Female football will receive a boost on the outskirts of Braintree next season when Rayne Girls Under 10s take part in their first Essex County Girls’ League campaign thanks largely to the efforts of enthusiastic mother Christine Bamford, who immersed herself in the latest successful School-Club Link project.
In an effort to set-up an extended girls’ section within the FA Charter Standard Club, Christie and her husband, Mike, have been working hard to establish an outlet for girls to play regular Sunday football in the area. The club is already affiliated to the Essex County FA through their existing Under 18s team which also competes in the Girls’ League but Christine is now looking forward to seeing her youngsters playing even more additional competitive games within the Under 10s North-East Division soon.
“When my daughter finished playing with her existing team there wasn’t another age group to move up to as she was already playing up a year and her club weren’t able to provide for her so we looked to set up a new team,” the newly-qualified Level One coach explained. “She expressed an interest in going in goal and got together with a few of her friends then the involvement of the Essex County FA really helped things take-off! We have enough players for a team but could always do with a couple more.”
The FA School-Club Link Programme is football’s commitment to ensure all children, whatever their circumstances or abilities, can participate in and enjoy physical education and sport. These have proved popular and the ECFA is currently involved in six or seven links elsewhere having previously supported around 60 others. Emma Manning, ECFA Community Coach, delivered sessions in Rayne Primary, Felsted Primary and St Michael’s in an effort to ensure local girls were aware of the opportunities available.
ECFA Girls’ and Women’s Development Officer, Emma Burden, liaised with Rayne from the start, adding: “We became aware of Rayne’s desire to set-up another team when I met Dean West and Mike Bamford who’d already been attracting good numbers to their girls-only sessions. We wanted to support them to enhance their numbers so we delivered school sessions in the immediate area and promoted those already being organised by the club. We also helped out with a ‘Girls-Only – Come and Play Day’ during December and continue to offer sessions in the hope that more girls will take up the sport.”
If you know of a girl who’d like to join the team call Christie Bamford on (01376) 328837 or E-Mail [email protected] For more information on female football in Outer Essex phone Emma Manning on (01245) 393076 or E-Mail [email protected] or, for Essex’s five London Boroughs, speak to Sharon Brownlie on (01245) 393074 or E-Mail [email protected]
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