Harrogate Town launches new project to help young women break into football

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As female participation in football continues to rise, Harrogate Town are creating a new football pathway for females in Harrogate and the surrounding area.

This will include a new Under 16’s team, who will play 11-a-side football in the West Riding County Girls Football League.

It will then allow for a natural progression to the Development Squad and subsequently the Ladies First Team, who currently play in the North East Region Women’s Football League.

The club is organising an open day to promote this new initiative, which will include a presentation of the club’s football and educational pathway by the Women’s first team manager Bob Wilkinson, the Men’s first team captain Josh Falkingham, and Les Johnson, the club’s Women and Girls Development Officer.

There will also be FA qualified coaching sessions and small sided games.

The open day will provide information on the opportunities for girls to play and study in America.

Harrogate Town’s mens team are currently bidding for a place in the Football League having made it through to the end of season play-offs in the National League and it is hoped the football fever created by their success can attract new female stars of the future.

A spokesperson for the club said: “This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the club’s vision to provide the seamless link from junior to adult female football with FA Licensed and EUFA Qualified Coaches.”

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If you know any girls or young women who may be interested in joining Harrogate Town AFC U16s, (school year’s 10 and 11 from September), or Harrogate Town AFC Ladies Development Squad (age 16+ from September 1) and learning more about the new female pathway at Harrogate Town AFC, register your interest with [email protected] by Monday, July 6.

Harrogate Town has been able to make the move thanks to a special partnership with the highly successful girls team Kirk Deighton Rangers who play their games in Wetherby and who will now play under the name of Harrogate Town.

The club has not yet been able to set an exact date and time for the open day and says it will depend upon the coronavirus lockdown and Government regulations - but has assured people it will follow all necessary FA health and safety guidance.

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