Birmingham City

Blues Ladies manager David Parker is hoping his side can clinch the FA Women’s Super League title this year, as they get their league campaign underway at Lincoln Ladies on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 2pm).

Blues surprised many observers last term by finishing an impressive second behind Arsenal Ladies in the inaugural FA WSL season, after leading the way for most of the competition.

A strong Gunners team also pipped Parker’s side in the final of the Continental Cup.

The league format remains the same this year, with the FA WSL consisting of the same eight teams playing each other home and away – forming a 14 game season.

Birmingham can be confident when travelling to Lincoln this weekend, having picked up four points from their two clashes with the Lady Imps in 2011, conceding just one goal.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Lincolnshire, Parker said: “I think it’s always going to be very difficult to improve upon. The league’s going to be even stronger this year and more competitive, but we finished second last season in two competitions and we’ll be doing our best to go one further.”

Blues will continue to play their matches at Stratford Town, and they’ve already won all three of their competitive encounters at the DCS Stadium in 2012, progressing to the semi-finals of the FA Women’s Cup and earning three points in their opening Continental Cup Group One tie with Everton Ladies.

Parker further strengthened his squad in the off season by signing England internationals Eniola Aluko and Rachel Unitt together with former Arsenal goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer.

An ambitious Spencer added: “I got a call from David asking me to come here – and it was a no brainer really. I just felt like I needed a change and to progress my personal development, along with helping the team progress in the league; you don’t know what can happen at the end of the season.”

She added: “Coming from Arsenal, a winning team, hopefully I can help Birmingham win a few medals this season.”