give 100%.”
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