In October 2019 Girls United partnered with Oval and Brixton Learning (groups of state schools in South London) to host a girls’ football tournament for over 150 girls. After receiving great feedback from the girls who had a desire to continue playing, Girls United set up a league for the schools in January 2019 with Tampon Tax funding.
Brixton and Oval Learning serve a large percentage of disadvantaged children and their families by working together on a range of activities with a strong focus on enriching children's lives and offering them opportunities they might not otherwise get. A significant number of the children live in overcrowded accommodation and sadly our area has seen high instances of knife crime in recent years. The schools try their best to encourage children to take part in sports, but they have limited playground spaces and indoor halls, and an every demanding curriculum to deliver in classrooms which limits time.
The partnership with Girls United
Lucy Swanson, Oval: Our local networks of schools in North Lambeth had organised ad hoc local leagues and friendlies on a small scale over the last couple of years, but things changed up a gear when our friends at Black Prince Hub introduced us to Girls United. Working with Abbey and the Girls United team gave us an exciting chance to collaborate with experts to think about where the gaps were and how best to encourage girls to have fun, make friends and develop skills and fitness while learning and playing the beautiful game. With additional support from Fulham Foundation coaches and access to the Powerleague pitches at Black Prince Trust, the dream team started planning taster tournaments, leagues, a leadership programme and an after school club.
Jenny Smith, Brixton: The support we have received from Girls United FA has been invaluable. We recognised early on their passion and commitment to girls football was exactly what we needed to make this work and develop. We really feel working with female coaches has made a great difference - often these girls see football as a sport for boys, coached by men. Girls United coaches are highly experienced in working with children, particularly girls. The Trailblazer scheme was exactly what we needed to encourage more girls back in school to think about playing, as well as developing resilience and teamwork in the league players.
What a team! A great start to the Year 5 and 6 Girls’ Football League by St Mark’s with 5-0 and 6-0 victories. via Twitter on 24 January 2020
The need for girls’ football
LS, Oval: Headteachers and school staff had been concerned that while there were plenty of opportunities for boys to practise football, learn skills and represent their school, there was nothing equivalent and sustained in the local area for girls.
JS, Brixton: We wanted to particularly support girls football development in our primary schools, recognising that girls weren't participating in the game (football), but did have enthusiasm to play. Last year we had run a very small series of tournaments and practise sessions, using a pitch in a local school, but it was difficult to find enough coaches to help and the pitch got waterlogged even after short bursts of rain, so we often had to cancel sessions. We realised we had more high quality pitches nearby, which could be played in all weathers and rented at reasonable rates for the community, but we also need high quality coaches and support to work with the girls and encourage them to enjoy and develop their play and their skills.
The league
“We’re lovin it, lovin it, lovin the Yr 5 and 6 Girls Football League at the @BlackPrinceHub, 3 wins from 4 so far.” via Twitter on 6 February 2020
LS, Oval: We we invited more than 150 girls from 15 schools to join in taster tournaments in October and November 2019, some of whom had never played before. Girls from the local secondary Archbishop Tenison's helped with scoring and officiating; they have since gone on to take part in a sports leadership programme with mentoring from Street Soccer - watch this space!
JS, Brixton: After the tournament we put out a call to local schools to see if they would like to participate in a league and had 16 teams respond! This was so much more than a football league. Despite having teams of different shapes, sizes, ages and skill, the nurturing attitude of the coaches ensured a positive experience whatever the score. As well as the chance to play matches, the girls learned specific new skills and challenges to inspire and activate their peers or siblings at home or in the playground. Clearly there was a need to set this up.
Looking to the future
LS, Oval: Oval Learning Cluster is proud to be a part of this partnership with Girls United, creating interest and pathways and spreading female football magic - and our schools can't wait to get back on the pitch as soon as everyone is allowed out to play again. We hope to engage more sisters, mums, aunties, grannies and school staff in the future too, to continue to build confidence and enjoyment and valuable links across schools and communities.
JS, Brixton: I have no doubt this league would not have developed without the support of Girls United FA. In less than a year we now have a strong partnership with them and with other local football partners that has built an excellent foundation for more work. We have seen more female school staff and parents come and see the girls play as the matches have gone on and hope in time to encourage staff and parents to play.
Schools have greatly valued this opportunity, shown by the fact that teams have attended all their fixtures, despite a heavy school curriculum on core subjects, some teams travelling 45 minutes to get to and from matches, making sure enough support staff can bring the girls (even though support staff are in increasingly short supply in schools) and playing in all weathers with the storms and rain we have had in early 2020 particularly.
Whilst we have sadly had to suspend activity for a few months, during COVID 19 pandemic, we expect to continue and grow the league in the coming months!