SSE Wildcats Girls’ Football Centres from The FA will provide local girls aged five to 11 with regular opportunities to play football at One Call Stadium.
The initiative offers organised sessions in a fun and engaging environment created exclusively for girls.
More than 200 clubs have been established throughout England in 2017 and a further 800 are set to launch in 2018.
SSE Wildcats Girls’ Football sessions take place on a weekly basis, either after school or at weekends, and provide a safe environment where girls can try football for the first time.
SSE and The FA hope the initiative will inspire participants to engage with football, meet new friends, develop fundamental skills, learn new things and create the foundation for a lifelong love of football.
Sessions at One Call Stadium will include:
• A friendly environment
• FA qualified coaches
• Fun activities
• Football-led sessions
• Chance to meet new friends
• A pathway into football
Each SSE Wildcats Girls’ Football Centre will be run in conjunction with local County FAs and utilise qualified coaches and local facilities.
As well as activities for girls, there will also be opportunities for attending parents, carers and siblings to engage with the sport at the same time through ‘Family Sessions’ including Soccercise and Walking football.
The initiative is in line with The FA’s Gameplan for Growth, with the target of doubling girls’ participation in the sport by 2020.
The strategy for women’s and girls’ football at grassroots level includes initiatives alongside SSE Wildcats, such as FA Girls’ Football Week.
Allan Woodfield, director of ladies football, said: “It’s a great way for girls to get into the sport in a safe, friendly environment and a chance to meet new friends and learn new skills.”
Stags’ CEO and ladies’ chairperson Carolyn Radford said: “We are delighted to be able to drive more young girls into the sport in the local area. The SSE Wildcats Centre offer more opportunities to get involved with a forward thinking, progressive club, which is striving to improve in both the male and female game.”
Sessions will take place every Monday, beginning on 09 April at One Call Stadium between 5.30pm and 6.30pm.
The cost is £2 per session and to register interest, please email mtlfcwildcats@gmail.com.
