The 2005/06 football season was another huge season for Girls and Women’s football across the County and in fact the whole of the UK, reinforcing itself once again as the most popular female sport. On a Nationwide scale Euro 2005 was a huge success for the sport and a solid foundation for Women’s football continues to build. Around 70,000 paying fans attended England’s 3 games of Euro 2005, whilst around 9 million fans tuned in to watch the coverage of the games on the BBC. Participation figures for the Girl’s and Women’s game have also risen from 11,200 in 1992 to a staggering, 132,800 in 2005, a massive amount that continues to grow each year.
This year has seen more teams established yet again In Bedfordshire, an increase once again in the number of female charter standard clubs and an increase in the numbers of female coaches, trends that we hope to continue year after year.
In order to continue the growth and development of the female game, we run a number of Girls & Women’s Football initiatives throughout the county. Our initiatives include;
3 lions FC coaching courses/School Club Link – 3 Lions FC is a 6 week Girls Football Coaching Course designed by the FA, to encourage progression from school football into Charter Standard Clubs.
The FA Charter Standard Award – The FA Charter Standard Kitemark is awarded to clubs and schools who operate football in a fun, safe and organised environment. Clubs and schools that are committed to operating at the required FA standards and fulfil the necessary criteria, are recognised for their hard work and can access many benefits.
Female Coach Education Schemes (including a recently formed female only coaches group) – Bedfordshire has seen a considerable growth in numbers, and vast improvement in standards of female coaches. This has been an area we have been keen to develop and has been encouraged by the organisation of a number of female only coaching courses. A female only coaches group has also formed within the last year and is looking to expand, with Beds FA looking to deliver further female only workshops in the near future.
This year Girls & Women’s Football Development Officer, Charlene Ward will be helping to push the further development of female football within the county, as it continues to grow more and more opportunities will arise for players, coaches and fans of the girls and women’s game, check out the Girls and Womens Section of the website for regular updates. Or for further details of any of these or alternative FA initiatives email charlene.ward@bedfordshirefa.com or call Charlene direct on 01582 567718.