FC United drive forward women and girls participation in football

The Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division club will launch a girls’ academy in September, as well as a women’s development team to support the senior side.

And using a £5,000 grant from the Trident Community Foundation, which has awarded more than £100,000 to non-league clubs across Steps 3 and 4 since its launch in 2020, the club will also set up various weekly events for all ages with the aim of keeping girls and women mentally and physically fit.

FC United CEO Natalie Atkinson said: “This is very much about football and fun. It’s about women’s mental wellbeing.

“It’s about women that want to get fit and haven’t necessarily played football, or who played it and want to get back into it.

“Then, for teenagers, it’s about Friday night. If they are out on the streets thinking ‘what can I do’, they can go to FC United and play football.

“We’re looking at all the elements of participation, from Under-10s right through to seniors, but then also looking off the field in terms of how we engage with more women working behind the scenes.

“We’re striving for that equality across the football club and from a diversity and equality point of view, with our team off the field being female top heavy.”

The next step for the club is moving to the consultation stage to ascertain the most suitable days and times for their activities, which will include a walking football session.
But Friday evenings will be reserved for teenagers to train and play at a casual level.

Atkinson is also in the process of arranging for a player from the women’s first team to lead the sessions as part of their all-encompassing female football revolution blueprint.

Atkinson said: “The offshoot from doing any of these community-led programs is that we’ve got a women’s team here, so we can give out tickets and encourage people to come and watch on Sunday.

“The aim with any of these activities is to get people involved and staying fit, but they can also come and support the club.”

Ladbrokes, with the support of its owner Entain, has launched a multi-million-pound investment programme, Pitching In, designed to support and promote grassroots sports. For more details see: https://entaingroup.com/sustainability/pitching-in/