Inside training as BFBS Sport explores how the RAF women's football team hope to stay on top
The RAF women's football team have been the highest standard in military women's football since 2019 and, despite moving through multiple coaching changes, their winning train hasn't looked like slowing down.
For this season, another change sees Karl Craven take charge of the team in a hunt for another Inter Services trophy, but how have they managed to stay on top, and what are they working on to stay there?
BFBS Sport's Kyle Dixon was fortunate enough to be a visitor inside the team's training at Lilleshall, and here's what he found out.
Their unstoppable attacking movement
It's something we've seen in Inter Services matches against their rivals from the British Army and Royal Navy, so the way the RAF attack in numbers with fluid movement is no surprise.
However, it's not just talented players doing talented things. The session showed it was a number of well-drilled, specific movements from players not even involved in the on-the-ball action that was key to the move, with the desired end result of match-winners like Lucy Farrow and Pip Wilson in space and positions that give them goal-scoring opportunities.
It wouldn't always go right, as it was training after all, but small details that become important were being doubled down on by Craven and his coaching team.
"Be aggressive, ladies," was one of the main shouts on the pitch, and it's clear that they want this team to own every duel on the pitch.
Importance of the defensive unit
The RAF boast an impressive number of defensive options in their team.
Cat Beaver, Abigail Hayes, Rachael Howes, Harriet Wellings and Ashleigh Housley-Stott are a few who have plenty of experience with the UK Armed Forces team, and when you add in the potential inclusion of Shaunna Jenkins – who has High-Performing Athlete status within the service and has previously played in the Champions League with Swansea City – it becomes a difficult job for the RAF head coach to pick his starting defence.
This camp also added some newer names that put their claim in for selection and in a session away from our cameras, Craven himself worked with the defensive unit.
It shows how important it is to this team to keep their Inter Services crown: they don't want to give their rivals any advantage of knowing how to beat them.
An England impact
The session started with a warm-up activator that Craven aimed to be fun: differential training.
It means players were working with a number of different-sized footballs, ranging from size 5 down to size 1, in passing and control actions. The effect was clear as players had to take more time and concerted effort to concentrate and get things right, depending on the size of the ball.
They had fun with it, but it got the team out of their comfort zone and working under pressure, which will be key elements come March for Inter Services matches.
The idea came from former Chelsea and now England men's team head coach Thomas Tuchel.
"I've seen a few sessions on that," said Craven. "I thought I'd give that a go, and they've reacted to it really well. It's something I try and implement every now and then."
Leaving a legacy as military sports personnel
Over the past few years, there's been increased attention on the women's game, including in the military, where a number of players and coaches are making waves in the civilian sport.
That's exactly the aim for this RAF team: to create players who can make an impact in wider circles than just military football.
"Intelligent players that can read the game, that's what we want," outlined the RAF boss.
"We're trying to create intelligent players, improve their game knowledge and also improve the player. That's what we want to try and do, and that's what we're here for.
"The Inter Services is confirmation that we have continued improving, but we want to get players in at high-level clubs and get them improving in civilian football as well."
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