THE last time football manager Ron Atkinson became involved with a ladies' team they started fighting.

But there were no fisticuffs on the field last weekend when the former Sheffield Wednesday boss took on the challenge of training Silsden and Skipton ladies' club.

The team won the managerial services of Big Ron for a day after being nominated in a competition run by car giants Vauxhall through the local dealer Walter C Brigg at Cowling.

Ron flew back from a holiday in Barbados to put the team through their paces for more than two hours, giving tips and advice and showing them the tricks of the trade.

"I once went to see a ladies team in Preston who were the premier team at the time, and after two minutes they started fighting," said Ron, who has also coached Manchester United, Coventry and Aston Villa during his long career. "But I appreciate how much ladies' football has come on.

"The team had the right attitude and enthusiasm which was spot on, and they also had the willingness to work together."

Silsden's player manager Sara Raine commented: "You always dream of having a top coach, but to have one of the most successful managers of the decade is a dream come true.

"He's given us a lot of ideas and shown us how to keep the girls motivated - he got stuck in and showed them what to do.

"It's been a great day - we've offered him a contract and even if he doesn't accept it now, the offer's still open. He's welcome back whenever he wants."

Many of the team members said they now realised how hard professional footballers worked, following Sunday's training session.

Ron told the Herald he had no immediate plans for a future management job. He heads for France in the next two weeks to commentate on the World Cup.

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