Women’s & Girls’ Football in London (County Spotlight)

The County Spotlight slot, sponsored by Bluefin Sport, turns to women’s and girls’ football in London, where Sarah Hobbs reports 45 adult women’s teams, 90 girls’ youth teams and 31 female referees, with numbers rising again after a slight decline. Women’s and girls’ football at the London FA is led by Emma Barnes, who describes the new Capital Women’s Cup, run in partnership with the AFA and Middlesex County FA, attracting 62 teams across three levels of competition. Girls’ County Cups at Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 conclude with a finals day in May officiated entirely by women from the Female Officials Programme, run with the Arsenal and Millwall Centres of Excellence. Other developments include the Capital Girls’ League, monthly Goals for Girls festivals, two FA Player Development Centres, female Level 1 coaching courses, beginners’ sessions, and the Greater London Women’s League, founded in 1972 and now numbering 65 teams.