The GFCCT were joined by over 50 girls from Kent teams
This week the GFC Community Trust ran a fun and friendly football tournament for local girls’ grassroots U10/U11 teams.
The day was all about encouraging and supporting the development of female football in Kent, with a focus on fun and participation rather than winning. It was a chance to bring local clubs together to give them more experience of playing other teams while enjoying all the fun football has to offer.
We were joined on the day by over 50 girls from six local Kent teams. The focus of the day was on participation, and it was great to see all of the teams positively engaging in our friendly tournament.
Gills Ladies keeper Katie signed shirts for the players
Alongside the tournament, there were also some fun football games for the girls to try, including a speed gun and a ‘Beat the Goalie’ area with our very own Gills Ladies and England U19s International keeper Katie Startup. Katie was also on hand on the day to inspire the young players, giving them tips and advice, and even signing a few autographs!
During the tournament, there were some excellent skills on show, and some impressive team displays. Most importantly, all of the girls taking part showed fantastic sportsmanship, playing fairly and supporting each other, and making it a thoroughly enjoyable day for all involved.
Speaking at the event, Katie Startup said: “It’s important for grassroots teams to get a chance to play at a higher level and to participate with girls their own age, so this has been a really good opportunity for all of the teams involved. The day has been really fun and I’ve enjoyed doing the Beat the Goalie.
“It’s good for the girls to have the chance to take part; I didn’t start playing until I was 10 or 11, so it’s great to see girls with these skills at this level. Everyone has also been really nice and I’ve seen really good effort. It’s been a good day for everyone!”
Well done to all of the girls who played throughout the tournament with great sportsmanship and smiles on their faces
Organiser Georgia Bowie, Women and Girls’ Development Officer at the Trust, added; “Today demonstrated how much girls football is on the rise, as there was an array of talent and skills shown across all the teams. More significantly though, we saw desire, dedication and enthusiasm displayed by every participant all day, which was what the tournament was all about. It was infectious and definitely made the day more enjoyable for everyone.
“I would personally like to thank everyone involved in making the day such a success; from the staff to the coaches, the venue to the parents, but most importantly the young girls who played with great sportsmanship and smiles on their faces.”
Well done to all of the girls who took part in the tournament, and thank you to the coaches, parents and carers who came to support on the day. Thank you also to the fantastic role models from our Girls Academy and Regional Talent Club, who officiated the matches and supported with running the day.
Our Girls Academy and RTC teams were on hand to give out some Gills prizes at the end of the day
If you are interested in finding out more about our female football development opportunities, contact Georgia Bowie at gbowie@priestfield.com or on 01634 623400.
For any girls aged 11-13 who are interested in getting involved in football, come along to our fun and friendly sessions on Tuesdays, 6.30pm at Strood Sports Centre – no experience necessary! Find out more.
Find out more about the GFC Community Trust on Twitter via @GillsCommunity, or contact us on GFCCT@priestfield.com.