LONGWELL Green Sports Junior FC is at the forefront of efforts to encourage more women and girls to play football.
The club has been chosen by the Her Game Too as the first to hold a grassroots weekend.
The event at the community centre on February 1 and 2 aims to celebrate gender inclusivity in football through fun activities and games for young players.
Lucy Ford, head of grassroots at Her Game Too, said: “We are extremely excited to be hosting this event in collaboration with Longwell Green FC, one of our Her Game Too grassroots partner clubs. It’s really important for us at Her Game Too to work with clubs that promote gender inclusivity and continue to provide opportunities for women and girls to play football at any age, and Longwell Green FC are an excellent example of that.”
Founded in 1966, Longwell Green Sports Junior FC is well established within the community and has one of the largest number of girls playing football (outside of girls’ only clubs). With over 400 girls registered, the club offers football training sessions starting from the age of two and up to U16. There are also girls’ disability teams, a women’s walking football team and a mental health support group. Teams play matches at their home ground at Shellards Road as well as Coronation Park, Hanham Woods Academy and Lyde Green.
Matt Draper, vice chairman and long standing girls’ coach, said: “Having coached girls’ football at Longwell Green Sports JFC now for over 10 years, it’s been fantastic to see the participation, growth and coverage of female football worldwide and at our club. Our girls’ numbers have grown rapidly and we have girls’ teams at every age group (some multiple).
Longwell Green Sports Junior FC has been successful with various teams winning divisions/cups, female players progressing to elite football – both youth and adult – and players becoming coaches and referees through the relevant pathways. “
Matt said the club had supported his own coaching journey, which began when he joined as a parent. He has progressed to the UEFA B and FA Youth Award, coaching many of the girls groups along the way. He currently coaches the U12 girls’ team.
“There are fantastic by-products for all from being involved in grassroots football. These include fitness, mental wellbeing, social and life skills, and most importantly fun and friendship, which cannot be quantified. I encourage anyone considering either playing football, embarking on their coaching journey or helping out in other roles at clubs not to hesitate, give it a go!” he said,
Longwell Green JFC’s partnership with Her Game Too began in April 2022.
The dedicated weekend will be an opportunity to promote inclusion of female players in football. The event will also reinforce the Her Game Too campaign to tackle sexism and champion women in football. The Gloucestershire Football Association (GFA) is also supporting this initiative and will have representatives at the event to encourage more women into coaching.
To find out more about Longwell Green JFC and their teams visit http://www.longwellgreensportsjfc.co.uk/.
For more details about Her Game Too, visit https://www.hergametoo.co.uk/football