Around the Counties: Developing a Bright Future for Girls’ Football in Staffordshire

The 2014-15 season brings a new Staffordshire Girls League, created to offer a single structure for developing girls’ football across all age groups and already stimulating the growth of new teams in the county. As an FA Charter Standard League it delivers a full competitive fixture programme across five age groups alongside a development plan intended to create a suitable environment for the girls’ game. Since forming in September the league has secured its own sponsor, run an in-house level one coaching course for managers, and staged a girls’ football festival for over 250 players at St George’s Park with the FA. Grants have funded futsal development events and two girls-only development centres for five to ten year olds. Development officer Jodie Allard sets it within a wider county plan.