September saw the Guernsey Football Association’s Girls Football Programme recommence with the Ravenscroft Girls Player Development Centre and Mourant Girls Football Academy welcoming existing and new participants.

The Ravenscroft PDC is held weekly at St Sampson’s High School, from 4.00-5.00pm on Mondays and so far has had over 25 girls aged 5-11 attending with both regular and new participants joining in. Girls from schools across the island enjoy coming to PDC on Mondays and were excited to be back at football after having a break for the Summer Holidays. The support the GFA continues to receive from Ravenscroft is tremendous and much appreciated as the girls are rewarded with their own kit once they have attended 10 sessions.  Guernsey FA, Women & Girls Football Development Officer commented that:

‘It has been fantastic to see all the girls turn up in their purple kits on Monday and the newcomers have been excited about the prospect of earning their own kits too.  The girls couldn’t wait to get the footballs out and start playing, which was so positive to witness, and to see the continued growth in numbers and new girls coming along is very rewarding’. 

The Ravenscroft Girls Player Development Centre is FREE to attend for any girl aged between five and eleven.

The Guernsey Football Association’s Girls Football Programme continues to evolve and improve, and this season has seen the introduction of Futsal within the programme with the Mourant Girls Football Academy enjoying weekly sessions every Monday. Girls Academy Head Coach, Joelle Pengelley, has been keen to introduce the girls to the style of the game to encourage technical development and a competitive structure to the Academy.  The girls will receive a few weeks of coaching to familiarise themselves with the style of play and the rules before being drafted into teams, and with thanks to our new sponsors Mourant each team will be provided with their own kit to play in.  The Monday Night session will then become a Futsal League whereby the teams will play fixtures in a league format and in December a winner of the first Girls Futsal League will be crowned.  During the Christmas break the teams will be redrafted and a second league will start in January. 

The Mourant Girls Academy also trains every Thursday in a grass based session from 5.30-7.00pm where the focus is on supporting the girls to develop their game understanding and play, technical skills and also improving their teamwork.  If you are in Year 7-Year 11 and want to try football you are more than welcome to come along and join the Girls Academy – we have a wide range of players in the group and we cater for all abilities. The main thing is to enjoy playing.

‘Wildcat Wednesday’s’ have also recommenced at Styx Community Centre for girls aged 5-11 to participate in a girl only football environment. Wildcat Wednesdays started in April and have seen a small group of regular girls attending across all age bands 3.30-4.30pm.  The aim of this session is to attract girls from the La Houguette and Forest areas to offer an opportunity for them to participate in a girl only environment to learn and experiment with football and develop movement skills associated with ball sports.  Wildcat sessions are open to any girl aged 5-11 and are FREE to attend so feel free to just turn up and get involved.

Wednesday also sees Guernsey Ladies FC train at Victoria Avenue from 6.30pm for anyone aged 15+.  The aim of GLFC is to develop the young talent coming through the Girls Academy into open age football to prepare for the 2021 Island Games in line with the Guernsey FA’s Goal21 vision.  If you would like to try football or come back to the game please feel free to come along on Wednesdays to Victoria Avenue at 6.30pm, with players of all ability more than welcome.

If you are interested in getting involved or have any questions regarding female football or finding the right session for you or your daughter, please contact the Guernsey FA Women and Girls Football Development Officer, Joelle Pengelley:

Email - Joelle.Pengelley@guernseyfa.com

Tel – 01481 200443