Fran Kirby with Bracknell Town’s U11s (Photo: SSE)

Bracknell Town FC yesterday welcomed England and Chelsea star Fran Kirby to their latest session of a new girls-only under 11 football programme. The star forward was given a heroes reception by the group of more than 30 girls, all eager to listen to the advice offered by one of the game’s best known faces.

Kirby, who grew up in neighbouring Reading was joining Bracknell FC’s Carol Checkley and Tina Leahy to deliver a coaching session as part of a new girls-only participation programme being led by The FA and energy firm SSE. Designed to help introduce more girls to game, the programme offers them the opportunity to learn the foundations of football in a girls-only environment.

Fran takes a time out. (Photo: SSE)

It’s an approach that Kirby feels will bring benefits for both club and country in years to come. “It’s amazing to see so many girls taking part in these sessions, women’s football has made huge strides over the past couple of years and the new programme from The FA and SSE is another step to help ensure that progress continues”.

Bracknell Town FC Ladies player and junior Carol Checkley who runs the programme was delighted to receive a visit from Kirby and believes the support the club has received is of huge benefit to the girls “We’ve had brilliant support and I feel very grateful to both SSE and The FA for the funding which helps make this possible. Bracknell Town chairman Chris Day has always provided huge encouragement to the project and I feel so overwhelmed by seeing so many girls coming along to the sessions, enjoying themselves and making new friends. I hope more clubs can get on board and get more girls on the football field!”

Fran has a laugh with the girls. (Photo: SSE)

The programme has already seen more than 60 clubs from across the country sign up to receive funding to create girls’ only coaching sessions and build new competitive playing squads for girls. Clubs throughout the divisions including the likes of Arsenal Ladies, Yeovil Town FC and Durham Women FC have signed up to the programme providing more opportunities for girls to get involved in the game than ever before.

John Stewart, SSE’s Director of Human Resources, said: “SSE is exceptionally proud to be sponsoring the SSE Women’s FA Cup and supporting the grassroots game, inspiring and encouraging more girls to take up the sport. For us this sponsorship not only brings huge awareness at the senior level of the game but most importantly will help dramatically increase the opportunities for girls to get involved in football.

“We’re delighted so many teams have signed up to take part and are helping deliver coaching sessions across the country to the next generation of footballers.”

You can find out more about the work SSE are doing in women’s football as part of their #GirlsUnited campaign, here.

The 61 clubs that have signed up to the Participation Programme are:

• AFC Urmston Meadowside
• Arnold Town LFC
• Arsenal Ladies FC
• Bedford Ladies and Girls
• Blackburn Rovers
• Boldon C.A
• Bracknell Town LFC
• Bradford City Women
• Brandon Town Ladies
• Brentford
• Bristol City Women FC
• Carlisle United Ladies Football Club
• Charlton Athletic
• Cheltenham Town
• Chester le Street Town FC
• Chorley Ladies FC
• Colchester Town
• Coundon Court
• Coventry United
• Crawley Wasps Ladies FC
• Crewe Alexandra Ladies FC
• Crystal Palace Ladies FC
• Denham United
• Derby County
• Durham Women FC
• Farsley
• Forest Green Rovers
• Frome Town
• Gillingham
• Huddersfield Town
• Hull City Ladies Football Cub
• Ipswich Town
• Leeds Ladies
• Leek Town Ladies FC
• Lewes FC
• Long Lane LFC
• Loughborough Foxes
• Luton Town
• Millwall Lionesses Ladies FC
• Milton LFC
• Moulton Football Club
• Oadby & Wigston LFC
• Old Actonians
• Oxford United Women FC
• Poole Town Ladies
• QPR
• Riverside
• Rotherham United Ladies
• Royal Wootton Bassett Town Ladies FC
• Sheffield FC Ladies
• Sporting Khalsa Women
• St Nicholas
• Stoke City
• Swindon Town
• The New Saints Ladies FC (TNS Ladies)
• Tottenham Hotspur
• Winchester City Flyers
• Wolverhampton Wanderers Women FC
• Wymondham Town Ladies FC
• Wyrley Juniors Ladies FC
• Yeovil Town Ladies FC

Report courtesy of SSE via Synergy

Amy Turner (Photo: SSE)

The world’s oldest football club, Sheffield FC, yesterday welcomed back former player and England Lioness Amy Turner to lend a helping hand at a very special coaching session with an excited group of local school children.

The defender was taking part in a new girls-only coaching programme being led by The FA and energy firm SSE, which is designed not only to introduce girls to the fundamental skills of the game but also break the myth that football is a ‘game for boys’.

England and Notts County star Turner, who played for Sheffield FC in 2012, believes the increasing success of the women’s game can help break down barriers in the sport and encourage more young girls to get involved in football.  She said:  “The number of girls here was unbelievable, it shows just how much the game has come on and it’s great for the club and the area. We need to ensure girls enjoy playing the game and the girl’s united programme from The FA and SSE allows them to do just that”.

Girls from St Marie’s Primary School (Photo: SSE)

The sessions are run by Sheffield FC Ladies General Manager and former player Helen Mitchell and regularly see more than 30 St Marie’s Primary School girls take part.  Helen is determined to see this number grow and encourage more girls to take to the pitch.  She said: “It’s hugely important that we let girls enjoy the game from an early age, getting a first taste of football in an environment that allows them to flourish. Sheffield FC have a great history of promoting the women’s game and we’re proud to be a part of this new initiative.”

The programme has already seen more than 60 clubs throughout the divisions sign up to receive funding to create girls’ only coaching sessions and build new competitive playing squads for girls between the ages of five and 14.

Sheffield FC Ladies, the first club to earn promotion to WSL2, are one of five clubs in the Yorkshire area to be taking part in the programme, with Huddersfield Town, Leeds Ladies, Bradford City Women and Hull City Ladies all committing to deliver similar sessions to a new generation of footballers.

Alan Young, SSE’s Managing Director of Corporate Affairs, said: “SSE is exceptionally proud to be sponsoring the SSE Women’s FA Cup and supporting the grassroots game, inspiring and encouraging more girls to take up the sport. For us this sponsorship not only brings huge awareness at the senior level of the game but most importantly will help dramatically increase the opportunities for girls to get involved in football.

“We’re delighted so many teams have signed up to take part and are helping deliver coaching sessions across the country to the next generation of footballers.”

To find out more about the work SSE are doing in women’s football as part of their #GirlsUnited campaign, visit here.

Report courtesy of SSE via Synergy