GIRLS LEAD THE WAY
GIRLS playing soccer and up in Townsville.
Iconic Townsville soccer club, the Townsville Warriors, are celebrating their first junior girls team in club history that will compete in the Townsville junior mini- roos competition this year.
Warriors Girls took to the field last weekend in their iconic green and white kit to compete in their first ever Under- 9s game of the regular season.
Club president Brett Ramsbotham said this was an exciting milestone for the club and for local women’s sport.
“We’ve always enjoyed strong support from female players throughout the years, but have never managed to get the numbers together to enter a team of girls to compete in the local girls competition,” Mr Ramsbotham said.
“Female participation in soccer has never been better, nationally and locally.
“There’s a massive spotlight on the Matildas and women’s soccer, and we hope to encourage and support this locally as best we can.”
Mr Ramsbotham said the existing local girls’ competition was small but strong, and the inclusion of another team could help attract more female juniors to the game.
“Other local clubs have fielded girls’ teams over the years, but they is on the up are always faced with the challenge of having enough opposition teams to play,” he said.
“With our girls joining the comp this will hopefully attract more registrations and grow the girls competition as a stand- alone division for juniors.” Mr Ramsbotham acknowledged that while many female players may choose to play in mixed teams, there were still benefits for all- girl teams and competitions.
“Girls are more than welcome to compete in mixed football and many do, however we find that particularly at the younger ages, training and competing with other girls helps with their confidence and their skills development, and allows them to enjoy the social aspects of the sport even more.”
The Townsville Warriors will host their annual six- a- side Bobby Hagger Junior Carnival for juniors aged from 5 to 12 between May 19 and 20.
Inquiries: secretarytownsvillewarriorsfc@ gmail. com