Funding boost for girls' football in Amber Valley
Aldercar Community Language College has secured £9,265 in funding to promote and develop girls’ football in the Amber Valley area.
A grant of £8,265 has been awarded from the Football Foundation, and additional funds have also been secured from Derbyshire FA and Amber Valley Schools Sports Partnership.
The money will be used to encourage more young girls to play football, develop young people as coaches and form links with clubs such as Codnor Girls and Derby County Ladies.
As part of a three-year plan money will be used to create a central base for staff and student development, coaching and refereeing and to help girls aged 14 and over to get on the first rung of the coaching ladder.
Money will also be used to pay for essentials such as first aid kits and transport and to organise tournaments.
Kathy Hardy, Assistant Principal and School Sports Co-ordinator at Aldercar Community Language College, said: “There is a big gap in this area in terms of facilities and funding.
“There is also currently no competition framework for girls’ football, so we are trying to lead the way and get that established.”
The cheque will be presented on Thursday, May 29 during a two-day half-term Holiday Soccer School for girls aged 10 -14 at ACLC.
Also attending will be England and Everton Ladies player Jill Scott, who will present certificates to all the participants.
The 21-year-old midfielder joined Everton from Sunderland in 2006, and scored on her first appearance for Everton.
She is also an integral member of Hope Powell's England squad, and scored at the World Cup in China with a goal against Argentina.
The two-day Holiday Soccer School, will led by Derby County Ladies First team coach Ken Hardy (UEFA B) and supported by the Amber Valley YST Young Ambassadors, Lucy Antcliff and Oliver Blake who recently completed their first coaching badges. It will include fun skills drills and tournaments, plus fun team building activities run by Flight Sergeant Chris Flack of the RAF.