TOP FLIGHT: Fencibles blue and red colours are seen this season in the Lotto northern premier women's football league. Times photo Wayne Martin.

Fencibles United has a team in the Lotto Northern League premier women’s competition, considered the top women’s league in the country.

It’s the first time Fencibles has entered the premier division, after finishing third in division one in 2008 and winning the division two competition in 2007.

Manager Scott Harrison says the team’s formation is part of a long-term project to give younger girls the opportunity to continue their football careers at the club.

“Fencibles has been developing a lot of talented young players who have all had to move to other clubs in order to go further.

“The premier women’s team will provide an avenue for local young players to play at the highest level,” says Harrison.

The club has enlisted former All Whites star Keith ‘Buzzer’ Mackay as head of its coaching team.

Mackay, along with former national coach Kevin Fallon, also runs a youth football academy at the club and intends that these players will feed into the premier team in years to come.

“The academy is the future of the club – we have good numbers and there’s good potential here,” he says.

Mackay acknowledges the first season in the premier division will be a tough task for his inexperienced side.

“The majority of our players haven’t played at this level before. We don’t have any over expectations for the season. We’re going to have our ups and downs.

“Hopefully at the end of the season we can say we have been a credible side that can compete.”

Harrison says the club has a five-year plan for success in the league.

“This season we want to develop as a team, and be competitive week in, week out. Next year we want to build on this year’s foundation.

“In three years we want to be competitive. In five years we want to challenge for the title,” says Harrison.

But after their 6-0 loss against Eastern Suburbs over Easter, the focus is on minimising technical and tactical errors.