Girls’ game enjoys decade of progress
SCHOOLGIRLS’ football has really kicked on in the last ten years - much to the delight of Newcastle Schools’ FA president Ian Beck.
He said: “I can remember running a girls’ team in 1988 when I was teaching at Heaton Manor School.
“However, we just played friendly games as there were no competitions for the girls then.”
Now the girls’ game is much more structured, thanks largely to the work of Northumberland Schools’ FA officials Nigel Shields and Peter Tracey.
Tracey organised the first girls’ county leagues and Shields took thngs further by arranging cup competitions and inter-association games.
From these competitions a county under-16 team was formed 11 years ago - followed by an under-14 side two years ago.
Northumberland now runs competitions for all age groups from under-11 upwards.
Newcastle Schools FA was a little bit slower in getting things up and running.
They have had cup competitions for the past 12 years for under-12, under-13 and under-15 squads.
Five years ago the first girls’ association team was formed at under-15 level and it went on to share the County League title in its first year.
A season later, the under-13 side was formed which also went on to share league honours in its first season and win the Durham Fred Fullarton Cup in its second year.
Another year on and an under11 squad was created.
It has proved the city’s most successful age group, clinching the North East League twice and finishing joint top of the league in its third season when it was declared null and void.
The under-11s have also qualified for the national finals in the past two years and also competed in the ESFA Cup, City Cup and the Under-11 City League.
Because the interest is so high, the Under-11 League had to be split into West and East Divisions.
The top two from each divisdion meet in a play-off to decide who becomes city champions.
The number of squads in the older age groups has steadily risen over the past few years.
Due to growing interest, it is hoped to run city under-12 and under-14 leagues next season.