The campaign is aimed at helping to achieve the FA aim of doubling the number of females playing football by 2020, with over 130,000 girls taking part in sessions delivered in schools, universities, colleges, clubs, community groups and other organisations across the country in 2016.

During FA Girls’ Football Week the whole country will deliver football activities for girls, which can include playing, training or just simply learning more about the beautiful game. Within Guernsey, the GFA will be delivering a variety of participation opportunities specifically for girls throughout the week with the Women & Girls Development Officer, Joelle Pengelley, coordinating and overseeing these activities, which are being supported by the GFA’s partners.

Ravenscroft Girls Player Development Centre

The Girls Player Development Centre (GPDC), which is partnered by Ravenscroft, was introduced during the 2014/15 Season and is used to provide focussed coaching for girls aged between five and eleven. These free sessions are the first stage in the Girls Pathway and provide high quality age appropriate sessions that are designed to complement other football participation opportunities in local Clubs.

Sessions are held weekly on a Monday from 4.00pm-5.00pm at St Sampsons High School

GFA Girls Academy

The Girls Academy is the second stage in the Girls Pathway and provides opportunities to progress from the Ravenscroft GPDC. These weekly sessions are also free and with a direct link into Guernsey Ladies FC, and the opportunity to play in age-group Representative matches, the Girls Academy provides exciting opportunities to learn, develop and be challenged.

Sessions are held weekly as follows:

• Under 12 – Under 15 (Year 7, 8, 9 & 10) Monday 5.30pm - 7.00pm at St Sampsons High School
• Under 12 – Under 15 (Year 7, 8, 9 & 10) Thursday 5.30pm - 7.00pm at Victoria Avenue

Deloitte After-School Clubs
During the last Academic Year (2016/17), a total of 18 After-School Clubs were delivered across the local Primary Schools, which provided a new participation opportunity that was enjoyed by over 250 individual girls aged between five and seven.  These After-School Clubs, which are delivered through the Community Partnership with Deloitte, will continue throughout the current Academic Year, with sessions being held in Notre Dame Primary School this week.

Secondary School PE

Supporting participation opportunities for girls within the secondary school PE curriculum is another important element of the GFA’s programme of activities. Throughout the week, the GFA will be delivering football related PE lessons at La Mare De Carteret and Blanchelande.

When looking at the week ahead, and women and girls football in general, Joelle Pengelley commented that;

‘It is fantastic to see the number of different opportunities now available for girls to enjoy the sport and with so many young girls getting involved over the last couple of years, it is heartening to see the growth that has been achieved. I am grateful that we have been able to work in partnership with the local primary and secondary schools to provide opportunities, through the support of Deloitte and my own personal sponsors, the Ray Lowe Foundation. The sessions that are provided are based around introducing girls to the sport and to ensure the girls are having fun. I am also really pleased to see a number of the girls from the after-school clubs now joining the Ravenscroft Player Development Centre as they start their journey in the new Women & Girls Pathway that the GFA has established whilst the GFA Girls Academy continues to flourish as we work towards Goal21 and ensuring the GFA has developed a team to represent Guernsey in the 2021 Island Games.

For more information about opportunities to get involved in Women & Girls Football please contact Joelle Pengelley:

Tel – 01481 200443

Email – Joelle.pengelley@guernseyfa.com