Ben Yeomans relishing the task of new season for Cambridge United Women

A blank canvas has provided Ben Yeomans the chance to create something new at Cambridge United Women this season.

It was a year of change for the U’s in 2019/20, as Yeomans stepped up from assistant manager to take over from Kevin Hoover midway through the season.

There had been ups and downs, but when the FA Women’s National League, Division One South East campaign was brought to an end by the pandemic, the U’s were on an upward curve having won three games in a row.

“We had a couple of injuries early on to big players, we missed out very narrowly in some tight games early in the season which killed some of the confidence of some of the girls and our squad was just generally thin,” says Yeomans.

“Looking back, we had an environment where the team picked itself, there wasn’t too much competition for places.

“We were scraping around for players to come and help us and get involved, it just dropped the mentality and effort a little bit.

“It was a difficult season, but don’t get me wrong, towards the back end of the year we started to pick up. We built some momentum and things were going well, we had won three on the bounce just before lockdown.

“This year is complete chalk and cheese to that.

“The quality of girls that have come through the trials has been outstanding. We have revamped the development side because the gulf in quality between the first and the development team was too big.

“We’ve brought that competitive environment back, and everybody is hungry, keen and wanting to be part of that first team which is exactly how I want it.”

Yeomans was not exactly thrust into the hot-seat as he had been with United for the past three years in a coaching capacity behind the scenes, before taking over as assistant from Sean Greygoose in 2019.

Making the transition to manager, Yeomans has been supported by a management structure that includes development head coach Leon Holden and goalkeeping coach Gary Dean.

It has meant that he has been able to put his own stamp on the club this summer, with the majority of players retained and added to through a series of successful trials.

“It’s the first time that I’ve ever been in a position where I can coach what I want from head to toe,” says Yeomans. “Previously, it would be having to coach the way other people want me to coach, or different styles, or different philosophies, whereas this time, the club is under my umbrella and I can take it any which way or direction I want to.

“It’s really refreshing. We had a meeting at the start of the year and spoke about how the club was going to be, what we wanted and I can be quite obsessive and picky, but everyone jumped on board and it’s been fantastic since.

“I’m really enjoying the experience.

“Through the trials, we’ve had one or two players really surprise me. We’ve just got some really exciting talent coming through.

“We’ve got some great squad depth in every position. We’ve got girls really willing to learn and understand the new system we’re trying to bed in.”

Yeomans is not afraid of having a lot on his plate either.

At 28, he still plays for Mildenhall Town in the Thurlow Nunn League, Premier Division – crediting manager Ricky Cornish for his understanding of the dual role – and is chairman and head coach of Trumpington FC youth team, which he describes as a “brainchild”.

That is as well as working for Over & In as a community coach.

“Me and a brilliant band of parents formed it (Trumpington FC) three years ago,” says Yeomans.

“We have professional coaches embedded in the heart of the club, and try to give everybody the platform to improve and play.”

He adds: “I’m enjoying my football. Coaching is passion, but I’ve still got a little bit left in me.”

With that passion, drive and enthusiasm, you sense that United are in good hands with Yeomans.

There are also encouraging signs off the pitch as the women’s club have seen their links with the men’s side strengthen in the past year.

“We’ve now got ourselves into a situation where they send a representative to our committee meetings so we have constant contact with them,” says Yeomans.

“Since lockdown, we have been invited to the club board meeting for the first time ever which was a huge honour. They have verbally given us their backing this year, and they are just showing some real intent to care about us as a club and how we’re moving.

“For the first time, we really feel under their umbrella, we feel a part of the environment and the girls feel it as well. It’s created a real solidarity and togetherness between them.”

As for the new season, which starts at home at St Neots Town FC to Norwich City on Sunday (September 20), Yeomans, who describes himself as a “real stickler for details” is not setting out defined targets, but has expectations that he would like to see met.

“There is a particular style of football I want them to play, and I’m very conscious that every single detail is left down to me,” he says. “If it goes wrong, it’s all on me, and I’m willing to take that.”

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