Yesterday, Monday, Ailien Poese, the head coach for 1. FC Union Berlin's first women's team welcomed her players to Dörpfeldstraße for the start of training for 2023/24, following a five-week break. But there was a difference. They are now professionals. No more evening sessions.

This was during the day.

(Actually, the kick off to the season had actually been signalled by the players' medicals, carried out last week). But now, at last, they were on the pitch.

New challenges, new faces

With Anna Weiß, Anouk Blaschka, Maria Christina Lange, Pia Metzker and Sarah Abu Sabbah, five newcomers to the summer team took to their red and white stripes for the first time, with Union returnees Sarah Hornschuch and Charleen Niesler both also there. Both winger Naika Reissner, and another new signing, Athanasia Moraitou, however are still with their respective national teams (Austria’s U19’s and Greece respectively).

The training started with running sessions, led by co-trainer Sven Gruel, followed by intense “Rondo” exercises, five versus two, in a circle. It was hot, but there was little respite as the small groups competed against each other spread across the halfway line of the Fritz-Lesch Sportplatz pitch. This important first team training session of the season was rounded off with a full game.

Head coach Poese said she was satisfied with the start. "The session went really well. We met beforehand, ate something together, discussed a few things and then went to the pitch together. We played a lot, first in smaller games and then in a bigger one at the end. You could see with the girls that they finally wanted to be on the pitch again."

Defender, Katja Orschmann was also happy. "It's fun to finally have the ball at my feet again. Of course, after such a long break, one or two balls bounce off of you, but that's normal. Overall, though, it was a good first session."

Returnee Charleen Niesler, meanwhile, took an opportunity to reflect on her time past at the club, and how much has changed. "Four years ago, there was no thought of women's football becoming professional at Union. Back then we trained at 7 p.m. But now we can train in the mornings and afternoons. It's just a completely different set of conditions."

Looking forwards

Over the next week and a half, Union’s women’s team will continue training before their first pre-season friendly, away at Polish first division team Pogon Szczecin on 20 July. A few days later, the squad will then head to a training camp in Aschheim, where further games against FFC Wacker München and 1. FC Nürnberg are scheduled. After that, the Union women will play at home against 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam on 6 August, before their final run out before the season begins in earnest, away at the Bundesliga’s SV Werder Bremen on 13 August. 

Summer schedule:

• 20.07.2023 Friendly versus Pogon Szczecin (away)
• 23.07. - 30.07.2023 Training camp in Aschheim
• 26.07.2023 Friendly versus FFC Wacker München (away)
• 29.07.2023 Friendly versus 1. FC Nürnberg (away)
• 06.08.2023 Friendly versus 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (home)
• 13.08.2023 Friendly versus SV Werder Bremen (away)