The Fermanagh Mallards will hold an open/information evening on Friday, January 15 in the clubhouse at Ballinamallard United FC (7.30pm) as they look to build further on their success last season.

The club won the Coca-Cola Championship Cup last season, defeating Cliftonville 1-0 in the final, and are now hoping that they can continue to grow in the seasons to come with the aim of introducing a Junior team for players U14 years old this season.

The Mallards are currently on the lookout for new players and the aim of the information evening will be to inform girls and their parents of what is involved in the club, and to hopefully get players to come along and join.

Mallards Chairperson, Ruth Kirkpatrick feels that the win in the cup last season will have encouraged others to take up the sport.

"The cup win was definitely a great boost and hopefully it will have got more girls interested in playing. We thought of an U14 team because we are the only ladies team in the county but players cannot play senior until they are 14. Some clubs have girls teams up to U12 level so we hope to offer them football between that age and the age that they can move up to senior football," she commented.

The club has shown through international representation that they have plenty of talent in the ranks and the winning of the cup was the icing on the cake last year as the club went from strength to strength. However, they will look to improve on their league standing this year by making a brighter start to the competition. Fermanagh Mallards play in the NIWFA (Northern Ireland Women's Football Association) Championship with opponents such as Donegal Celtic, Larne and Coleraine in a highly competitive league.

"We finished the league well last year and we want to keep moving upwards this season," said Ruth.

Training will take place at Ballinamallard United Football Club with Juniors training on Monday evenings from 7-8.30pm and the Senior training will be announced at the information evening. The club is also keen to attract people to help out in any way that they can.

"The club welcomes anyone with an interest in soccer, whether it is to play, to support or to get involved in any way, to come along to this evening and find out more," stated Ruth.