MP cheers on young lionesses
Maidenhead: Pupils take part in #LetGirlsPlay session
A football festival for aspiring lionesses received a visit from Theresa May last Friday (March 8), on the day she announced her intention to stand down as an MP.
The event, which coincided with International Women’s Day, saw 80 girls between years four to five, and from seven different primary schools around Maidenhead take to the pitches at Braywick Park.
Mrs May, who announced via the Advertiser that she would be standing down as an MP at the next election, spoke with the coaches and several of the young footballers.
The England women’s football team, known as the Lionesses, roared to victory in the 2022 European Championships and narrowly finished runners-up at the 2023 World Cup.
Ascot and Maidenhead School Sport Partnership worked together with Maidenhead United Community Trust and Leisure Focus to organise the day aimed at encouraging more young girls to play football.
Emma Fitzgerald, partnership development manager for Ascot & Maidenhead School Sport Partnership said: “This was a true collaboration between the School Sport Partnership, Maidenhead Utd Community Trust and Leisure Focus.
“Thank goodness the sun shone and the girls seemed to really enjoy the variety, the relaxed setting and the music.
“I love that we had activities designed by girls and delivered – almost entirely, sorry Liam the goalkeeping coach – by girls or women.
Girls across England are being encouraged to try out football as part of the #LetGirlsPlay Football Associate campaign which aims to ensure equal access to the sport.
Research shared as part of the campaign shows that whilst football is the most popular sport for young people in England, only a third of girls aged 5-18 years participate each week.
Furthermore, 90 per cent of girls that play enjoy it; and 91 per cent of girls that don’t play would like the opportunity to do so.
At the Braywick Park festival, Maidenhead United coaches gavesome tips and tricks to the youngsters.
Maidenhead United Women’s players also visited and led a warm-up session to music, as well as a short talk on their stories of kickstarting a football journey.
In addition, each young footballer received a signed Maidenhead United
Women's team photo, some FA presents as well as a certificate and information on footballing opportunities around Maidenhead.
Emma said the girls taking part had ‘a brilliant’ time and the ‘icing on the cake’ was a visit from Maidenhead United’s mascot Yorkie the Magpie, who joined in the warm-up.
She added: “It was a thrill to meet the Maidenhead Utd Women’s players too, and the fact that they joined in was a treat for the girls.
“Celebrating women and girls on International Women’s Day, and meeting such a fine group of girls at this event was an absolute pleasure.
“Hopefully we have taken a small step to inspire the next generation of players.
“Thank you to Newlands Girls’ School, Maidenhead Utd and Leisure Focus for all of their support.”
Competing schools at the Braywick Park football festival were: All Saints Junior, Furze Platt Junior, St Edmund Campion, Riverside, Braywick Court, Oldfield and Cookham Rise.
More information on the #LetGirlsPlay campaign can be found at: Englandfootball .com/letgirlsplay or girlsfootballinschools.org.