by Ben Gilby (25/02/24)
Above: Sophia Demetriou (19) with her Corinthian-Casuals teammates. Photo: Jay Batey.
Impetus 71 sponsored Sophia Demetriou sees a mixture of pride and opportunities as tier nine Corinthian-Casuals move towards the final stages of their first season since reforming.
The South-West London-based side, who represent one of the most famous football clubs in English football history are comfortably placed in midtable in Division Two of the Greater London Women’s League with five wins from their 12 matches – a good return for a team who are still gelling and finding their feet in their inaugural campaign.
Reflecting on the season to date, Demetriou said: “Going into 2024 we had experienced a lot of change within the club with personnel, structure within the team, and style of play. We were, and still are, building the foundation of a strong and successful team with committed, talented, and able players.
“I think, for any new club, things will take time, and, using this time properly, we can create something that will last and help us progress. We have had some good wins and some unlucky losses but, whatever the result, we have come back each week fighting.”
However, the successes of this season are more than about victories on the pitch. “The best part of the season for me is to watch a group of young women become a tight-knit team with a great bond,” the club captain smiled.
“We have grown in spirits and we all understand each other to an extent now we can use this on the pitch to our benefit. This includes our manager Paul Taylor who is an integral part of our team and has helped foster these relationships on and off the pitch so a big thank you to him.”
With the Tolworth-based side one of the new kids on the block in their tier nine division, it adds just another layer of challenge to compete as they come up against teams who have known each other for an awful lot longer.
“That’s been the most challenging part of the campaign so far,” recognised Demetriou, “Established teams have been together for years and understand each other and the way they play to a different level. Something that would never be achievable in a short time with a brand-new team such as ours. There have been times when we have been beaten on experience, not ability, and that can be disheartening. As I mentioned before, our spirit is fantastic so this has been a challenge but not one that has stopped us.
“We have consistent numbers at training and to our matches which has helped this social cohesion. We even went to the most recent Corinthian-Casuals quiz night as a team. Social events such as these, in addition to the activities on the pitch, give me reassurance it won’t take us longer to establish this bond like other teams in our league.
Corinthian-Casuals status as a club of world renown sees interest in the women’s team come from far and wide. The club has a long-established relationship with Brazilian giants Corinthians with the men’s side of the club making journeys to South America, with the men’s national side icon Socrates playing both for and against the South-West Londoners in the past. This season has seen social media connections between the Brazilian club’s women’s team and Demetriou’s fledgling Casuals. So, how would she feel about the women’s team heading to Brazil next time a tour is arranged?
“It would be amazing to be able to go to our sister club in Brazil! I know personally, and as a club, we would love that! In the early half of the season we were sent messages from our sisters abroad wishing us luck for the season. Our photographer Fin had the idea to send one back so, as captain, I sent over a short message which was kindly received by the Corinthians. We created a great following from that interaction which we are very grateful for. I am honoured to be captain of a club with such a prestigious history and roots in English football.”
With the eight league games to go in Corinthian-Casuals’ campaign, Demetriou outlined her expectations. “I think a good second half of the season for us would mean a good bond within the team, consistent personal and numbers at events, on and off the pitch, and results that are convincingly in our favour. Beyond this, as captain, for me if we could carry on building the foundations in a positive way, we can attract players to join us and create a team full of experience and, hopefully, success.”
Follow Impetus ’71 on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball and @impetus71 TikTok: @Impetus71 Facebook: @Impetus71
Instagram: @Impetus_71 Threads: @Impetus_71
impetusfootball.org 