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More females wanted for
football
FEMALES inspired by the England
football team's success at the Women's World Cup are being urged to get involved
in 1 of County FA's Female Football programmes across Merseyside.
Female football is the fastest growing format of football in Merseyside.
Liverpool County FA have over 170 female grassroots football teams across
Merseyside who have teams ranging from under 7's through to adult female, playing
five a side to 11 against 11 at various indoor or outdoor football facilities.
Liverpool County FA have just completed the Merseyside Game Changer which
included a complete review of female football in the area including school,
grassroots, recreational football and the Female Talent Pathway.
Over 350 females aged from 5 years upwards were consulted by the County FA on
what changes and developments could be made to improve female football for
females of all ages and abilities. The overall findings from the Game Changer
highlighted that females want to be treated the same as their male counterparts
and be given the same opportunities to play football, access to better playing
and training facilities and increase promotion/media coverage of the female game
to help change the perception of the game and increase participation rates in
Merseyside.
Playing a helping hand in changing the perception of female football are the
four local female players currently flying the flag for Merseyside in the
Women's World Cup in Canada; Fara Williams, Toni Duggan, Alex Greenwood and
Jodie Taylor. Fara is an adopted Scouser, and has played football in Merseyside
since 2004 with Everton Ladies and her current club Liverpool Ladies. Liverpool
born Toni Duggan (Manchester City) and Alex Greenwood (Notts County) started
their careers playing with Everton Ladies in their Centre of Excellence and they
both progressed into the 1st team, and Jodie Taylor from Birkenhead (Portland
Thorns) began playing the game with Tranmere Rovers Ladies and has played in
America, Sweden and Australia.
Female Football in Merseyside has benefited from £30,000 of investment from
various external funding agencies including the Football Foundation, Sport
England and the People's Postcode Trust during the 2014-15 season.
Anna Farrell, Football Development Officer for Liverpool County FA said:-
"Female Football is the fastest growing format of football in Merseyside and the
achievements of the Lionness in Canada is only going to increase awareness and
help us change perception of the game locally and nationally.
The FA has recently launched the #WeCanPlay which aims to canvass the support of
100,000 girls and parents as part of its drive to boost participation and change
the way girls/parents view the game. At Liverpool County FA we are working
tirelessly to ensure that we cater for the needs and wants of our female
community and ensure that we offer football for players of all ages, abilities,
races, religions and disabilities."
Councillor Tim Moore, Mayoral Lead for Sport, said:- "The success of the
England Lionesses at the World Cup could prove key to changing the perception of
football and get the message across that it is a sport for both women and men.
It is fantastic that we have such a strong local contingent in the national
squad and that is a reflection of our work with the FA to create fantastic
facilities, which are used by leagues with players of all ages and abilities."
For further information on the #WeCanPlay programme and also for further
information on female football in Merseyside please visit:-
LiverpoolFA.com or contact Anna Farrell, Football Development Officer at
Liverpool County FA on:- 0151 523 4488. You can also send them an
email. |
