A REDDITCH girls-only football coaching academy are levelling up the opportunities for girls to play football in the borough.
Lioness Girls Football, established over 18 months ago, offers a pathway for girls from total beginners, through to their Academy which is attended by girls in grassroots teams and professional club academies.
They provide girls with the chance to play, whether that be for the first time, for fun, to join a team or to push their skills to the next level.
Sessions are run by FA qualified coaches who are all experienced in coaching girls’ football, school sport and developing girls in teams.
More than 100 girls currently attend, and many have benefited from a wide range of other exciting opportunities, including being ball girls for Aston Villa Women.
Natalie Alexander, director, and head coach says: “We are a family run coaching academy, who are passionate about girls having access to quality coaching in the area.
“Having all been involved in coaching girls’ football and our own teams, we noticed a lack of opportunities for girls to access coaching which was appropriate for their stage of development.
“This was the motivation behind Lioness Girls Football. We hope to inspire many more girls to make friends, develop confidence and enjoy the game, wherever their journey may lead to.”
A parent of two girls who attend LGF, Gareth Homer, said: “My daughters had never played football before having a try out at Lionesses. From the start they were well looked after and felt like part of the family.
“They absolutely love the Lionesses, and we are thankful that LGF have such a fantastic set-up, making football accessible to all and open to everyone at any level.”
LGF are also committed to supporting the community in Redditch.
They have provided sponsorship to a girls team to provide a new match kit, as well as supplying kits for schools and supporting aspiring young coaches through their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Sessions run on Tuesdays 5-7pm at Redditch Hockey Club and Fridays 5-7pm at Arrow Vale 3G, with sessions tailored to suit the ability of girls attending. LGF offer free taster sessions to all newcomers.
Visit www.lionessgirlsfootball.com to arrange a taster session.
