Latest women’s football news
You should sign in or add your profile now! Then you can write your own news stories! Make your team famous!
West Ham launch ladies' football academy!
Wednesday 17th February 2010
from Essex FA
by Polly C
West Ham United Football Club’s brand new Ladies Academy has been welcomed by Essex County Football Association Girls’ & Women’s Development Officer Sharon Brownlie as preparations are made for an Information Evening on Monday 22nd February at 6:45pm at Wingletye Lane in Hornchurch.
Teenage girls with a passion for football are being given a unique opportunity to join the new Academy thanks to an exciting partnership between Havering Sixth Form College and the Hammers’ Community Sports Trust. Girls in Year Eleven who will be progressing to sixth form education this year are invited to attend the evening with their parents to find out more about the Academy and the opportunities on offer and college staff and West Ham representatives will be on hand to answer any questions.
Now Sharon, who is responsible for the female game in Essex’s five London Boroughs, believes the move is a perfect complement to existing academies elsewhere. She said: “This is major news as there is only one other female academy in our Boroughs at Barking Abbey so this will create more chances to combine girls’ love of the game with their education. Colchester United’s Academy is extremely well established and has been going for years and there are others offering similar programmes including SEEVIC and South East Essex Colleges and Colchester Institute, as well as Barking Abbey.”
“SEEVIC recently made it to the national five-a-side finals taking place in Loughborough at the end of April so there is a wide range of opportunities across the whole of the County. At the ECFA we have helped West Ham in an advisory role throughout the process. We’re also hoping to become more involved once the Academy is up and running via coach education and leadership courses as well as helping the females to have an active role in developing girls football within the borough of Havering.”
The Academy, for girls aged 16 to 19, starts in September at the College. It aspires to enable talented footballers to have an unparalleled learning experience as well as access to professional instruction by Hammers coaches, in addition to matches in a prestigious National Colleges League against the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea. Alongside their training, which will take place on four days each week, students can choose from a range of vocational qualifications and over 26 A Levels, all specially timetabled.
The Academy is also being supported by Havering Council and a variety of businesses and Kate Holmes, Women’s and Girls’ Development Officer at United’s Community Sports Trust, added: “Havering Sixth Form College and West Ham United can deliver an unrivalled educational package combined with elite coaching. The development of players, coaches and officials is paramount to our vision, ultimately with graduates feeding back into the system and leading into a sustainable future for the women’s game.”
It is hoped the WHLA will provide places for around 20 girls and applications must be with the College by Friday 26th February. Trials will take place in the spring. For more information, contact Havering Sixth Form College on (01708) 514400 or E-Mail mainoffice@havering-sfc.ac.uk. Details on female football across Essex and the County’s London Boroughs can also be found at www.essexfa.com.
You should sign in or add your profile now! Then you can comment on this news story!